How the #MeToo Movement Will Influence Company Culture in 2018
After the recent thunderstorm of high-profile sexual harassment allegations in the media, the #MeToo movement is shaking down bad behavior in the workplace and demanding action. In the process, this spotlight has revealed how destructive and costly sexual harassment is to individuals and to the reputations of corporations who’ve turned a blind eye to these serious situations. In a recent Inc....
Advocating for Respect: Overcoming Skeptics Who Claim We’re Oversensitive and Too Politically Correct
Hearing about Donald Trump’s recent meeting in which he made disrespectful comments about immigrants and other countries reminded me of an incident I witnessed over 20 years ago, while facilitating a corporate leadership strategy session. I watched – paralyzed – as the CEO of a global company literally screamed obscenities and personal abuse at his direct reports for failing to meet their...
To Be a Great Leader, Learn to Delegate
One of the greatest challenges for many new managers lies in a self-transformation from task master to leader. This transition involves the ability to effectively delegate responsibilities to other team members and empower them to succeed. Harvard Business Review Contributor Jesse Sostrin discusses this common management dilemma and offers strategies to help streamline your workflow, build...
When Simmer Boils Over
A number of years ago, I was engaged as a mediator to help repair the working relationship of two very senior, educated and accomplished professional service providers who simply couldn’t stand one another. One was convinced that their career advancement had been deliberately stalled by the other who, of course, denied any such action. Apparently, their anger at and resentment for each other...
RespectfulDo #7 | Offer a Full Apology for Disrespect
Sometimes disrespect happens. When you slip up and behave disrespectfully, it’s time to practice RespectfulDo #7, “Offer a Full Apology for Disrespect.” A “Full Apology” is genuine and sincere, and is composed of seven crucial steps. Admit it Describe how it hurt them Make no excuses Apologize sincerely, ask for forgiveness Promise: never again Offer to make amends Start immediately Learn...
How to Call in Sick, Respectfully
In their recent article “Overindulge on a holiday? Here’s how to tactfully call in sick,” the Chicago Tribune consulted business experts on the best ways to stay home from work after a holiday. Gregg recommended calling in as early as possible and using a simple statement like “I’m not feeling well, but I’ll be fine by tomorrow.” Other good tips from the article include taking the day off...
Transparency: The Key to Loyalty
Forbes contributor Jeanne Meister is an expert in preparing companies for the workplace of the future. She calls the 21st century “frenetic,” full of employees who change jobs frequently. Successful companies must have loyal employees to keep things steady and contribute to long-term success. Statistics have shown that having a loyal staff is correlated with having transparency. Transparency...
Why “Lazy Leaders” are Detrimental to an Organization
What is “lazy leadership”? According to Forbes contributor Scott Edinger, it happens when a leader avoids challenging tasks or conversations. It can be hard to spot – ironically, “lazy leaders” tend to be hyperactive, engaging in tasks and behaviors that fill up their time but don’t advance the goals and strategies of the company. These can include checking email constantly or dealing with...
Make Fairness a Priority
A key part of being respect-worthy is being fair. According to Marcus Erb, senior research partner and consultant with the Great Place to Work Institute, employee concerns about fairness are common leadership problems. He provides excellent suggestions on how to make sure that your organization is as fair as possible. Handle promotions fairly. Employees may complain that a colleague’s...