Memos to Managers

Do employees feel like they ‘belong’? 5 red flags

12/21/2015

When employees feel like they belong in an organization, they’ll give you their all. When they feel like outsiders, you’ll only get a half-hearted effort at best. Here are five red flags …

It’s OK to have favorites … just don’t PLAY favorites

12/04/2015

Studies show that managers often unknowingly give the benefit of the doubt to employees that they like, even employees who are average or subpar performers. In fact, a Harvard Business Review study found that most managers would rather work with “lovable fools” than “competent jerks.” To make sure you’re not unwittingly playing favorites, consider these issues.

Start the day right by … eating a live frog?

11/03/2015

Here are six amazingly simple productivity routines practiced by some of the world’s greatest business minds—that could just change the tone of the entire day.

What managers need to know about age discrimination

11/01/2015

At first glance, the federal Age Discrimi-nation in Employment Act (ADEA) appears pretty straightforward: It protects people age 40 and older from employment discrimination based on their age. But the law isn’t as simple as it appears; it affects managers in everything from questions asked in job interviews to assigning job duties. Here’s a description […]

Analysis paralysis? 4 tips for making better decisions

10/26/2015

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.

What managers need to know about sexual harassment

10/01/2015

Here’s a primer on what sexual harassment is and how to react when you see it.

What to do when an employee quits without notice

09/23/2015

Though you can’t control the actions of the employee or force him to stay in a job, you can mitigate the aftermath with a few smart steps.

Back to school: 4 teacher tactics to use with your staff

08/28/2015

Teachers are some of the first “managers” that people ever encounter. Teachers organize each day to get maximum results from their charges, and they must deal with a wide variety of skills levels, motivation levels and communication challenges along the way. Here are four ideas worth borrowing from teachers to bring to the workplace.

How to keep new employees productive & engaged

07/22/2015

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.

Discipline and discharge: 5 do’s and don’ts

07/06/2015

We live in an era when employees have more power than ever—which has made it more legally tricky to come down on them when you need to send a message.