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Why it’s important for leaders to admit their mistakes

Simma Lieberman Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Having worked with leaders in organizations who value inclusion for over 20 years as an adviser and facilitator, I’ve developed a list of behaviors that are crucial for leaders who want to expand and sustain their influence. Relevant to today and every other day is acknowledging and taking responsibility for past, present and future actions that have negatively impacted others. We talk about courageous leadership, and it takes courage to admit you’ve made a mistake, a wrong decision or hurt another person in some way.

Are your expectations too great?

Anne Rose Business Management, Services & Risk Management

It’s admirable to have great expectations — whether in your personal life or your professional career: to expect to do well in school, to expect to be successful in your new job, to expect to have a fulfilling relationship, to expect to be a terrific parent. But is there such a thing as having expectations that are too great? That your expectations far exceed reality? Is there a possibility that your expectations are unreasonable and unattainable? Are there any downsides to having to great expectations?

Encourage stronger cooperation in your workplace

Lisa Mulcahy Business Management, Services & Risk Management

As a manager, you understand the critical importance of each member of your team working harmoniously toward a common goal. Yet sometimes, an individual staff member's personal agenda can interfere with your group working together seamlessly — and your projects can suffer. Here’s what you need to do: identify foolproof ways to foster cooperation, and get your group dynamic in sync. Follow this clear, research-proven advice to ensure excellent team collaboration, day after day.

Jump-start a conversation

Robert C. Harris Association Management

A board member explained, "People joined 30 years ago because it was prestigious. Membership was the way to establish credibility and meet the right people. Our stature has faded since the ‘80s." Another director said, "Our numbers have declined for decades. They joined to build their business connections, now they use the internet." Can this association be jump-started for relevance and to deliver value?

Orientation as a retention tool

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Reading the handbook, reviewing benefits details and filling out paperwork are not the best ways to welcome new employees. Relegating orientation to something to get through as quickly as possible is a missed opportunity on several levels. Instead of scheduling a marathon session with HR, learn three simple ways orientation, especially in small- to medium-sized companies, can be an excellent retention tool.

Can listening to music at work make employees more productive?

Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk Management

"Whistle while you work," the popular song from Disney’s "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," might be more than just a catchy tune. A new survey by Robert Half/Accountemps reveals that most professionals who work in an office like listening to music at work — and are more productive when they do. Among survey respondents, 44 percent can listen to music at work with no restrictions and 38 percent can listen to music at work, but with restrictions, such as wearing headphones.

Basic but brilliant coaching questions

Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Coaching is the process of helping someone master a skill or the correct application of knowledge. Teaching focuses on learning something new; coaching focuses on mastering that something. Teaching ends when someone is able to demonstrate that he or she can correctly perform the skill or apply the knowledge. Suppose a few days ago your employer launched a new initiative. You staff met and received training on the initiative. You’ve just observed Mike, a staff member, who put the initiative to use. Here are three brilliant coaching questions you could use.

Study: Activity-based workplace design on the rise

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

A recent survey of more 100 corporate real estate and facilities executives found that 70 percent of respondents said that they expect to incorporate "activity-based workplace design" into their businesses, and most of those interviewed also said they anticipate a reduction in square footage per employee. These are among some of the findings pointed out in a recent report by CBRE, "Managing Global Corporate Real Estate and Facilities."

Finding more time: A CEO crash course

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

How do CEOs of massive, complex, international companies find time to exercise, sleep, and enjoy their families when so many of us in much less complicated positions can’t seem to do even one of those things regularly? While it may seem that a huge salary and an executive assistant are the answers, those only address part of the massive, relentless responsibilities of these leaders. Here are a few fundamental approaches CEOs use to control their time that the rest of us can apply.

The corn maze of strategic planning

Robert C. Harris Association Management

Fall is the season for pumpkin patches and corn mazes. A corn maze is a strategically designed field that invites people to enter. The goal is to find the exit as efficiently as time allows. It is designed with obstacles and dead-ends so participants feel lost or confused. The maze comes to mind because an association board president said, "Our facilitator is going to lead us through the corn maze. When we exit, our strategic plan will be near completion."

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