people management

Manager giving an employee critical feedback How to Give Tough Feedback

It's not easy to give tough feedback. But delaying, withholding, or sugarcoating critical feedback is ultimately a disservice—to the individual, the team, and the work involved. Giving timely, constructive feedback is one of the most important roles of any manager. Here’s how to handle these delicate situations.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Black swan The Black Swan Myth Actually Devalues Expertise

People love to hear how someone with no formal training solved a problem that stumped experts because they weren't tainted by years of experience. These "black swan" stories are the exception, though, not the rule, and they can be dangerous because they trivialize hard work and study. Most times, you want an expert.

Payson Hall's picture
Payson Hall
A project team bumping fists 6 Ways to Build Strong Relationships on Your Project Team

When you form a new team to tackle a major project, the project's success hinges not just on the technical savvy of the team members, but also—and especially—on how well the team members get along. How everyone communicates and collaborates can make or break your project. Here's how to build strong team relationships.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Agile servant leader nurturing three small plants To Be a Good Leader, Become a Better Servant

Wanting to serve others—not wanting them to serve you—is one of the best signs of an effective leader. Being a leader is also not about doing more of the work or being the most technical person on your team. Rather, it's actually about giving up some of your work to help others grow. Here's what else good leaders do.

Owen Gotimer's picture
Owen Gotimer
Cute dog wearing a disguise with a fake nose and glasses Beware Confidence Masquerading as Competence

Self-confidence is essential to tackling difficult problems. Where we need to be careful is not being falsely overconfident. What’s behind that overconfidence can either help or hinder your solving issues and achieving a good result. Here's how to make sure that confidence is backed up by competence in your team.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Person in an office wearing noise-canceling headphones Are Headphones Hindering Your Office Communication?

With all the chatter going on in offices, people often turn to headphones to block out the noise and be able to concentrate. Noise-canceling headphones block out distractions, but they can also block out communication. It may be a good idea to set some boundaries for their use so employees can still collaborate.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Sign saying "You got this" next to a laptop Brain Hacks to Engineer an Agile Transformation

When we are presented with a decision, the subconscious determines what we’re most emotionally comfortable with, then fills in the gaps to justify choosing it. In other words: Our brains lie to us. Then how can we ever get out of our comfort zone? Believe in change and take an agile approach to incremental adoption.

Chris Murman's picture
Chris Murman
Man wearing Birkenstock sandals When Casual Dress Is a Little Too Casual

Some companies are shifting to a more casual dress code. This can lead to a more relaxed atmosphere, but what if an employee takes it a little too far? Don't let that be you. It's a good idea, especially if you're new to an organization, to observe the corporate culture, including the norms and expected behaviors.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten