Consider this: millennials and Gen Z folks are the most diverse in history. In the last 40 years, as these generations have entered the workforce, the percentage of white workers in the U.S. has declined from 83% to 63%. The rise of conversation about diversity and inclusion at work has been happening for a long time, but it’s reached an apex … [Read more...]
How to Negotiate Virtually
Virtual negotiation is one of those things people either love or hate. And whether it’s about negotiating for a job or brokering a deal, there’s a lot more of it happening via videoconferencing and email these days. One recent study found that we’re significantly worse at reading emotions over email. This is not surprising. And reading … [Read more...]
10 traits Google Lists as Critical to being a Perfect Boss
If your goal is to be an excellent boss — and whose isn’t? — Google data can get you there. Here are the 10 traits Google lists as critical to being a perfect boss: 1. You’re a good coach, using challenges as teaching moments. 2. You empower your teams without micromanaging them. 3. You know how to create an inclusive team … [Read more...]
Soft Skills and the Future of Work
Workers are getting softer. Softer-skilled, that is. As automation becomes increasingly ingrained across lines of business, employees who excel at critical soft skills are balancing out the use of machines to achieve basic tasks and traditional manual labor. According to a McKinsey report, the three most in-demand buckets of soft skills … [Read more...]
Does your team have an accountability problem?
Is “lack of accountability” really a thing? Melissa Raffoni, CEO of The Raffoni Group, cautions leaders to use this phrase sparingly. While saying “we need more accountability,” is often intended to light a fire under people, it can have other consequences — like making people feel threatened. Besides which, it’s rare that people are … [Read more...]
Steve Jobs theory about what makes a great leader
"My dog ate that report.” When a child makes excuses, it can be cute. When an adult does, it’s not. Likewise, as a company leader in any capacity, you’re probably used to not making excuses. The legend of Steve Jobs endures in a recent book by John Rossman, Think Like Amazon. According to the book, Jobs had a habit of telling employees a … [Read more...]
How to motivate your team through stressful times
With the current landscape changing rapidly, most if not all employees need to adjust to different work environments, handle concerns about loved ones, and juggle work along with responsibilities at home. As an employer, the more you can remove stress from your employees throughout this time, the more effective they will be in their … [Read more...]
The Lesson in the Shoes
Two shoe salesmen travel to a rural Indian village to investigate market potential. The first comes back dejected: “There’s no potential there. Nobody wears shoes.” The second comes back elated: “There’s so much potential there! No one has shoes!” Point is, a single business challenge can be looked at in more than one way. When you’re … [Read more...]
A Better Way to Develop and Retain Top Talent
Retaining talent: it matters. Especially in an industry like finance, where savvy executives are always in high demand, it’s more important than ever that companies have a concerted strategy for attracting (and keeping!) top-tier talent. The Harvard Business Review recently published an article on developing and retaining top talent. One … [Read more...]
How to Build a Strong Company Culture
Want to build something great for the world? First, you have to build something great inside your company. This is the argument Fast Company co-founder Bill Taylor makes. He believes that companies that do great things operate from within a great company culture, and that culture is always built on unique rules. For instance, there’s … [Read more...]
