Every summer, I plant a small veggie garden in my Michigan backyard. Even though the location is too shady for some of the sun-loving plants, it’s the only place that works in our yard, so we (and by “we”, I mean both the plants and I) make do. This summer I experimented with the placement […] Continue reading
When the results of Google’s research on team effectiveness (called “Project Aristotle”) were revealed earlier this year, the conclusion was surprising: the best teams have just one thing in common. Factors such as clear goal-setting and team member dependability are certainly important, but they’re not what definitively sets great teams apart from their average counterparts. […] Continue reading
If you enact a leadership role, you have some measure of influence. And you also likely don’t see yourself as a manipulator. Do you know where influence stops and manipulation begins? Read on to learn what two prominent authors who’ve conducted extensive research on leadership and change management have to say about this important distinction. […] Continue reading
If you enact a leadership role, you have some measure of influence. And you also likely don’t see yourself as a manipulator. Do you know where influence stops and manipulation begins? Read on to learn what two prominent authors who’ve conducted extensive research on leadership and change management have to say about this important distinction. […] Continue reading
What if Progressive Insurance’s Flo was your HR lady? Or your boss? This was fun to contemplate as I wrote a series of blog posts for Progressive’s newly revamped commercial insurance site. In addition to offering a variety of insurance programs for small businesses (who knew there was a specific type of dump truck insurance?) […] Continue reading
If you asked your team members what saps their productivity, what would they say? They’d probably mention unnecessary meetings, interruptions or poor communications, right? What if — shockingly — you were listed as one of the reasons that your team couldn’t get their work done? Wait a minute, you say, I’m not a micromanager; I […] Continue reading
Are you a praise giver or taker? How you respond may offer a clue into your level of happiness at work. Happiness researcher Shawn Achor has made a name for himself studying the many facets of happiness. His research has uncovered a startling connection between praise and happiness: the more praise you give, the happier […] Continue reading
Most people want to work for a caring boss. Not only is it more enjoyable, it’s good for your health, according to research by Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer. Compassion is certainly a hallmark of leadership effectiveness. But can a leader care too much? Shelley Row, a professional engineer and former transportation executive believes that caring […] Continue reading
This post is brought to you by Strayboots, a company that provides customized mobile-enhanced scavenger hunts for corporate team-building events. See below for full disclosure. When you were a kid, did you ever participate in a scavenger hunt at a birthday party? There’s nothing like the thrill of the hunt, trying to find obscure items […] Continue reading
When my kids were babies, it was fascinating to watch them learn to walk. One of my kids was determined from a very early age—far before it was physically feasible—to stand upright in what my husband and I can only assume was an attempt to begin to walk. We have pictures of our seven-month old […] Continue reading
