Refresh Leadership | Fresh Ideas for Today's Business Leaders

4 Tips for Breaking a Productivity-Killing Habit

March 21st, 2012

It’s entirely possible that you’re reading this post in an attempt to delay taking on that next big task for just a few minutes longer. Luckily, this was written especially for you. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, starting a new project or checking off that next item on a to-do list seems tantamount to summiting Everest. Procrastination is a productivity killer and even the most efficient, steadfast workers aren’t immune.

There’s an old Scottish proverb that says, “What may be done at any time will be done at no time.” Here are a few tips to help you break free from the grip of procrastination and get your productivity back on track.
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The Results Are In: Your Thoughts on the Top Threat Facing Your Business Today

March 19th, 2012

As a leader, it can feel like everything you think and talk about is negative. From retention worries to issues with poor leadership, there are so many problems swirling around that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless to do anything about them. But, before a leader can fix anything, they must first identify the primary threat they are facing. That’s why, in our February poll question, we asked business leaders to pinpoint the top threat facing their business today.

The survey results showed that not all businesses have the same primary problem. The threat of poor leadership was the most common with 35% of leaders choosing it as their top issue. Another quarter of respondents said employee engagement was their main threat, followed by retention of top talent at 18%. Increased government regulations came in fourth with 14%, and ineffective hiring was the least common with 8%.
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Improving Workplace Relationships: Four Responses to Dealing with Drama

March 16th, 2012

There are many ways that drama can affect workplace relationships. One way that I often discuss in my workshops is how to stop taking the bait. You know what I mean. It’s those times when you put your foot in your mouth, or you get drawn into an argument or communication exchange that you later regret, yet it happens again and again.

It’s like you are a big carp swimming in a river and you see this juicy worm and you bite the hook. The other person is the fisherman who reels you in.

Even when you learn to identify the bait and you swim right past that juicy worm, just a few miles downstream you see a juicy piece of cheesecake and before you know it, you are being reeled in again.
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In a Rut?

March 14th, 2012

In my opinion, there’s no better job than travel writer. You get paid to trot around the globe with the jet-set elite, visit exotic locations most people only dream about, enjoy untethered access to five-star amenities, and dine in the world’s most exclusive restaurants – and all you have to do is jot down a few words about the amazing experience. Pretty sweet gig, if you ask me.

Unfortunately, we can’t all be travel writers. But that doesn’t mean you have to let the daily grind of eight to five bring you down. If you’ve fallen into a rut, before you start looking for a different job, think about how you can do your current job differently.
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Quick Tips: 5 Things to Tweet About

March 12th, 2012

As of just a few weeks ago, there are now more than 500 million registered Twitter users. It’s a massive audience that many businesses are reaching out to in hopes of extending their networks, getting in touch with their customers, and building their brand.

Whether you’re a seasoned user or just starting out, one of the hardest parts of engaging on Twitter is often just figuring out what to say. Here are five ideas to help you join the conversation and get your company involved in the Twitter community.
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Mice and Men

March 9th, 2012

Recently, there was a university study done using white mice as the subjects for a psychological experiment. The mice were put into a cage with a red light and a green light on opposite sides of the space. The experiment was designed in such a way that when a bell rang, a mouse could rush to the red light or the green light to receive a treat. The treat was only presented for a few seconds, so that if the mouse guessed wrong and went to the green light when the treat was being presented at the red light, the mouse didn’t have enough time to rush across the cage and get the treat.

The experimenters designed the study so that 80% of the time, the treat was presented at the green light. After a short period of time, the individual mice became aware of the discrepancy between the results of guessing the red light versus the green light, and they would only go to the green light when the bell rang. In this way, all of the mice – by only going to the green light – were successful in receiving a treat 80% of the time.

The conclusion of the experimenters was that the mice were relatively intelligent and acted in their own enlightened self-interest.
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Is your workforce showing signs of burnout?

March 6th, 2012

According to a recent CareerBuilder poll, more than 50% of employees say they work under a great deal of stress, and 77% say they feel burned out on the job. While they often go hand in hand, there’s a big difference between stress and burnout.

From working under pressure to meet an important deadline to putting in overtime to ensure the success of a major project, stress comes in many forms. Though it can be sharp and intense, stress is often temporary and manageable. And in many cases, a little bit of stress can be healthy.

Burnout, however, is more serious and can often be the result of prolonged, unmanaged stress. When an employee is burned out on the job, they check out. They no longer focus on their responsibilities or achieving company goals. And, if left unchecked, burnout can spread to other employees ultimately affecting your business’ ability to stay productive.

So, how do you know if your workforce is heading toward burnout?
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5 Things to Do This Month: March 2012

March 1st, 2012

With spring just around the corner, now is a great time to take steps to refresh and renew your team as the year gets into full swing. Check out these five things to do in March that will help your employees be happier and more productive!

Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day
The first Friday in March is dedicated to recognizing and honoring employees everywhere. This is a great opportunity for your business to spotlight your workers and identify all the ways they positively impact your company. Plan fun surprises for them throughout the day, like meeting them at the door in the morning with coffee and donuts, giving away prizes at different points in the day, or providing free car washes from management.
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Question of the Month: What is the driving force behind your company’s retention issues?

February 29th, 2012

In a recent survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corp., 80% of respondents who are currently employed said they would consider leaving their current job if presented with other opportunities. It’s a troubling statistic that threatens to have a major impact on the momentum many companies are currently experiencing following the recession. Can your business afford to lose its top performers?

What is the top driving force behind your company’s retention issues? Let us know by voting in our poll.

Professionalism: A Thing of the Past?

February 27th, 2012

115027919 What is professionalism? Do today’s employees display it? And what’s impacted when it’s missing? These are the questions the Center for Professional Excellence’s annual study on professionalism in the workplace strives to answer. But, based on the responses from managers and HR professionals, there is an even bigger question facing business leaders across the country – Is professionalism becoming a thing of the past?

A third of HR professionals and 21.2% of managers reported that professionalism had decreased this past year. Only 10.3% of HR professionals said that at least 90% of their company’s employees acted professionally, while 92.9% of managers admitted that it does impact promotion opportunities for employees.
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