Success seemed really simple in elementary school. You get an A on your math test—success! You win a game of foursquare—success! You play a solo in your band concert and don’t miss a note—success! Adult life is much more complex than acing a spelling test every Friday. As a result, each person’s definition of success is […]
A Deeper Look at Cultural Awareness in the Workplace
Working in Africa taught me the importance of understanding cultural norms. I was managing a Kenyan hotel with 400 international guests over the Christmas holiday. We had arranged it all: fireworks, an African choir to sing carols, and Santa arriving on a camel. Yet, I failed my guests and my team by not bothering to […]
Diversity and Inclusion: Glossary of Terms
Diversity is a hot topic right now. Before you dive into diversity and inclusion conversations, it’s important to understand the terms and words you use in these crucial conversations. To help, we’ve provided you with this glossary of terms. Access Creating the necessary conditions so that individuals and organizations desiring to, and who are eligible […]
Seven Steps to Resolving Conflict in Crucial Conversations
It’s time to talk. Really talk. About the national and global issues that are impacting our changed lives, including Covid-19, civil unrest and returning to work or school. I don’t mean a quick chat; I’m referring to real conversations about tough topics where the stakes are high, the opinions vary and the emotions run strong. […]
Creating Workplace Culture That Actually Works
Workplace culture often seems like some sort of abstract concept. We think, ‘Oh to build a great culture at work, we have to create something that mimics Apple’ or some other hot, tech company. In reality, building a dynamic work culture is much simpler, based on how the organization’s values, attitude and behavior manifest daily […]
4 Steps to Maintain Organizational Culture with Freelancers
Organizational culture is crucial in creating a workplace where employees can work together as a team and contribute to furthering the company’s values and vision. Maintaining that culture in a shared office space is one thing…but when your freelance employees are scattered all over the country, maybe even the globe, that’s a different story. This […]
Communicating Culture with Positive Reinforcement
A lot of big words for a simple theory. Or as Boyd so eloquently puts it in the recent Fast Company article, “People want to be inspired, not lectured. They tend to respond better to humor and gentle reminders than they do to dictates or presumptions of guilt before innocence.” In essence, people don’t respond as well […]
Why Purpose at Work is More Important Than Ever
The radical changes happening in the United States workforce are impacting organizations. If organizations don’t plan to make changes now, they are at risk of losing relevance in tomorrow’s workforce, which will look and function differently than today’s workforce. In particular, leaders are watching as every 8.5 seconds another Baby Boomer turns 50, leading to the reality […]
Want To Build Excellent Teams? Try This Efficient Model
Working as a team is how the best organizations operate, yet it can be challenging, especially without a roadmap. The Drexler-Sibbet Team Performance Model provides a step-by-step framework for understanding team development. It’s one of the most efficient models I’ve seen, and I’m happy to share how it works. First, take a look at the […]
Managing Freelancers: 4 Challenges and How to Face Them
The US freelance workforce is currently 53 million strong, and growing fast. In fact, right now freelancers make up 34% of our national workforce. Sarah Harowitz, executive director of Freelancers Union says, “This is an economic shift on par with the industrial revolution.” Are managers prepared to work with this new type of workforce? Let’s […]
