June 11, 2021
Better predictions make for better decisions
How many times, upon realizing you've made the wrong decision, have you thrown up your hands and exclaimed, "If only I had known better"? Our wrong decisions, no matter how big...
June 04, 2021
Five simple steps to achieving alignment at work
Keep your eyes and ears open for valuable intelligence up and down the chain of command. That doesn't mean listening to and spreading gossip. It means learning from your direct...
May 28, 2021
How to build a go-to network
The ultimate manifestation of go-to-ism in the workplace is finding and fostering a network of go-to people. Whenever you find go-to people, you want to approach those...
May 21, 2021
Helpers, experts, and rogues
Certain types of employees, more so than others, tend to jump into projects outside their normal jobs. I classify these people into three groups: helpers, experts, and...
May 12, 2021
How to build better working relationships with difficult colleagues
There are plenty of good reasons to want better relationships with your colleagues at work. Pleasant interactions with coworkers generally make your workdays more enjoyable....
April 12, 2021
If you want to be a workplace influencer, don't rely on the quid pro quo
I'm fond of saying, "If you don't have authority, you've got to use influence." Sounds great, right? But 'influence' is often hard to define in the workplace. What does it look...
March 05, 2021
How to transform work interruptions into opportunities
If you're wondering whether interruptions from colleagues have disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic, rest assured, they have not. Ask just about anyone--those side...
February 18, 2021
How to Create a Shareable Job Aid
The number one most effective form of shareable job aid I have seen is the humble checklist. It's a simple but powerful tool used from kindergarten classrooms to nuclear launch...
November 19, 2020
Avoid these 5 bad attitudes at work
Attitude may be intangible, but it really matters. You cannot always control your feelings (nor should you necessarily try to). But feelings are on the inside. Attitude is what...
October 30, 2020
Improve productivity by practicing good email hygiene
We all know it but don't often say it- email is a huge productivity killer.
Like clockwork, as soon as we are about to start working on a task or project, an email pops into...
October 23, 2020
When You Don't Have Authority, Use Influence
When work is highly collaborative, there arises an authority conundrum. When there's a problem or delay, and you're left to work things out at your own level, nobody has the...
October 16, 2020
The Go-to Person's Guide to Great Meetings
Meetings can be great opportunities, but not all meetings are great.
There are really only three good reasons for a meeting:
To create a feeling of belonging and...