How to Know It’s Time to Add an HR Department
HR activities at startups are often reactive in nature instead of proactive. That leaves gaps in the system. When starting their businesses, most entrepreneurs tend to wear many hats. However,..
How to Leave Work at Work
Some jobs have very clear lines between when you’re “on” and when you’re “off,” while in others the lines are blurred — or potentially nonexistent. That makes not being distracted..
How to Keep Working When You’re Just Not Feeling It
Motivating yourself is hard. In fact, I often compare it to one of the exploits of the fictional German hero Baron Munchausen: Trying to sustain your drive through a task,..
Why Setting Boundaries Is the Secret to Preserving Energy and Focusing on What Matters
One of the major plots of the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade revolves around the search for the Fountain of Youth — some magical elixir that causes a person..
When a Leader Is Causing Conflict, Start by Asking Why
Not long ago, I received a call from an HR manager at a large corporation seeking an executive coach for one of their senior leaders. He was described as arrogant,..
How to Speak Up in a Meeting, and When to Hold Back
I recently spent a month interviewing the group heads of a large financial services company in order to understand how their direct reports need to communicate as they move into leadership positions...