Memos to Managers

Management skills checklist: Which do you do well?

01/25/2019

The most effective managers demonstrate a very specific set of skills and behaviors in the workplace. New research by MindTools and the London Business School identified these core skills that the best managers master.

Become a better manager with this 15-minute daily habit

01/25/2019

A daily self-assessment practice may be the most impactful growth tool you can use to be a more effective, more fulfilled manager.

Managing to stay out of court: 2019 employment-law quiz

12/18/2018

The number of lawsuits filed by employees has spiked in recent years, and often those lawsuits are caused by one simple supervisor mistake or misunderstanding of employment law. How well do you know your legal duties as a manager?

What managers need to know about hiring

11/29/2018

While legal problems can crop up during an employee’s tenure, the two events that carry the most legal risk for employers are the hiring and the departure of an employee. Hiring discrimination lawsuits are particularly dangerous. To stay out of court, managers should build their hiring process around these principles:

The ‘new’ ADA: How to handle employee disabilities

09/16/2018

When Congress expanded the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2009, it broadened the circle of people eligible for ADA rights even wider. That has led to a spike in people filing ADA-related legal claims. Here’s what managers need to know about the ADA:

Avoid the perception of bullying: 8 do’s and don’ts

08/28/2018

The growth of anti-bullying laws, policies and public campaigns are making employees ultra-aware to potential bullying situations at work. For supervisors, that means it’s more important than ever to be alert to how your words and actions are being delivered … and received. Here are eight do’s and don’ts:

Burnout! Four main causes of employee stress, and what you can do about it

08/24/2018

You’ve put in the long hours to build a relationship with your team, and to better understand their strengths, weaknesses, motivators and goals for the future. While these are all key components to a successful relationship with your staff, it’s for naught if you can’t proactively prevent employee burnout.

7 steps for effective, stress-free performance reviews

08/24/2018

Performance review meetings can bring anxiety to both sides of the desk. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right planning by supervisors, the meeting can be a productive, morale-boosting exchange. Here are seven steps for running productive and stress-free performance review meetings.

4 pieces of wisdom Steve Jobs shared in 1992 that still apply to today’s workforce

06/20/2018

Here are some grounding managerial philosophies Jobs shared in a 72-minute speech, and how you can use them to be a more impactful leader.

What to say to pregnant co-workers

05/23/2018

Do you have a pregnant co-worker or employee? Here’s a list of things you should—and shouldn’t—say during those nine, often difficult months.