The People Equation

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

When my children were in elementary school, there was a situation in my household where one of my children fibbed to me prior to bedtime. The next day, after discovering the truth of the situation, I found myself ever-so-slightly less trusting of answers being given by that child. I was shocked at my hasty conclusion – surely one fib does not a liar make!

Exercises 139

Exercises Productivity Groups Resources 139

The People Equation

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

On a Mother’s Day many years ago, I received what remains one of the most delightful and meaningful Thank You notes ever. The sender was my son’s Little League coach, Coach Bob, who demonstrated a leadership quality that went beyond the baseball field. People appreciate being thanked. This is true whether you’re a Little League mom, a government worker or employed by a large company.

Coaching 172

Coaching Study Report Wellness 172

The People Equation

OCTOBER 17, 2023

As a leader, have you planned for the Ambiguity Factor in your leadership communication plans? When it comes to communicating about change, there are oodles of reasons why the launch of a new system goes awry— competing values, unclear objectives, unrealistic deadlines, budget constraints and so on. From a social psychology standpoint, here’s another reason that gets buried underneath the more observable causes: human beings’ reaction to leadership communications about a change.

Planning Tools 170

Planning Tools Competencies System Meeting 170

The People Equation

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

Think about someone you lead who you don’t see eye-to-eye with. Do you seem to be having the same tired old conversation again and again? Do you think that if you could just somehow make your point in a way that’s more appealing, then surely this person will see your point of view? I’m reminded of something Al Switzler, co-author of the books Crucial Conversations and Influencer said during a webinar: “If your response to frustrating conversations is to increase the frequency of your key point o

Policies 180

Policies Company ATS 180

The People Equation

AUGUST 28, 2023

Do you ever dread leading a meeting because you know that people are going to show up with barely concealed negativity or meeting malaise? People have lots of possible reasons for resisting your meeting. Take a hard, honest look at the meetings you run. Do any of these conditions exist? It’s heinously boring. (Sorry, but it had to be said.) See here and here for ways to liven it up.

Meeting 166

Meeting Time and Attendance Productivity ATS 166

The People Equation

JULY 24, 2023

Is your organization built on a culture of trust? Trust is a vital component that can significantly impact the success and well-being of a company. However, in many organizations, trust is a scarce resource. According to studies, 79% percent of employees trust their coworkers ahead of HR, or their leadership. This lack of trust can have detrimental effects on productivity, employee engagement, and overall organizational performance.

Immedis 148

Immedis Resources Employee Engagement Study 148

The People Equation

JULY 11, 2023

You’re a professional, right? Yep, that’s what I thought. Me too. One of the hallmarks of professionalism is emotional restraint; I pride myself on my ability to zip my lips when needed. But once in awhile, I experience a momentary lapse—times when exasperation or sarcasm gets the best of me and I say something I wish I could take back*. Let’s face it, we professionals are human; if only there was an “undo” button on our mouths.

Wellness 132

Wellness Company How To ATS 132

The People Equation

JUNE 26, 2023

Here’s an interesting question about workplace communication: What do you say to someone who says, “Want some cheese with that whine?” to you at work? Google is sending folks to this blog with those keywords, so apparently, there are people who are grappling with it. So, let’s take a look at how to handle the snarky jab from a potentially less-than-friendly source.

Course 204

Course Wellness ATS How To 204

The People Equation

JUNE 19, 2023

What are the stories we tell ourselves? It’s a simple question, yet one rich with possibility. In my years of creating leadership development programs, one of the “stories” that continually surfaces with leaders is the story of “I need to do X for my direct reports because they are not yet ready/willing/able to do it for themselves.” At first blush, this story seems an “open and shut” case.

Coaching 183

Coaching Compliance Training Report ATS 183

The People Equation

MAY 15, 2023

Psychological safety is having an identity crisis. The once-obscure academic concept is now part of mainstream corporate lexicon–and, surprise! It’s been taken out of context, used incorrectly and misappropriated to the point that it’s barely recognizable in its current state. The concept’s bastardization is a crying shame because its original intention was pure: to offer a framework for leaders to create a culture where people feel free to voice their (sometimes) unpopular or sensitive opinions

Compliance Training 181

Compliance Training Groups System Productivity 181

The People Equation

MAY 1, 2023

When did the word “no” become impermissible at work? Many people think they can’t say “no” on the job. They tell me, “It’s just not acceptable.” They say it’s because they work in a “can do” culture. Or, they work for a boss who is pure evil. They’re afraid they’ll lose their jobs if they don’t try to do everything humanly possible to bring in one more client, finish up one last project before heading home…

ATS 195

ATS Conference Analysis Analytics 195

The People Equation

APRIL 3, 2023

I once had a coaching client confide to me that professional development just “wasn’t his thing.” His point: some people don’t see the value in the extra effort required for formalized self-improvement activities at work. This individual was a highly educated, hard-working and effective professional; I wouldn’t characterize him as a slacker. What is an Individual Development Plan?

Planning Tools 155

Planning Tools How To Assessment Software Conference 155

The People Equation

MARCH 28, 2023

There are hundreds of articles written each week about creating workplace morale through improved employee engagement, yet how many of those articles describe the specifics of what leaders must do to achieve this important, yet elusive objective? Meet Bob Richards, CEO of North American operations for a global logistics company. Bob has extensive experience in building engaged, productive teams (that are fun to work with!

Policies 210

Policies Employee Engagement Examples Industry 210

The People Equation

MARCH 13, 2023

Being a leader is tough enough, but downright demoralizing if you feel like you’re swimming upstream against the currents of a toxic workplace. If you want to stand apart and make a positive difference at work it might seem like you’re living in this weird, misshapen house where some of the doorways don’t lead anywhere, a few of the rooms don’t connect to other rooms and. are those people actually using tin cans as a way to communicate from one floor to the other?

Interview Software 223

Interview Software Course Strategy Productivity 223

The People Equation

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

A hard truth: at one time or another, we’ve all been a jerk at work. Maybe it was a looming deadline that finally snapped your last nerve. Or an issue from your home life seeped over into work and made you edgy and cranky. Whatever the reason, sometimes leaders are rude to others. It happens. But it’s not just about your momentary rudeness. There’s a larger issue at hand: when you’re a leader, your actions affect a much larger wider circle of folks — and that has implications for your lead

ATS 197

ATS Time and Attendance Competencies Conference 197

The People Equation

NOVEMBER 7, 2022

Very early in my career, I had four bosses in the span of less than four years. It’s not as bad as it sounds; I worked in retail where churn was high. And all of the departures were due to internal promotions, so that’s a good thing. I look back on that time fondly because each woman I reported to had very different work styles and personalities. Not only were these women my work team leaders, they were my mentors and I was a sponge, soaking up their advice and insider tips.

Time and Attendance 253

Time and Attendance Interview Software Planning Tools Meeting 253

The People Equation

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Appreciation matters. According to research by recognition experts OC Tanner, only 61% of people feel appreciated at work. And although many employers think the reason people leave is compensation, only 12% of people who leave their company cite that as the reason for their departure. The real reason folks are departing? A whopping 79% say they’re out the door because of a lack of appreciation.

Analytics 268

Analytics Compensation Wellness ATS 268

The People Equation

AUGUST 29, 2022

When we were kids, all it took was donning a beach towel cape and running through the neighborhood to make us feel strong and competent. A simple garment addition and voila! We were superheroes. Then, we grew up and went to work. At your place of employment, you might be less inclined to feel the superhero and more likely to think, “We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful.

ATS 222

ATS Competencies Conference Meeting 222

The People Equation

AUGUST 19, 2022

When you hear the phrase “office politics,” what comes to mind? Do you imagine: Favoritism Back-stabbing “Makes me want to run and hide” Cronyism Self-interest. It’s not a pretty list, is it? Whenever I talk with people about “office politics” their viewpoints have a negative theme associated with them. These words represent the dark side of human nature – what I call “people behaving badly” at work.

Competencies 168

Competencies Talent Development Compliance Training Groups 168

The People Equation

AUGUST 15, 2022

Meetings at your company aren’t going away. If anything, that much-maligned beast is growing in prominence, thanks to the remnants of the surge of video meetings created by the pandemic. Meeting attendance ranges from a weekly average of 15% when spread across all job types, to upwards of 70% of an executive’s week. So, yeah. Meetings are a thing. And if you run meetings, it’s your job to make sure they’re as effective as possible. .

Meeting 194

Meeting Time and Attendance Trends Productivity 194

The People Equation

JUNE 28, 2022

As a leader, what’s the best way to foster a learning mindset in your employees? Become a habitual learner yourself. Start by asking yourself, what’s the most significant thing I’ve learned in the last 10 days? By “learning,” I don’t necessarily mean attending an educational event. Rather, what have you recently discovered that will aid you in leading your team?

Compliance Training 209

Compliance Training ATS Report Examples 209

The People Equation

MAY 31, 2022

“She’s hard on herself, but it’s because she demands excellence. ” “The team is relentless in their pursuit of perfection.” How many times have you heard others – or said something similar – and meant it as a compliment? When employees demand perfection of themselves, there’s a fine line between healthy striving and self-defeating perfectionism.

Exercises 281

Exercises Talent Experience Productivity Coaching 281

The People Equation

MARCH 1, 2022

A note to people in leadership: have you considered the role that reverse mentoring can play as part of your career development efforts with employees? Check out this career advice article on the topic. Consider sharing this post with a young employee looking to expand their network, or a mature colleague who would appreciate a mutual exchange of wisdom with a younger colleague ~ Jennifer.

How To 142

How To Career Development Meeting Competencies 142

The People Equation

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

Welcome to guest author John Stanko, who, along with Jim Dittmar, have written a new book launching later this month titled, The LEADERS Model: Essential Practices for Today’s Leaders. ~ Jennifer. Guest post by John W. Stanko. I have worked with many nonprofits over the years, including some churches, and have found them for the most part to be fiscally responsible.

Discrimination 171

Discrimination Resources Wellness Groups 171

The People Equation

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Does your workplace have a hybrid configuration or hybrid culture? The Great Place to Work blog offers the distinction and it’s an important one for leaders. A hybrid configuration is one that pays attention to the mechanics of hybrid work models – who works from home, who works on-site and so on. Think, “place and space” focus. By contrast, a hybrid culture is one that, according to this GPTW article , “is the combination of workplace systems, behaviors and values that cut across in-person and

Planning Tools 184

Planning Tools System Data Company 184

The People Equation

DECEMBER 7, 2021

After nearly two years of the grief, trauma and anxiety of living through a pandemic, it’s no surprise that most of us are tired and have brain fog. Many workers report a feeling of languishing and it shows no signs of abating. As of the writing of this post, the omicron variant has hit the shores of the United States. The uncertainty of its impact creates fresh dread across the globe, which further fuels weariness. .

Groups 267

Groups Meeting Exercises Screening 267

The People Equation

NOVEMBER 30, 2021

When you start a new job, what’s your plan for getting acclimated to your new role? Do you even have a plan? Throughout the years, I’ve observed leaders – either coming in from the outside, or transferring departments – launch their leadership journey. The most successful ones start their new job before they report to work on their first day. Why? Because they understand that to hit the ground running on Day One, they must take prior action.

Background screening 223

Background screening Meeting Career Development Compliance Training 223

The People Equation

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

The Great Resignation, the Great Reshuffle, The Great Migration. The media is awash with coverage about stats that indicate workers are on the move in numbers previously unseen in the U.S. labor market. No matter what it’s called, this workplace trend affects leaders all over our country as employees leave their current employers in droves. What does it mean to managers struggling to maintain staffing levels?

Staffing 192

Staffing Metrics Trends Comparison 192

The People Equation

NOVEMBER 9, 2021

Have you ever been in a meeting and the leader of the group says, “Hey, I have an idea!” and then proceeds to outline a suggestion that they clearly think is marvelous. But you’re not convinced it’s marvelous. So the group sits there in awkward silence, trying to think of a diplomatic way to proceed. This is an opportunity to practice what Phil Buckley, author of Change on the Run calls, “testing a leader’s thinking.

Interview Software 155

Interview Software How To Groups Meeting 155

The People Equation

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

. Phil is the president of a mid-size company that has a huge safety problem. If you were to tell him this, Phil would scoff and proudly show you his company’s OSHA records. It’s true that Phil’s company does a great job protecting the physical safety of his workers. However, it’s an entirely different type of “safety” in the workplace that’s lacking, and it’s being driven by Phil’s own actions, even though he doesn’t realize it.

Workable 146

Workable Immedis Coaching Productivity 146

The People Equation

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Spoiler alert: I’m a big fan of Chris Edmonds’ thought leadership. Having reviewed his book The Culture Engine and interviewed him , I’m always up for reading his insights. Now he’s back with his latest book, Good Comes First: How Today’s Leaders Create an Uncompromising Company Culture. He’s partnered with Mark Babbitt, co-author of A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive to write a much-needed guidebook for leaders who are road-weary from nearly two years of pandemic upheaval,

Video Recruiting 143

Video Recruiting Interview Software Coaching Tools 143

The People Equation

SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

When Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner wrote their now-classic book “The Leadership Challenge”, a foundational piece of their research focused on leaders as role models. In the authors’ article Model the Way , they write, “Exemplary leaders know that it’s their behavior that earns them respect. The real test is whether they do what they say; whether their words and deeds are consistent.

Study 289

Study Examples Report Course 289

The People Equation

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

I. If you’ve ever held a leadership position, you’ve probably already figured this out: you are held to a higher standard. You are expected to be more. More authentic, more compassionate and most importantly, more ethical than the average working Joe or Jane in your office. Your daily actions are intensely scrutinized. Author S. Chris Edmonds, author of the book The Culture Engine , and Good Comes First (with co-author Mark Babbitt) jokingly tells his coaching clients, “Now that you’re a leader,

Metrics 214

Metrics Coaching Examples Course 214

The People Equation

AUGUST 24, 2021

When you lead a team, great ideas are the lifeblood of innovation and productivity. Let’s say you have an idea that you’d like to toss out to your team. How can you get the folks to speak up and help you discern the idea’s viability? Nobody wants to waste time on a stinker of an idea. Here’s a process from business executive Bob Richards , who has been a long time client of the People Equation.

Meeting 277

Meeting Productivity Wellness ATS 277

The People Equation

AUGUST 10, 2021

People hate meetings. This is not earth-shattering news. Many of the complaints are legit: meetings are unfocused, too long, or unnecessary. Some of the complaints are humorous (but still true.) One of the lesser-mentioned reasons that merits consideration is meeting purpose. People get frustrated with meetings because they are unclear about expectations surrounding the the reason for the meeting.

Meeting 197

Meeting Data Productivity Wellness 197

The People Equation

JULY 20, 2021

Has anyone ever said anything to you at work that was really hurtful or snarky? It’s an experience we can all relate to. Sometimes it’s an intentional slight or power-play. But here’s the thing. More often, it’s an unplanned quip and your colleague wishes they could take it back. There are a couple of different ways you can go when this happens. Personally, I advise going the civilized route—if they apologize, accept.

ATS 188

ATS How To System Examples 188

The People Equation

JUNE 30, 2021

So I’m sitting at a large round table, talking with a team of eight senior-level leaders who work for a large corporation. These are smart, sophisticated people, who have both street cred as field operatives and many years’ experience leading various types and sizes of work groups. We’re discussing the best ways to gain team input. Their comments start to flow: “We need to be more open-minded” “Our younger workforce expects to be part of the conversation” “How do we invite more participation?

Meeting 210

Meeting Groups Diversity Course 210