One of the most amazing clients I’ve had the privilege and joy of collaborating with for 25 years recently retired. I wish there were more managers like her because it would mean more engaged and productive workplaces. Let me tell you why. Peg helped grow a successful university distance education department, having started at a time when
Whether getting together in person for problem-solving, planning, or idea-sharing, many employees are thrilled with the opportunity to engage in active discussion when management is truly interested in their input. I’ve seen the positive impact of these employee gatherings first-hand in my work as a facilitator and trainer. Individual, team, and organizational benefits of effective
“When I grow up, I want to be a facilitator.” I never said those words to my parents and teachers but that’s ultimately what happened. For the past 30 years, I’ve been developing and refining my skills as a facilitator, and it’s an ongoing endeavor. It’s about people and purpose Facilitation is “a powerful way of working
“Using emotional intelligence and showing deep human respect for employees is key. Without that, your IQ, occupational knowledge, and educational degrees mean little to employees.” Kate Nasser As a fellow advocate for an engaging and respectful workplace, I’ve been following Kate on social media for a while. That’s why I was thrilled to read her terrific new
When leaders are replaced – whether due to retirement or changing jobs – it can be tricky for the incoming executive. It’s also tricky for the remaining staff members. Consider these three scenarios drawn from organizations that will remain anonymous. As an employee, how likely would you stay to work with the new leader? A
“Companies are in a talent war. It’s a race to get the best candidates quickly since unemployment rates are lower than they’ve been in years.” “The days of employees being thankful just to have a job are over and likely will not return for a while. Instead, the onus is on employers to cultivate and
Summer is upon us — that time of year when most people look forward to a warm weather vacation or stay-cation. While I continue to work throughout the summer, I do enjoy a brief break from blogging as a chance to relax from the pressure of posting and refresh my content ideas. This temporary break
That’s the message some people in executive and management positions send their employees. I’ve heard this many times, and here’s how it plays out. New employees starting with a company are likely to receive a fair amount of attention through orientation and on-boarding. This attention wanes, however, the longer employees are on the job. From
Not that it doesn’t matter, because it does. But you can forget the customer experience IF you neglect to take care of the employee experience. Here are several favorite quotes that capture the essence of the employee-customer experience connection. “Paradoxically, to achieve an emotionally connecting customer experience, employees come first, ahead of the customer.” Tom
Workplace engagement is a both a responsibility and choice shared by employees and employers: Employees are responsible for their own engagement in that they choose to show up in their jobs ready, willing, and able to do their best work, and Employers are responsible for choosing to foster an engaging workplace where employees are enabled