When giving recognition, it’s never a “one size fits all.” A manager orders lunch to show appreciation for employees’ hard work. The gesture falls flat – with only a few people appearing genuinely happy about it. The manager becomes frustrated, thinks the employees are ungrateful & vows not to provide lunch again. What went wrong?…
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Have you ever complained you receive too much recognition? Unfortunately, the opposite is often true & employees feel under-appreciated. Why do some managers fit the description of “recognition misers?” There are several barriers to giving recognition. Do any of them resonate with you? (1) “I feel awkward giving employees praise & sometimes it makes them…
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Conversation Starters is a great feature included within the Everything DiSC® Catalyst™ online learning platform. Following a workshop, learners can immediately transfer the training back to their jobs by creating a Group consisting of their direct reports, project team members or close colleagues. The group can be for personal reference or shared with the other…
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On average, we go through 27 emotional experiences/hour & 400/day What if you & your colleagues were asked to anonymously write down one thing that causes anxiety about work. Then the answers were given to other team members to read aloud. How would you feel after hearing your colleagues’ responses? Would any of them be…
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Have you ever thought, “I’d really like my job if it wasn’t for all of the people I have to deal with?” The DiSC© personality assessment consists of 80 questions & takes 15-20 minutes to complete. After completing the assessment, individuals receive a report detailing their unique personality style, information about what drives them, how…
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I have seen learners’ faces cringe at the mere mention of participating in an icebreaker, and I know icebreaker activities can sometimes be awkward. So why do facilitators use them? BECAUSE THEY WORK Icebreakers allow participants to learn tidbits of personal information about each other, which makes them relax and feel closer. They begin to…
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Even if you think you are a good listener, you may want to consider some common listening blocks. Have you been chatting with a coworker, and you already “know” how the conversation is going to end? In this situation, a listener can fall into the trap of rehearsing. The listener is not interrupting the speaker.…
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Many people view conflict as something that needs to be eliminated. They associate conflict with negative emotions. When individuals from different backgrounds work side by side for forty plus hours each week, disagreements are bound to occur. The good news is that conflict is neutral, and its “badness” is a result of how well it…
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The pandemic is over, or is it? The Great Resignation marches on. Companies have experienced great turnover through employees taking early retirement and other employees accepting better positions or roles in different fields. As managers juggle new hires and staff working remotely, they are looking for tools to assist with team development and changing company…
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While completing my MBA, a professor of mine listed a book called The Dream Manager on his class syllabus as recommended reading. When I went to purchase the selection in the campus bookstore, it was small (only 150 pages). I consumed the book in one sitting, and its lessons have stuck with me throughout my…
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