One of the most debilitating issues that many businesses may face on a day-to-day basis is having an uninspired, unmotivated team. As a leader, you can directly tie motivation to how well you perform. So if there is ever a time you feel unmotivated, recall why you’re passionate about what you do, pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and face the next challenge. As it were, being motivated is an issue that is easily controlled by you. But what do you do when your team isn’t as motivated and inspired about what they do as you are? What if their unmotivated output is putting a damper on your overall productivity? Chances are, your company hasn’t established an environment of self-motivation within its culture. Now don’t get me wrong, people are responsible for their own actions, and the sooner you learn you can’t control anyone, the sooner you’ll be an effective leader. But, there are some steps leaders can take to help motivate uninspired workers and maintain an environment built on motivation. Read More→
Who are the most successful people in business today? You could probably build quite an extensive list of innovators and visionaries who have built impressive careers and truly made a mark on the world. Even on a smaller scale in your local business and personal networks, there are probably people who just seem to have superior insight and always catch all the breaks.
Can you chalk it up to just pure, dumb luck? Or being in the right place at the right time? Sometimes, maybe, but if you look deeper, you‘ll likely notice a few key characteristics highly successful people seem to share. And the best part – those characteristics aren’t unattainable. You may just need to ask yourself a few key questions.
Successful people have an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
Albert Einstein said, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” Highly successful people have a predisposition for curiosity – and they’re willing to go to great lengths to satisfy it. From reading the latest business books, attending seminars and workshops, or seeking out a subject matter expert, successful people are forever on a quest to build their knowledge base. Read More→
Where did 2013 go? It’s already December and we’re only a few short weeks away from starting a fresh new year. From Christmas to Hanukah to Boxing Day, the holidays seem to take center stage during this month. Here are a few items you may want to add to your to-do list in December.
Letter Writing Day (Dec. 7)
When was the last time you actually put pen to paper to let someone know you were thinking about them? In the age of email and text messages, taking the time to handwrite a quick message to an employee or colleague has become a very rare, but heartfelt gesture. On Dec. 7, take just a few minutes to send an employee a letter letting them know you’ve appreciated their work over the past year and look forward to 2014. Read More→
With 2013 coming to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year and look forward to 2014. In our December 2012 poll, we asked what you expected for 2013, and 43% said you expected business to remain steady, while 31% expected exponential growth and 25% expected a decrease in business. Moving into a new year full of excitement and uncertainty, how do you see the economic environment shaping up? Are you planning for an aggressive bull market or are you buckling down for bearish business? We want to know how you think 2014 is going to pan out. Let us know by voting in our monthly poll!
How did 2013 compare to your predictions? What are your business plans for 2014? Let us know in the comments section below! Read More→
Behaviors can be changed – as long as the person wants to change. As a leader, encouraging growth and development in your employees is a major part of the job. And that often involves discovering the roots of our behaviors.
According to workplace performance and communication expert, Amanda Gore, fears drive our behaviors, but in order to make a lasting change in behavior you have to dig past the fear and discover the need that is driving it. Check out this short video to hear Amanda explain how to most effectively change behaviors.
Amanda Gore is an award-winning professional speaker, author, and workplace performance and communication expert. Her high-energy, entertaining, and informative presentation style has delighted audiences around the world. For more information about Amanda, visit AmandaGore.com. Read More→
Anyone in leadership can attest to the personal struggles they shoulder when dealing with failure. Whether it’s a day-to-day burden or an occasional issue, failure not dealt with correctly can have a lasting effect on a person’s motivation, productivity, and confidence. Some people struggle with the potential of failure so much to the point they avoid innovation altogether, dreaming of a different world but not having the gumption to push through the fear of failure. However, failure, as well as the fear of it, is a demon everyone has to deal with. It is a human issue not a personal anomaly, and with innovation and progress occurring all around us, it is safe to say some people have figured out how to keep the demon of failure at bay. Here are 10 quotes from some of history’s most celebrated individuals who didn’t conquer failure, but overcame it.
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt
My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure. - Abraham Lincoln
If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative. - Woody Allen Read More→
One of the biggest issues leaders deal with is maintaining an engaged workforce. When disengagement sets in, productivity and innovation wane. Fortunately, studies have shown that giving your staff recognition can have a strong effect on overall enjoyment on the job. Roy Saunderson, author of “Giving the Real Recognition Way,” explains that leaders have grown to use reward and recognition interchangeably. In his article, he outlines the differences between the two in order for individuals to understand them both and utilize them accordingly. Follow the link below to read more.
Top 10 Differences Between Rewards and Recognition
How have you implemented rewards and recognition in your office? What are some of the benefits you have experienced? Let us know in the comments section below! Read More→
As younger generations advance in their careers and start to take on more prominent roles within their companies, it’s very likely many will find themselves in a position where they may have direct reports who are older, and in many ways, more experienced.
It can be a tricky position for a young leader, so it’s vitally important to get off on the right foot when taking on a new leadership role. Here are a few things for young leaders to keep in mind when leading older employees.
Be confident, but not arrogant.
Confidence can be your most powerful tool. A team will rally behind leaders who show they believe in their abilities and have a clear vision of how and where they want to lead. However, there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Acting like you’re above those you lead only breeds contempt. Actions speak louder than words, so be prepared to show every employee that you not only believe in yourself and have the skills to lead, but that you are also willing to walk the walk. Read More→
In October, we asked how you plan to handle the extra workload many businesses experience during the busy holiday season. From increased business volume to employees taking time off to be with family and friends, the fourth quarter often brings about a variety of productivity challenges.
Surprisingly, a majority of respondents either “don’t make any adjustments to their workforce” (35%) or “offer overtime and incentives to their current staff” (34%). “Hiring seasonal/temporary workers through a staffing firm” came in third with 21% of the votes, followed by “hiring full-time employees” and “outsourcing projects” at 4% and 2%, respectively.
Some respondents chose the “other” option and gave a variety of suggestions, including:
- Prohibiting vacations in the month of December
- Creating a system for allotting time off
- Hiring summer students back
- Working overtime without increase in pay/incentive
One industry that is often most affected by increased business volume during the holiday season is retail. Read More→
Most hiring managers know questions regarding information such as age, race, ethnicity, gender, and disability are off-limits during a job interview and cannot be used as criteria to determine whether or not a job offer is extended to a candidate.
However, there are many other questions interviewers ask that could have big legal ramifications. Check out this article from Vivian Giang of Business Insider for some insight into common interview questions that are actually illegal.
11 Common Interview Questions that are Actually Illegal
Have you ever asked any of these questions during an interview? What are some other common interview questions that you try to avoid asking a job candidate? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→
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