Tools & Techniques | Owning Your Mistakes
Unless you’re perfect (is anyone?), chances are you’re going to make at least one or two mistakes in your career. Although you may fear the repercussions from admitting a mistake, denying it will only make matters worse. You’re more likely to be forgiven (and keep your job) if you own your mistakes. Here’s how. Own it. Admit that you made a mistake and describe it....
Just Say No
I’m a “can-do,” kind of person – I’m always letting my colleagues and clients know “I’m here to help; whatever you need.” Part of this tendency is just my nature; I truly enjoy being of service to others, even if there’s no fee involved. Another reason I’m this way is because, let’s face it, saying “no,” or “I...
Conflict: Taking the Temperature
As a leader, it’s your job to identify conflicts and help resolve them, but sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. According to Mark Gerzon, president of the Mediators Foundation, knowing if a conflict is hot or cold is the first step to resolving it. Gerzon explains what makes an issue hot or cold and how leaders can work to make conflict productive and reach innovative...
Tackling a Disrespectful Remark
What would you do if a coworker said something that you found disrespectful? Studies show that how people predict they would react in a situation differs from what they actually do. Amy Gallo, contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, outlines a few options. Decide if you’re going to say something. If you stay quiet, you might be sending the message that the comment or behavior is okay....
Protecting Your Company From Political Controversy
Donald Trump started his presidency by pushing out controversial executive orders quickly and frequently. As the #DeleteUber hashtag that was trending on social media after the JFK airport protests demonstrates, these political actions have already impacted the business world. Some companies are facing serious criticism from employees and customers for their responses – or lack thereof – to...
For Ethical Behavior, You Need The Right Environment
The recent Wells Fargo debacle, in which 5,300 employees opened over a million fraudulent accounts, is only one of the recent corporate scandals that seem to be increasingly common. 41% of employees say that they’ve seen something unethical in the past year, and 10% reported feeling pressured to compromise ethical standards. What causes such ethical failures? According to Ron Carucci,...