Given the importance of recognizing the contributions of others, as well as the need to express gratitude frequently, it’s always encouraging to see organizations that embrace formal kudos awards. Whether the recognition appears in a newsletter, through an Employee of the Month award, or just a shout-out during team/company-wide meetings, the employee feels both seen and appreciated. It seems crazy to think that there could be any drawback to expressing appreciation and gratitude, but there are potential pitfalls that should be avoided to ensure the positive intent is not lost.
Transitioning from Friend to Leader
Every change comes with challenges, but the transition from peer to supervisor can be a particularly challenging adjustment. Internal promotions are critical for retaining top talent and leveraging proprietary knowledge gained on the job. But internal promotions can also result in awkward role and relationship changes for individuals who were formerly peers. When one person on a team is promoted to a leadership position, there can be a wide range of feelings among the peers. Some will be happy because don’t have to establish a relationship with a new, unknown manager. Additionally, the promoted manager already understands the business so … Read More
Addressing the Feedback Gap
Now that we are 4 months into the global pandemic, most of us have settled into a rhythm with our new working situation. We’ve adapted to new rules, become more flexible, and adjusted to the ongoing level of uncertainty. As we become more comfortable and settle into a new routine, it becomes increasingly important to ensure our new workplace behaviors are still effective. Now more than ever, we’re likely missing opportunities for real-time feedback as a result of working in a fully remote environment. We’re communicating in shorter bursts and in ways that don’t lend themselves to open conversations for feedback. … Read More
How to Get Unstuck
From time to time, everyone feels a bit lost in life. Whether you’re trying something new, unraveling a particularly challenging problem, or not sure what should happen next, we’ve all experienced that nauseating feeling of uncertainty. It can feel like you’re stuck in a giant maze without a map. While the right answer may not be clear, there are simple steps you can take to begin the process of getting unstuck.
Minding the Need to Be Noticed on a Remote Team
Work styles and personal preferences play a strong role in guiding behaviors, actions, and interpersonal relationships within a team. Each person may vary greatly from one another on the continuum of each preference. One of the most common personality preferences discussed in the era of widespread remote work is the introversion-extroversion preference. While this is certainly an important aspect of personality dynamics that has become widely-recognized, there are several others that play a unique role through remote work.
Cancel the Mid-Year Review
Congratulations! You’ve officially survived the first half of this wacky year. Take a moment to reflect on everything you’ve learned along the way as you overcame countless unexpected challenges. While we all hope the remainder of this year will be better than the first half, if 2020 has taught us anything it’s to expect the unexpected. As much as we’d all like to return to some degree of normalcy soon, there are some important activities we should consider replacing. On the top of that list is the mid-year review.