Are You Helping Your Customers or Driving Them Nuts?

Roberta Matuson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:40:00 -0500

My 11-year old son has been waiting patiently to receive his copy of a newly released sequel from the library. I could have bought him the book, but I thought it was important for him to learn what a wonderful resource the library can be. I'm now having second thoughts.

Holiday Do's and Don'ts for New Managers

Roberta Matuson — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:02:10 -0500

The holiday times can be stressful for people, particularly new managers. You need to get work done, yet you don't want to come across as a modern day Scrooge. Here are some tips to help you sail through the holiday season.

Giving Thanks

Roberta Matuson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:37:11 -0500

Ask anyone on the street or in your office the last time they've heard so much as a real thank you from the boss. Oh sure, the boss may have said, "thanks" in passing. That is in passing the employee on the way out to lunch to meet a client. The employee is left wondering if his or her efforts were really worth it. Chances are they won't be raising their hand when the boss asks again for volunteers to stay late.

Five Ways to Really Tick Off Your Employees

Roberta Matuson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:24:25 -0500

A recent survey from Adecco Group North America highlights the increased dissatisfaction workers in America have with their employers. According to the survey:

Are You Measuring the Wrong Things?

Roberta Matuson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:08:01 -0500

Am I the only one who can't figure out why organizations put so much stock in "smiley sheets?" These are the sheets participants complete after they have attended a conference or a presentation. Here's what these sheets usually reveal. They indicate that the participants really can't wait to leave the conference, so they'll just check off whatever boxes they can so they can hit the road. What they don't do is measure how well the participant has assimilated the information or what they will do with this information, which is really the reason companies hire speakers.

Trust Me: This is How You Rebuild Trust

Roberta Matuson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:22:39 -0400

When I help my clients create workplaces based on commitment, rather than compliance we discuss how building trust is a process. It takes time and lots of effort. However, the results far outweigh the effort that must be invested in order to make this happen.
Here are some tips to get you started:

Begin today - Every lost day is a lost opportunity to build a relationship with those members of your team, who you rely most heavily upon.

Are Your Employees Telling You What You Want to Hear?

Roberta Matuson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:56:15 -0400

Are your employees telling you the truth or what they think you want to hear? Case in point. The other day I was speaking with a CEO who proudly mentioned that his employees were quite happy. I pushed back by asking him how he knew this. He said that he had personally visited each location and that his employees had no complaints.

Recession Depression

Roberta Matuson — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:33:46 -0400

Is recession depression spreading in your organization? Here's how you can tell:

Sex in the Workplace

Roberta Matuson — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:21:14 -0400

You may spend most of your waking hours with the people you work with, but does that mean it's a good idea to sleep with them? What I find most interesting about this topic is that even in this day and age, the topic is evergreen. Here's what I mean.

It's Raining Resignation Letters!

Roberta Matuson — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:54:07 -0400

I just saw the movie, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The film is about Flint, a nerdy inventor who transforms the sleepy town of Swallow Falls into a meteorological marvel where the skies pour pizza, hotdogs, and Gummi Bears. As the movie progresses, the Mayor of the town gets on board and places his order for what is truly a smorgasbord to die for. I don't want to give away the ending, but let's just say one needs to be careful for what they ask for.