Recessions can be a great time to help your company separate itself from the pack and build advantages for years to come. This isn't a matter of faith -- it's a matter of record. Out of previous downturns came enduring innovations that delivered great rewards to those with the courage to unleash them. These include frequent-flyer programs, Fortune magazine, and Federal Express.

Downturns are about psychology as much as they are about the GDP. Don't let risky times dull your appetite for taking smart risks. Move now to generate fresh ideas that might transform your company -- while rivals are still too timid to step up.

During this time, more than others, it is important to remain socially active, have outlets for yourself through family, friends, community, exercise or hobbies, and to continue to work toward your future goals.  Let me know how I can help! Anissa

 

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "A Manifesto for Leaders: Time to Summon Your 'Animal Spirits'" posted on January 8, 2009, by Bill Taylor on "Practically Radical."

In the first week of leading a new team, you'll probably sort your new employees into two groups based on your perceptions of their intellect, cooperation, and initiative: those you'll rely on, and those you won't.

This sorting is necessary, but risky. Labels stick. If you've erred in your sorting, mislabeled employees will find it difficult to change your perceptions. You'll manage them according to your beliefs (for example, micromanaging if you think they need it) and they'll disengage.

To avoid this, test your first impressions. Get to know your employees. Find out what they're good at and where they should develop. Your labels will be more accurate, and your management approach more effective.

The best advice is get to know those you with who you work.

It will make all the difference! Anissa

 

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "New Leaders: Stop Downward Performance Spirals Before They Start," posted on January 16, 2009, by Jean-Francois Manzoni and Jean-Louis Barsoux for Harvard Management Update.

There are thousands of books, articles and anecdotes that offer solutions and counsel on leadership and leadership development, but organizations continue to face leadership crises.

Leaders were once thought of as those who directed or guided groups or activities, but now the definition of a leader has changed to involve greater interaction with group members as a means to reach organizational goals.

To develop successful and efficient leaders, experts note that leadership skills must intermingle with life experiences. Leadership development programs must not only assess individual qualities of potential leaders, but also challenge leaders in areas outside their expertise to ensure they grow and solidify their skills. Additionally, development programs should entail some form of support or mentoring for budding leaders, as well as experiences that ensure ethical behavior in difficult situations.

This last point is the most critical.  Recent studies find that when companies followed up a live training, workshop or seminar with coaching, the coaching coupled with the training quadrupled the improvement in productivity! I hope you are maximizing your training dollars by adding some subsequent coaching and mentoring for lasting impression and effect, Anissa

 

To read more, check out the full article: Conference Board Review (06/08) Vol. 45, No. 3, P. 26; Kramer, Robert J.

Conflict is essential to a team's creative collaboration. Without differences of opinion, there's no synthesis of ideas or debate about important issues. But when conflict is mismanaged, it destroys creative collaboration.

Keep conflict productive by establishing ground rules in advance for working through disagreements. Give team members two options: confront the conflict and handle it — or let it go. Agree to put issues on the table as soon as they arise. When feedback raises tempers, don't rush to cool things down. Instead, arrange team members physically to keep things from getting personal: Put issues and ideas on a white board and seat people around it in a semicircle so they're allied against the conflict, not each other.

Teams are becoming the backbone of most organizations today. These can be in the form of project management teams, task forces, work units, standing committees, quality teams, and improvement teams.  I love working in a team environment but it has its unique challenges with regard to team performance and team development.  Each are equally important but are often aren't in harmony among many teams.  How are you managing the conflict in your work teams?  Let me know! Anissa

 

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Tension in Teams" posted on January 14, 2009, by Jim Kling for Harvard Management Update.

This was an interesting article on CNN.com that I thought was worth sharing.  Why you ask? Because some of these things still occur in the workplace. Recently, a colleague shared an incredible amount of information about her recent medical history. It was very uncomfortable for everyone.  These little tidbits are never not worth sharing.  Enjoy, or pass along! Anissa 

Your first thought was probably "abs of steel" right?  But no, I am asking if you have eight minutes for a video on YouTube.  Why? Because I think it's a great one to watch. I love the message - it's about failure.  Failing is a great thing because without it, you will not find success. John Maxwell wrote a book about it called Failing Forward, which was a fantastic read.  This is a great concept, one individuals and organizations alike could benefit from hearing. I know, I have tried many things, failed, made changes, got better, failed some more, made some changes and then finally succeeded. Ah, the endorphin rush from that is inexplicable.

Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., says that "All the demands from Soichiro Honda (Honda's founder) were to take risks and fail.  The idea is that you can fail 100 times as long as you eventually succeed once".  Take a look ... Failure: The Secret to Success.

It's a great message! Enjoy, Anissa

Salary.com released its 4th annual job satisfaction survey results and am sure some of the news won't surprise you:

> least satisfied workers? Those under 30.

> most satisfied workers? Retirees who are still working in some capacity

> more than half (over 60% actually) are looking for a new job or will begin looking for a new job in the coming months

> 4 out of 5 managers believe their workers are happy and are not looking for a new job (interesting considering the above results)

> some of the reasons why folks aren't looking: benefits, commute, compensation or friendships in the workplace. Notice that none of these factors mention the company's mission or vision or the work itself.   

What does this tell you, a manager or a leader in your organization?  I hope it tells you that you could have an exodus of great talent at any time this year.  That exodus could be your best project manager or your entire PMO.  Regardless, take the time now to stem this tide by engaging in more coaching behaviors with your staff.  If you need help, call me!  Anissa

Having trouble recruiting the talent your group needs to excel? The problem may be that you're clinging to time-based work arrangements, like expecting people to be at the office from 8:30 to 5:00 (or longer) every day.

Today, many people want to work fewer hours and live more balanced lives. Boomers, especially, will look for shorter workweeks in the years ahead. To attract and retain talent for your group, you'll need to accommodate this change.

One solution is to switch from time-based to task-based work arrangements. Assign employees specific tasks, and require them to put in only as much time as it actually takes to get the work done. They decide how, when, and where they complete their tasks.

This is gaining more and more popularity. If you want to research more, check out R.O.W.E. - Results Only Work Environments. Best Buy and other large organizations have adopted this approach, for their greater success and employee engagement.  I have read their book and was fascinated by their concepts.  Enjoy! Anissa

 

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Think Task, Not Time," posted on March 21, 2007, by Tammy Erickson on "Across the Ages."