(C) 2015 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. … [Read more...]
Making Things Happen: Why Initiative Matters
Posted on 04/06/2015 by ·
At least monthly, an audience member will come up to me after a presentation and say something to the effect of, “I love your ideas but hesitate to try anything new, because I’ll irritate my boss or coworkers.” Despite all the research and words we've expended pointing out that engaged team members are more productive, some leaders still enforce the old my-way-or-the-highway attitude. They don't see (or don't care) that unhappy, bored people have low productivity, so they just push them harder, further damaging their performance. Many employees want to help improve processes for the better, but often others aren’t willing to try anything new. Even some leaders who know there's a better way often hesitate to make changes, because their own leaders remain stuck in the past. But … [Read more...]
Creating a Culture of Accountability
Posted on 04/03/2015 by ·
Today, Laura shares thoughts on encouraging accountability in your organization. (C) 2015 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. … [Read more...]
Beyond the Grind: Helping Your People Love Their Jobs
Posted on 03/30/2015 by ·
We've all heard about the fun perks that progressive employers like Google and Yahoo! offered their employees until recently—great social activities, play areas, telecommuting options, free bikes to ride around campus, and the opportunity to spend a fair portion of their work time on projects of their own choosing. This has begun to change as more traditional-minded CEOs come on board, to the apparent chagrin of many. There are other ways to make people look forward to coming to work, without risking that complacency can take hold. Loving a job in a productive way has a lot to do with ownership. Engaged workers own their jobs. They're willing to give their discretionary time to their work. This can only happen when people are proud of where they work, whom they work for, and what they … [Read more...]
Fostering an Effective Collaborative Team Culture
Posted on 03/27/2015 by ·
Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro, shares ideas on encouraging a great team culture. (C) 2015 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]
Mindlessness: Why Don’t We Pay Attention?
Posted on 03/23/2015 by ·
Recently, my son James had a doctor's appointment. While waiting in the back room, he texted on his phone and watched videos. But as soon as the doctor walked in, he handed me his phone. Even at 13, he knew he couldn't pay attention to the doctor and have his phone in his hand. Why can’t some adults learn this? Last week, I had a meeting in downtown Denver, because a prospective client had requested an in-person conversation. During our conversation, he kept pulling out his phone, turning it on, swiping, and glancing down, clicking on his email, periodically tapping one and reading. He must have checked it 10 times while I was there—no explanation, no apology. Seriously, couldn't he have waited 30 minutes to check the phone? Instead of 30 minutes, our meeting was extended to 45 minutes, … [Read more...]
Slipping the Electronic Leash
Posted on 03/20/2015 by ·
Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro, talks about how our devices can hamper our productivity. (C) 2015 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]
Letting Go: The Benefits of Sharing Responsibility
Posted on 03/16/2015 by ·
We've all encountered people who wield their power like a club, whether they work in corporate or government jobs. Until relatively recently, most organizations were hierarchical, and most lower-level workers had little power or autonomy. As new technology has loosened managerial control, this has eased somewhat. While workers exhibit a greater willingness and ability to execute strategy, managers nonetheless often remain reluctant to share responsibility and authority. It may be that in our secret hearts, we all believe the right thing to do is to hold onto all the power we can, especially as we rise into the executive ranks. When you were a kid, your parents probably made you share your toys. You may have done the same with your own kids. However, most people don’t want to share … [Read more...]
Controlling Your Inner Perfectionist
Posted on 03/12/2015 by ·
Laura talks about perfectionism. (C) 2015 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. … [Read more...]
The First 90 Days: Tips to Keep You On Top
Posted on 03/09/2015 by ·
In mid-January, LinkedIn's Amy Chen asked the columnists to answer a question: "What's your best tip for navigating the #First90 days on the job?" First, you may be wondering, why 90 days? Because that's a standard business quarter. Your superiors and coworkers will decide they have you figured out by then (even if they haven’t). This means you'd best impress them quickly; because as the cliché goes, you never have a second chance to make a first impression. People are wired to assess others rapidly, so how you act and what you accomplish in your first weeks will establish their opinion of you, and that can be very difficult to change later. As much as you can and is made available, study your job requirements well before your first day, and be ready to jump in on the first day. Be … [Read more...]
