Communication

Seal the conference room doors!

April 10, 2015
What would happen if you closed down your conference rooms for a bit?

How to liven up those quiet meetings

March 17, 2015
You gather a group to brainstorm, swap notes and solve problems. You want them to open up. But they’re a quiet bunch, and you’re worried they will sit and stare rather than stand and deliver. Here’s how to fix that.

The art of giving good instructions to staff

March 6, 2015
Giving instructions is an important management skill. And it is a skill—one you can learn and improve on. Here are some guidelines.

What drama queens and kings are really after

March 2, 2015
It’s easy to become ham-handed when trying to stifle gossip and a runaway rumor mill. Marie McIntyre, Ph.D. explains how they start.

Think outside the suggestion box

February 16, 2015

Maybe you’ve got a physical Suggestion Box that employees can drop paper notes into. Maybe you’ve taken the concept digital with an Idea Wiki or some other online tool. Either way, unless management makes it a priority to regularly request (and implement) suggestions from the rank-and-file, that fertile soil of ideas will quickly dry up.

Let’s get this meeting out of order!

February 8, 2015
This content requires a subscription. PLEASE LOGIN Email Address: Password:   I forgot my password Subscribe today to get: The nation’s premier newsletter for managers, filled with valuable tips and advice Unlimited access to ManagingPeopleAtWork.com — updated daily! Skill-building online training, plus valuable forms, templates, skills assessments and more Expert advice on office administration, managing […]

Avoid the ‘ASAP’ trap

January 26, 2015
While requesting results “as soon as possible” can underscore the urgency of the job at hand, it can also breed resentment if workers tire of always having to rush in a panic to give you what you want.

How to handle an angry worker

January 22, 2015
When one of your people is angry, how do the two of you commu­nicate and resolve the underly­ing problem? Here’s some expert advice.

Jump into your sentences for better communication

December 22, 2014
Once in a while, try to become hyperaware of the times you sprinkle your speech with ‘so,’ ‘um,’ ‘like,’ ‘I mean,’ ‘well’ and other placeholders.

What is the four email rule?

December 4, 2014
If any correspondence requires more than four emails, pick up the phone or take a walk down the hall to talk in person.