Trust Your Gut
Most of us are taught to defer to authority. As a result, we tend to disregard our internal compasses. But your instinct are often right. Here is how to counter your conditioning and question authority:
Articles from Contributor
Turn Your Employees into Company Advocates
Loyal, passionate employees benefit a company as much as dedicated customers. They stay longer, work more creatively, and go the extra mile. So how do you turn employees into advocates for your company and its work?
Perfect Your Pitch
Elevator pitches aren’t just for start-ups. They are helpful in job interviews, networking events, presentations, or any time you need to quickly explain your case. Instead of stumbling when asked, “What does your company do?” prepare an effective pitch that outlines win-win goals and launches a deeper relationship. Grab the …
Introverts: Network in Your Own Way
Networking is essential to thriving in business. But if you’re an introvert with a natural aversion to groups and talking with strangers, what can you do? Try these things:
3 Ways to Handle a Colleague You Dislike
Working with a difficult person can be distracting and draining. Next time a colleague irritates you to no end, try these three things:
You Can’t Get It All Done
If you’re like most people, you’re overwhelmed with how much you have to do and frustrated by all the things you can’t finish. The reality is that there isn’t enough time to do it all. Once you admit that, you can explicitly choose what you are going to do. Instead of letting things haphazardly fall through the cracks, you can …
Even High Performers Need Feedback
Some managers assume their star employees don’t need feedback. They’re clearly doing a good job and they don’t need to improve, right? Wrong. Even your top performers need input to stay engaged, focused, and motivated. Frequently give your stars both positive and negative feedback. Tell them how much you appreciate their good work.
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End a Mentoring Relationship Before It Dies
It’s easy for a mentoring relationship to outlive its worth. You get into a groove, you enjoy the stimulating conversations, and you’re learning. But sometimes you have to move on to move up. Set goals and assess whether you have achieved them. Once you have, it might be time to find a new mentor to help you with your next set of …
Make Service Easy for Your Customers
The notion of going above and beyond customer needs is so entrenched that managers rarely question it. But delighting your customers may be a waste of time and energy. In fact, most customers just want simple, quick solutions to their problems, and your company should make that possible. Think about the service initiatives you have …
Practice Being a Leader
Leadership is not an innate trait that you’re born with. It can be learned. The key is to practice before you have the official title. Start by focusing on the choices you make now, such as who to put on your team or what vendor to use for your project. Recognize that you likely don’t know everything. Making decisions based on …
Run a Decisive Project Meeting
To keep momentum in a project, you need to run great meetings. Make your next project meeting productive with these three guidelines:
Regain Your Focus
Multitasking may speed you through your to-do list, but it also makes you more likely to make mistakes and miss important cues, and less likely to retain information. Here are three ways to focus: