Smart Solutions in Tight Times: Three survival courses for managers

BEST OFFER—GET ALL THREE ON ONE CD FOR JUST $199

Times are tough and you’re up against it: You’ve got to get more out of people who are anxious, resistant and just-plain underperforming. These hour-long audio conferences will show you how to navigate between the rocks and the hard places to get the most out of your strongest workers, your weakest—and everybody in between.

Each recorded audio session is affordably priced at $99 each. Better yet—choose all three and pay just $199. That's like getting one free!

Hard times, high morale: How to keep nervous employees focused and motivated
PURCHASE CD TODAY!

Your people know it as well as you do: The economic recovery isn’t happening overnight and the layoffs you’ve done might not be the last. So what do you say—and how often—to shut down the rumor mill and redirect employee anxiety into productivity that will give everyone the best chance to hold onto their jobs?

You'll Learn How To:

• Identify employees' "security blankets"—and preserve and protect them
• Make critical distinctions to address rumors head-on
• Ditch the rah-rah cheerleading and adopt the "one notch higher" positive-attitude strategy
• Dissect painful decisions (such as layoffs) with transparency and frame the situation by analyzing past/present/future
• Take a fresh look at your incentives so that you reward productivity—and let employees choose and customize their rewards

Listen to a 90-second excerpt from Hard times, High Morale:     

“Reorg Resisters”: How to handle them when you can't let them go
PURCHASE CD TODAY!

As companies reorganize to contend with the recession, the only constant is … cynical, uncooperative or disgruntled employees who can make or break the change by spreading negativity and slowing things down. Learn how to neutralize every strategy of reorg resisters, from straightforward sabotage to malicious compliance, and get them on board.

You'll Learn How To:

• Define winners and losers in a reorg—but provide tools and resources so that all can prosper
• Acknowledge errors at the top to weaken employees' grounds for resistance
• Mix short- and long-term inducements for employees to cooperate with the reorg
• Spot signs of malicious compliance early and respond decisively
• Let employees vent to you—and dignify their concerns

Listen to a 90-second excerpt from "Reorg Resistors":     

Bringing up the rear: How to improve the performance of your weakest people
PURCHASE CD TODAY!

Every manager tolerates laggards, because firing them is disruptive and expensive. But in these tight times, the pressure is greater than ever to either eject them or elevate their performance, pronto. Learn “quick wins” that will immediately improve the productivity of your least effective people.

You'll Learn How To:

• Set simple performance measures that meet three criteria: easy periodic tabulation, is employee controllable and contains written confirmation
• Avoid the "misplaced attention" trap: Direct your attention to stars, not laggards
• Take the stigma out of poor performance by focusing on documenting it
• Discuss your performance concerns privately with an employee—even if he or she makes it public
• Take the "three question" test to weigh whether it's time to terminate

Listen to a 90-second excerpt from Bringing Up the Rear:     

Your Presenter

Morey Stettner is the editor of Managing People at Work newsletter. In addition, he is a business writer, communication consultant and the author of four popular business books, including Skills for New Managers (McGraw-Hill) and The Manager's Survival Guide. Since 1995, he has written more than 700 articles for Investor’s Business Daily and currently writes for IBD’s “Managing for Success” page. Morey graduated magna cum laude from Brown University.