Memos to Managers

Take every opportunity to deliver positive feedback

09/27/2023

For some employees, hearing words of praise is better than a cash bonus—and such praise is a key reason people want to stay in their jobs. Yet many managers can muster up such phrases only during annual reviews … if at all. Here are 10 key ideas managers should consider when offering positive feedback to employees.

Use performance logs to simplify employee reviews

09/15/2023

It happens to every manager: You sit down to prepare a staff member’s review and realize you can remember only what the person has done the past few weeks. Or you allow only a single incident (good or bad) to color your assessment. If you’re relying solely on your memory to evaluate employee performance, you’re […]

Torn between two applicants? Here’s how to pick a winner

08/23/2023

Hiring is rarely easy, and it’s particularly difficult when you have narrowed the choice to two strong candidates. How do you make the decision between two apparently equal applicants?

Do they just have the ‘blahs’ or is staff burned out?

07/25/2023

Today’s workers feel the strain of maintaining high performance in an environment that makes success decidedly more difficult. It’s important for managers to be able to identify and deal with burnout—the loss of interest and motivation that can result from workplace pressures.

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.

Analysis paralysis? 4 tips for making better decisions

04/26/2023

Your ability to make sound business decisions swiftly—even when they involve ambiguity and risk—is a major factor in your ability to guide and manage a successful team. Here are some simple ways to help you make better decisions.

Here comes the summer help!

03/23/2023

How to welcome, prep and manage those seasonal employees.

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:

Worried about a new hire? ‘Salvage operation’ tips

01/25/2023

Despite a thorough hiring process, even promising candidates can develop performance issues once on the job. Now, several weeks in, you’re noticing concerning patterns that weren’t evident during interviews. Before making a hasty decision in either direction, it’s time for a structured approach to evaluate whether this employee can become a valuable team member or if it’s best to part ways.

How to spot and prevent burnout

12/20/2022

Everyone has a limit. When walking into work (or taking the few steps to the home office) becomes a challenge, your employees are probably on track to experience burnout. The ability to spot and—more importantly—prevent burnout can save great workers from absences or the pursuit of greener pastures.