Posted: November 25, 2015 | Categories: Management, Team Building

Have you ever worked in a culture where there was constant whining, finger-pointing, and excuse making?  If you have, you know how such behavior affects team performance.

A few years ago I had someone in my management class who was struggling with a negative team environment.  People would continually come up to him and complain about other people not doing their job.  They often had a complaint, but seldom proposed a solution.

As we discussed this challenge, I introduced him to the 4 problem solving questions I have spoken of before.  These were developed by Leon Shimkin nearly 100 years ago, and have stood the test of time:Read More…

Posted: September 8, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

I want to share with you one of my favorite examples from all my years of facilitating leadership and management classes:  Several years ago, one of my class members was relating a childhood incident that they believed to be a defining moment in their lives.  It was when they were a toddler, and they accidentally knocked over a glass of milk.  It spilled all over the floor, and was quite a mess.  Mom was nearby, of course.  Read More…

Posted: September 2, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

Do you like it when people whine?  I didn’t think so.  Aside from Oscar the Grouch, I don’t know of anyone who enjoys a whiner.  But what if they are just sharing a concern?  What is the difference?Read More…

Posted: July 17, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Team Building

There is an old saying about keeping a secret:  “Secrets are either too good to keep or not worth keeping”.  I am finding the same is true when it comes to getting and keeping good employees.  There are either too good to keep or not worth keeping.Read More…

Posted: July 7, 2015 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Team Building

Last evening I helped facilitate a team meeting for one of my clients.  This gathering was also a celebration of a business expansion.  The well-seasoned team was overflowing with energy and verve.  As I was observing the team, I realized that every person in the room had gone through significant struggle and challenge in their professional development.

The most recent example is Cliff.  He is a go-getter and moves at a fast pace.  His challenge was to be a better listener.  In his zeal he would “talk over” people and cut them short in conversations.  This was creating a problem.  Some customers would feel hurried, and they did not feel Cliff listened well to them.Read More…