Leadership & Career

App of the Month: CardMunch

September 1, 2012
How many times have you come home from a business function armed with so many business cards that you can’t keep track of them all? CardMunch is designed to eliminate these problems.

What you can learn from ‘Undercover Boss’

September 1, 2012
Perhaps you’ve seen the show Undercover Boss, in which an executive goes undercover and tags along with an employee during his or her daily tasks.You do not have to go to this extreme to find out what is going on in your department. But ask yourself when the last time was that you left your desk to walk through the cubicles or manufacturing floor or visit a customer or a client.

Promoted to manager? 10 survival tips for rookie bosses

May 29, 2012
There’s a huge difference between mastering a specific task and managing employees. Supervision requires a different skill set that, for many rookie managers, doesn’t come as easy as doing the work. Here are 10 tips to help new managers transition into their roles.

Take off, knowing the office is in good hands

May 1, 2012
Whether you want to enjoy a summer vacation or have to unexpectedly be out of the office because of a family emergency, actions you take now can save you from worrying about work. These preparations will make you confident that your colleagues can handle your absence.

Getting Input Before Making a Decision

May 1, 2012
Leading from the top down no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing workplace. The most effective management style includes meaningful, ongoing collaboration between managers and employees.

The risk of radiation exposure

March 1, 2012
In the year since an earthquake and tsunami triggered Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, employees around the world are more aware of the dangers of radiation.

Less time, less data earn more kudos from CEOs

July 1, 2011
If you’re preparing to deliver a presentation to the top brass, remember three words: Less is more. Impatient CEOs want your conclusion, pronto.

Tiny motions, big feelings

July 1, 2011
The intensity with which you grip a pen as you sign a contract or write a check says something about how you feel at that moment. The question is whether you’re aware of those feelings.

Observe and learn from customers

April 1, 2011
Managers, like everyone else, are more comfortable and more skilled sticking to old patterns rather than embracing new ones. Experience may teach us certain lessons that become entrenched.

Micromanaging: 5 signs you’re doing it; 4 ways to stop it

March 28, 2011
When it comes to assigning projects, do you spend most of your time telling employees how to do the work? Or do you give them clear goals and guidelines, then get out of the way? Micromanaging is an inefficient use of a manager’s time. It signals distrust of employees and inhibits them from taking initiative. Here are key signs of micromanaging and advice on how to reduce it.