When feedback smells like limburger cheese
Barry was speechless, first with shock and then with anger, as he read the email from his boss. He never expected his boss to give that kind of feedback in an email. "Here's some input from Kevin on how you handled the last project team meeting. Get it fixed. Fast."...
7 ways to maintain positive momentum
Starting his own cheese, wine and charcuterie shop had been a dream of Steve's ever since his early college days in northern California. His happiest career day was leaving his "big boy" accounting manager job to open his shop. Steve's saddest day was hanging the...
5 ways to defuse unruly people (and yourself, too)
No one in the coffee shop could doubt that the fellow in the three-piece suit was having a bad day after hearing him berate the barista for the poor quality of the crema on his espresso. Then it got really outrageous when the barista verbally slammed him right...
If only my boss would get my name right
It was a small organization (by revenue and headcount measures) with a relatively new big problem: escalating turnover. The ever-increasing turnover was sapping their intellectual capital and employee morale. As one might expect, the owner hoped for a quick and...
Super-charge everything with 2 words
"What do I want most from my boss?" Asked Bill. "Recognition." "A simple thank you would make my day. When he hired me, my boss told me it would take at least two years to turn around the department. I've done it in a little more than a year. Would it hurt him...
Here’s an easy way to kill your credibility
Do you smile and feel good when accolades come your way? It’s incredibly gratifying to have your work be publicly acknowledged and praised. But what happens when you get but really don’t deserve the applause because that “I” you used in describing the work...
