These are probably some of the most annoying phrases in business. You’ve seen them in email, you’ve heard them on the phone, and you’ve probably even used them yourself. I know I have. “I just wanted to check in.” “I thought I’d touch base.” “I’m following up.” I had the chance recently to watch a slightly comical, …
Having earned my bachelor of arts degree almost 25 years ago, I’ve been able to watch the degree go through many cycles of celebration and rejection. It seems that every five years or so a flurry of articles and opinions are published that either refute or validate the good old B.A. Well, it’s in favor …
There’s no amount of skill and talent that can justify the negative emotional – and financial – impact of a toxic employee. Rude workers cost more, produce less, and the resulting ripple effect in an organization is impossible to abate. This is why weeding out toxic people is especially important and should be your number …
Accountability can be an intimidating word that means different things to different organizations. For some, it can mean a general path to completion with starts, stops, and re-adjustments along the way. For others, it can mean deliver – or else. Leadership consultant and author, Peter Bregman, answers the question “How do I get my people …
We can perceive, experience, and communicate feelings as humans. That’s our claim to fame as a species. Sure, other species feel things, but we can actually describe what we feel. We also know that emotions drive customer (and employee) behavior, but most of us are still in the dark when it comes to connecting with …
‘We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.’ — Neal A. Maxwell In keeping with the spirit of this gratitude-filled holiday week, we’d like to extend a simple and sincere thank you. Thank you, Our Readers, for letting us share an idea each week in this note. Thank you, Entrepreneurs and Business …
Jim Collins is one of the most accomplished business researchers and writers in the world. He wrote “Built to Last” with Jerry Porras (on the best seller list for 6 years), followed up by “Good to Great” (sold over 2.5 million hard cover copies) but “Great By Choice” might be his best work ever because …
Issues and problems pop up daily and there are a thousand ways to solve each one. Being stuck and being perfect are the enemies of progress and problem-solving, but how do you guard against those man-made traps? Gino Wickman is the designer of EOS®, the Entrepreneurial Operating System, which is a set of simple business-building …
Joseph Grenny is a four-time New York Times bestselling author and leading social scientist for business performance. One of his most popular books is “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High.” So what’s a crucial conversation? Grenny defines it as a moment when opinions differ, the stakes are high, and emotions are strong. In his 25 years of studying …
Whether you’re writing ads, articles, or emails, simple word selection can make a big difference in driving results versus being ignored. You’ve got to be sure to use power words in your writing if you want people to notice and do something. Attractive art like photos and illustration can grab attention, but experienced communicators know that …
