When problems arise, we often are not sure how to address it. Common pitfall include getting stuck with an emotional reaction, leaving the problem to escalate, or deciding haphazardly. There are easy steps to fix that.
Your stars… top dogs… numero unos… aces in the hole… big guns… elite team… top performers. You know who they are!
Knowing how to keep them can make the difference between success and failure (or worse: mediocrity) for your business.
I have been working with a lot of accomplished executives and entrepreneurs. They varied in age, cultural background, education, interests, personality types, religions, beliefs, industries, and in many other ways. Despite all the differences, I noticed they all had one thing in common…
As a manager, I have always wanted to find balance. On the one hand, I want to be nice. I want my team to trust me, like me, confide in me, and enjoy their time around me and around each other. On the other hand, I want to deliver great results. I want to continually improve and over-achieve as a team and as individuals in the team.
Finding this balance is tough. Here’s a tip.
“Did you try harder?!”
That was my favorite response when someone on my team came for help solving a problem… especially someone new. The response initially gets a surprised pause followed by a smile when she realizes it’s a joke. Eventually, people would start by “Yes Noor, I tried harder…” and continue with the issue at hand.
Little jokes like that lightened up the mood and added a little fun in our workplace. It was a piece of a puzzle of creating a great working atmosphere where people actually enjoyed coming to work. I loved it.
Here are some tips for injecting fun into your workplace… and improve performance while you’re at it.
I was in a shop the other day watching the manager give heat to one of his employees. As soon as the manager walked away, the employee started complaining to his colleague. As I watched the employees robotically do their work, it was clear they were unhappy. I started thinking about how important it is for managers to treat their teams well. Many companies preach about how important their employees are. Some deliver on that, but very few go the extra mile for their employees and do something extra ordinary. Some companies like Zappos built a culture that helped them become a billion dollar company. For me, treating...
