Communication

A user manual for every employee? Imagine the insights they would give managers

07/21/2023

When people buy an automobile or an appliance for their house, they typically receive a user manual. Owners can turn to this document to understand the product’s capabilities, learn about care best practices and receive advice on how to troubleshoot a suspected problem. Wouldn’t it be great if employees came with such a guide? The good news is that they can.

How to keep new employees productive & engaged

06/28/2023

When employees quit shortly after being hired, the departure is a gut punch to productivity and adds unnecessary costs. Plus, it can send unsettling shock waves to employees. Managers set the foundation for good employee relationships during the hiring process and in those first weeks on the job. Here are tips to keep newbies onboard, productive and engaged.

3 ways to transform your managers into coaches

06/14/2023

Companies looking for long-term success build managers who guide teams beyond day-to-day operations. Leaders with solid coaching skills inspire their charges to reach higher levels—and take the organization to new heights. Could your managers pay more attention to the coaching aspect of their role? Try these three strategies.

Smart strategies for surviving this fall’s open enrollment

06/07/2023

Open enrollment for health insurance benefits is an inevitable autumn ritual that can cause great stress for HR and for your employees. It usually comes at the busiest time of the year, when HR pros—along with everyone else—are tending to year-end deadlines. Smooth the process by planning now to implement these strategies.

What not to say to older workers: ‘You’re overqualified!’ ‘When are you going to retire?’

05/01/2023

Even as the baby boom generation ages, many older workers are finding they must delay retirement because they can’t afford to quit working. That should raise red flags for employers. Boomers have a powerful federal law on their side—the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which makes it illegal to discriminate against employees and applicants over age 40 because of their age.

5 phrases smart managers avoid writing

04/07/2023

Emails and texts give modern managers an easy way to communicate with team members. Remember, though, that words have consequences. Think about what you write before hitting send. A better solution is to eliminate potentially problematic phrases from the get-go.

5 phrases smart managers avoid saying

03/30/2023

We’ve all heard the evergreen advice “think before you speak.” Words have consequences, and managers who hastily toss out statements run the risk of killing morale, damaging relationships and genuinely hurting feelings. Even if you later feel remorseful, taking things back once said proves difficult. A better solution is to try ridding your vocabulary of certain phrases.

Here comes the summer help!

03/23/2023

How to welcome, prep and manage those seasonal employees.

Should that Zoom call really have been an email?

03/02/2023

With all the options, existing workplace etiquette and conflicting preferences, it can be surprisingly difficult to decide the best way for an admin to get in touch with their executive and colleagues. These tips will let you know the best communication method for each workplace situation to help admins save time.

Emotional rescue: How to help angry employees vent

02/23/2023

Say one of your employees walks into your office all red-faced and angry. How should you respond? Follow these do’s and don’ts to help employees vent about stressful work problems and think about solutions: