In general, business leaders can be split into two distinct groups based on their strategic thinking patterns. Most leaders are either pragmatics or idealists. Yes, they might walk a fine line between the two, but ultimately, one will always be more dominant than the other. Idealist vs. Pragmatic Leaders Idealist leaders are visionary thinkers. They focus on the big ideas and … [Read more...]
Getting the Most from a Diverse, Mixed-Age Team
Recently, a colleague asked me about my company’s diverse, mixed-age work environment — known for being upbeat, effective, and welcoming for all our employees. She was truly skeptical that people across so many backgrounds and generations could work together so effectively. Until she brought it up, this was an issue I’d never really thought much about. My company began with … [Read more...]
4 Alternative Ideas for Team Bonding
The team that plays together stays together -- right? We’ve all been on our fair share of business bonding excursions, from brunch to bowling, from workshops to drinking. Spending time with your coworkers that isn’t work per se is super important, but it can be difficult to come up with creative, affordable activities all the time. There are only so many times you can play … [Read more...]
5 Characteristics of High Performance Culture
Sponsored by Campbellsville University: It’s no secret that motivation is important to doing good work. “Company culture” has become a popular term among corporate leaders; more and more companies are focusing on creating a culture that fosters motivation in their workforce. This is more than a simple fad: According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), “Why we work … [Read more...]
How to Handle Conflict in the Workplace
No matter what company you work for, or whether you are a regular employee or a team leader, you will come into conflict with other people sooner or later. This usually happens because people in the workplace have different views on problem solving and different temperaments. Even though many people like to avoid conflict, it is best to work directly on resolving it, as it … [Read more...]
4 People Every Successful Businessperson Needs on Their Team
No one succeeds alone. From the people who pave the roads we drive on to the teams that run the restaurants we lunch at, there are countless souls that help us navigate each day. The team that helps you be great at what you do runs the gamut from coworkers and clients to family and friends. Everyone needs a tribe, and that tribe should include four essential roles – the … [Read more...]
How to Boost Morale in Your Office
Regardless of what you may have heard or what the general opinion may be, office morale isn’t a term coined by those employees who are looking to cut corners at the office. If anything, a healthy office morale is your business’ chance to get phenomenal results, and quick. How so? We’ll get into it in a second. What most employers/entrepreneurs/bosses/supervisors don’t seem … [Read more...]
5 Creative and Fun Team Building Activities
Sponsored by Museum Hack: Tech hub, creative melting pot, cultural destination -- these are just a few ways to describe the Bay Area. With so much going on, San Francisco is the perfect place for companies looking to do some serious team building - and not the kind that puts employees to sleep. Sometimes, the key is adding a little creativity -- and creativity isn’t hard to … [Read more...]
Is Multitasking Ruining Your Meetings? 3 Tips to Boost Engagement
You call a meeting to discuss some crucial matters with regard to staff training issues. How the managers decide to proceed once you lay out the facts as you know them will have a great impact on the effectiveness of their new hires to do their jobs in the future. You have arranged for ample supplies of coffee, prepared a thoughtful, workable agenda and distributed it, and … [Read more...]
What Reading “The 5 Love Languages” Taught Me About Leading A Team
"The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman is an excellent book about love and relationships, but little did I know what it would teach me about leading a team of employees. Initially, when I read the book, I read it to find out about my communication style in relationships, but it taught me a tremendous amount about my communication style in my business, too. There is a lot to … [Read more...]