Relationship Building when Facing Unsavory Business Situations

Oftentimes in business dealings we are faced with unsavory situations with clients and peers. These can prove to be destructive or, if handled well, can actually strengthen our relationships. In this article I share some helpful tips and techniques I have learned.

Listening Techniques For More Effective Meetings, Part I

Business meetings are often derailed by poor listening and communication. In this two-part article, we discuss the importance of active listening and how this can make meetings more productive.

Listening Techniques For More Effective Meetings, Part II

This is the second half of a series on active listening in the workplace. In this article, we continue discussing the importance of active listening and how it can greatly improve workplace productivity.

Vocabulary-It Does Matter

This article describes the benefits associated with possessing a good vocabulary.

Office Big Brother – Who is Watching You?

Recently two legal secretaries made the front page of every major national newspaper. Why? Because they had engaged in an e-mail war over a sandwich! Somehow the contents of the now infamous e-mails were leaked outside of the company and landed in e-mail in-box’s everywhere. Those who leaked the e-mail may have thought it was all a bit of a laugh to share with their friends. But what happened next was that details of the e-mail made it into national newspapers and caused a flurry of discussion and debate on news shows and chat shows around the country.

Too Much Or Too Little Can Hurt

Whether you talk too little or talk too much you need to take control of your behavior if you want to succeed in relationships, career and your life.

How Can I Help My Boss Conduct Better Meetings?

Someone asked for help. Here are a dozen (plus one) possibilities.

Communicating to All Employees

Have you ever managed a large multi-shift workforce? Have you ever thought “What if I could personally communicate with everyone on all shifts?” I once managed a large multi-shift workforce and communicating to that workforce was a big issue for me and it was very important to do it properly.

3C's + 3M's = Effective Communication

Effective communication is the single most important skill we can develop. Communication permeates every phase of our lives and business. You CAN become a more effective communicator if you work at it. Use the tenets outlined in this article and you WILL become a more effective communicator.

Lean Manufacturing Software Alone Is Not the Answer to What Ails Manufacturing Performance

For years, manufacturers have searched for ways to boost ailing production performance. From the promise of ERP, to Lean initiatives, Six Sigma and a plethora of other tips and techniques, manufacturers have become the experts at sizing up what works and, just as importantly, what doesn't.

Constructive Feedback in the Workplace

Many managers feel frustration and fear at the thought of giving and receiving employee feedback. Constructive feedback doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some practical strategies for improving employee feedback in your workplace.

Employee Feedback - Building a Positive Workplace Culture

Managers spend around 14% of their time redoing or correcting the mistakes of employees. Could constructive feedback help in improving employee productivity and working relationships? This article draws on some of the research that highlights what’s really happening in our workplaces, offers some strategies that have worked for other businesses and leaves you to draw you own conclusions. Employee feedback just might be worth trying.

Working Effectively Across Borders and Cultures

The last few decades of globalisation have fuelled intensive competition between organisations. With companies relying on individual talent to make them grow effectively in competition with global and local rivals, staff at all levels must heed the diverse cultural backgrounds of their colleagues and those in third party organisations. In a culturally diverse working environment the chance of misunderstandings and miscommunication is elevated with potentially disastrous consequences. The real success of an organisation is significantly related to the extent to which it effectively manages culture-based issues. Cultural training programmes are thus considered vital by many companies seeking to work more effectively across borders and cultures.