Did you know 35 percent of managers would rather skydive for the first time than address a problem with their team at work? That’s according to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. Effective leaders must know how to conduct difficult conversations with employees. Because of the common perception that conflict at work is bad, it’s…
Hi Madeleine, I work in the health profession and I’ve just accepted a position in management at a new facility. I don’t know the staff at all. All I know is that the senior leadership wants a change in the management at the facility. What advice would you have on how to tackle a new…
One of the most powerful aspects of telecommuting or working virtually is that, whether you are an individual contributor or a leader, you have more choice about how you show up to your colleagues. Unless your laptop camera is very high quality resolution, people meeting with you virtually probably won’t notice the bags under your…
I recently had an opportunity to sit in on a webinar conducted by Ken Blanchard, Eunice Parisi-Carew, and Jane Ripley, coauthors of the new book Collaboration Begins with You: Be a Silo Buster. As they talked about the book, the three authors shared five key ingredients for creating a collaborative culture on a team, department,…
In her consulting work with organizations, teams expert Eunice Parisi-Carew finds that organizations sometimes confuse collaboration with simply getting along or being polite. That’s a common mistake—and one of the most difficult to address. “Collaboration is often hardest within polite groups of people because they don’t tend to express differences openly,” explains Parisi-Carew. “True collaboration…
Ken Blanchard knows a thing or two about collaboration. After all, he’s written successful business books with over 60 different coauthors. In a new article for Chief Learning Officer, Ken shares five keys for successful collaboration from his latest book, Collaboration Begins with You, which is being released on October 12. Together with coauthors Eunice…
Differences are inevitable when passionate people work together. Eventually, after a team gets through an initial orientation with a new task, members usually come to the realization that working together to accomplish a common goal is tough work. This occurs in the “dissatisfaction” stage of team development when the team recognizes the discrepancy between what…
Dear Madeleine, I am at my wits’ end. I worked hard in college and graduate school and have what some people might call a “Type A” personality. I take on a lot, I work really hard and I complete my work by the agreed-upon deadline. For the past few years I have been working for…
Because of the diversity of ideas and perspectives, virtual teams are the ideal forum to gather best practices and implement changes across geographical and organizational boundaries. Unfortunately, time zone challenges and large group meetings with little time for involvement mean most virtual teams do not live up to their potential. How do you as a…
Dear Madeleine, About 80% of my work day is spent in meetings. I’ve got no time to regularly connect with my staff of 15, although I know it would be beneficial. Can you suggest what I might do? No Time Dear No Time, Boy, as someone who has spent the last twenty years…