Memos to Managers

Let them butt heads! How to inspire healthy conflict

07/01/2014

Good managers want employees to constructively challenge their ideas because it produces better decisions and problem-solving.

Self-test: How well do you keep employees on task?

05/23/2014

Workplace surveys suggest that employees waste up to one full day of every workweek—up to nine weeks a year—with unproductive time. While some of the blame lies with inefficient or unmotivated employees, some can be chalked up to decisions made (or not made) by managers.

Win by losing: 7 bad communication habits to shed

03/05/2014

The quickest way for managers to improve their professional image is to improve their communication skills. And the simplest way to improve those skills is to stop doing things that repeatedly get you in trouble.

National-origin discrimination: What you need to know

01/27/2014

The rapidly increasing diversity of the U.S. workforce requires all managers to be aware of their legal responsibilities when dealing with applicants and employees from different races, ethnic groups and religions.

Interviewing: Close the sale with the right message

12/26/2013

Everyone who comes in contact with prospective job candidates, from receptionists to hiring managers, must think of themselves as salespeople at times. Here are tips to help achieve that goal.

Better brainstorming: How to inspire group creativity

09/30/2013

Group brainstorming meetings can become productive drivers of company innovation or simply a waste of time. Tips on successfully managing them:

Supervising difficult employees? Mend it, don’t end it

07/31/2013

Rather than ignoring tough situations or automatically getting rid of “difficult” employees, it’s better to learn techniques to effectively manage those situations.

Reining in absences & tardiness: 7 do’s and don’ts

07/05/2013

Managers can’t instantly say, “Be here or be fired” to an employee struggling with attendance issues. Managers have to work with HR to employ strategies that not only combat absenteeism, but also avoid legal trouble.

Demotion or termination? How to make the call

05/28/2013

If you’re faced with an employee who isn’t a good fit with his or her current job, is termination the answer or is demotion a better alternative? The answer is, of course, it depends.

Employee documents: What to keep, what to toss

04/29/2013

Is the paper piling up in your office and in need of a big spring cleaning? Before managers start tossing documents in the circular file, they need to know which employee-related paperwork must be saved—and for how long.