Lagniappe: 10 ways to say thanks this season
Lagniappe is an inspiring word. Its origins are from Louisiana Creole French and it means “a...
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Category: Employee Engagement
7 Ways to Share the Love on Valentines Day
Valentine’s Day is devoted to expressing love, appreciation and affection for others. Those ‘others’ do not have to be limited to romantic partners. Valentine’s Day can be a fun opportunity to express your appreciation for those...
Read MoreTeamwork: 3 keys to keep arms locked in battle
As I watch my NCAA men’s basketball brackets fall apart as the tournament winds down (or winds up depending on your team’s good fortune), I have noticed an interesting body language phenomenon. I watch the guys on the bench. In these super competitive games, the players on the huddle together, with arms locked in solidarity as their teammates battle it out on the court. It is such a powerful demonstration of unity and fraternity. It says, ‘We are here, cheering you on. We believe in you.’
Read MoreMarch Madness: A model for business management consultants
College basketball’s March Madness will soon be upon us and basketball fans everywhere look forward to watching the best teams face off as they complete their brackets. Tuning into these super competitive games can be exhilarating.
In business management consultancy, I recommend that my clients keep an eye on March Madness. What makes watching NCAA basketball so exciting – and instructive to management teams – is the level of competitiveness and the “all in” effort these student athletes exude. The love of the game and the fire in the belly are brilliantly on display.
Read MoreBusiness Consulting: Vision engagement and why it matters
If your company or organization wants to embark upon or has recently undergone a significant change, it is vital that you know how to make your employees become your best ambassadors and not your worst enemies through the process. Chicago communication consultants will tell you that the success and effectiveness with which you navigate your employees through new waters is crucial to how the business or organization will fare after the changes are implemented.
Read More6 Engagement Practices that Get Results
The connection and sense of community that can grow between a CxO (referring here to all C-Suite members) and his or her organization’s employees is one of the most overlooked points of leverage that a business can tap into for generating results. Your company’s bottom line depends on the people on your front line – the individuals meeting your customers each and every day, the people creating the products and systems that are the heart of your business. Today, you, as CxO, need to stay close, personal, and relevant to your constituents—your employees. How? By leveraging great communication practices that narrow the chasm between you and your valued employees is the solution. Consistent, timely and relevant communication is critical to engage your team in building the culture and accomplishing the organization’s goals, growing the business, and generating results.
Read MoreVision Engagement: Transformative communication that puts everyone on the same page
Every organization goes through change that needs to be communicated in a comprehensive, congruent manner. Perhaps yours is
* Emerging from a merger or acquisition
* Recovering from a crisis
* Preparing to enter a new market or re-branding
Whatever the change, it is essential not only to manage the immediate logistics and requirements inherent in that change, but to also bring your employees and the organizational culture along with you.
Read MoreAre your employees engaged at work?
In Sunday’s NY Times there was a featured article called Why You Hate Work
By TONY SCHWARTZ and CHRISTINE PORATH
MAY 30, 2014
Here are some highlights:
Read MoreFree the business strategy and mobilize people power
As a leader in an organization, you are likely to be perceived as the one with the answers. You can expect team members to look to you for direction and customers to look to you for accountability. Certainly there are situations and organizations that may require an autocratic leadership style in the short term, but it rarely produces the kind of growth, efficiency, and brand reputation that is necessary for long-term sustainability. Your greatest resource for long-term sustainability is the people you interact with on a daily basis- both employees and customers; their knowledge, their commitment, and their perspective are your reservoirs of growth potential.
Read MoreCascading communication is key to success
What would it mean to you and your organization if your employees were well informed, clear on strategy and focused on the right things? I know we can all agree you’d would be unstoppable. Great communication is key to creating an organization that prides itself on knowledgeable employees, transparent communication and an engaged atmosphere. A critical element in the flow of communication is the power of CASCADING.
Read MoreStuff Authentic People Say
Jack and Suzy Welch’s recent opinion piece in FORTUNE (April 9, 2012) shares three guidelines for how any leader can tap into and communicate their authentic self.
First, quoting the famous philosopher, Popeye, they site that you often hear authentic people give you some version of “I yam what I yam, and that’s all what I yam.” Authentic people are deeply comfortable with themselves. They acknowledge both their weakness and their strengths without apology.
Read MoreWhat we can learn from viral videos
How do you get heard? How do you make sure that what you say has staying power and gets cascaded though out your circle or organization?
I recently watched Kevin Allocca’s TED talk. Kevin is YouTube’s trends watch manager and his talk was an interesting look at what makes a video go viral. He shared that the three key elements that influence whether or not a video goes viral are:
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