Thank you, Beverly and Sharon, for joining us last week in FC Now. People can continue to discuss the book online, and the related guest host FC Now entries have been archived under a category heading to the left. Your contributions ...READ»
Did this week fly by? It seems like only yesterday Heath was tutoring Bev and me on the fine art of blogging. I was so proud to even learn a few words of a new language, html.
I had fun and learned a lot --- from you, Bev, and from ...READ»
Well, the time has come - a farewell post. I'm closing the office early so that my family (retired rocket scientist-husband, fifteen-year old daughter, and part dalmation-part terrier dog) can get a good start on the road to ...READ»
Sharon and I first got interested in the whole concept of "jerk" bosses when we did our original research. When we asked people what keeps them and why they leave, most said that the words they put on their exit interviews weren't ...READ»
An anonymous FC Now reader, who signed their message "Concerned," emailed Fast Company with some concerns about the commitment and honesty of their employer.
"Concerned", you've just asked us a million dollar question. I can't tell ...READ»
Sharon, last night you mentioned that one of your executive coaching clients admitted to being a sour-puss. Those weren't your words, just my interpretation. You were coaching him about how to do some fun things with his team even ...READ»
Fortune has again come out with their annual "100 Best Companies to Work For", and, as could be expected, the "Best Work Practices" presented for each company remind me of much of what we've been posting here all week.
For example, ...READ»
Hey Sharon,
I just re-read your advice to Holly. I agree - sometimes, if the boss is toxic, you really do have to pick up and say, "enough is enough". It made me think about the opposite; what makes for a good boss. I think ...READ»
Hi Holly. A long overdue response to your comment about the yelling supervisor. In short, you CAN NOT love your job while being yelled at. In fact, research shows that the relationship you have with your manager not only ...READ»
Cindy, thanks for that comment. You are so right - we can get energized by people and concepts. I think sometimes we forget that. I think we have to know all the things that give us that zip, that make us feel that "this is a ...READ»
Don, it's clear that you've hung out in the healthcare industry for some time. I completely agree with your comments about the importance of powerful, high-integrity, savvy leadership at the top. In over 20 years of OD work, I've ...READ»
Hi John!
Seems like Bogle likes to quote great literature. He had a great quote for me when I met him several months ago in the Vanguard cafeteria. (He goes back to "visit" all the time.) We were doing some retention work there ...READ»
Heath -- first, glad you finished the book. Secondly, don't you just love paradox? You are so right that we told you to be a better listener and then told you to quit gabbing so much that you can't get your work done in your ...READ»
In finishing the book last night, I came across a couple of sections in the "Understand" and "Wellness" chapters that -- while resonating strongly with an experience at work just this week -- seemingly contradict each other. I don't ...READ»
Tom, I agree, and you make your point succinctly and well. But let me take it one step further, on your "trust" answer, for starters. I think there is more to "do" around trust than just the issue of executive compensation. And it ...READ»
Donald, your question about how to challenge and motivate overworked, underpaid nurses struck home with me. I spent the first 15 years of my career in healthcare and have a very strong "heart-connect" to anyone in the field. My ...READ»
Ken and Alan, you agree that the workforce shortage projections don't quite jive. You're not alone. It seems counterintuitive to think we'll have an extended worker deficit, especially when every one of us knows at least one person ...READ»
A friend of mine called tonight to complain about her boss. As I listened, I agreed that her boss was completely out of line in calling her on the carpet in front of her colleagues. She felt terrible, she was in tears on the phone ...READ»
Yesterday I got interviewed by someone who was doing a presentation on work satisfaction for his professional association, a group of people in the travel industry. He asked me if I thought the Gen Ys (those young ones) would stay ...READ»
Hey Heath,
You asked a good question. You asked Sharon and I how we keep focused and invested. (How do we keep loving our work?) I had to think, but not for long. We both do love our work, and I think we keep focused and ...READ»
In the FC Book Club online discussion, Donald Johnson makes an interesting point: While leaders can't always motivate people, they can surely demotivate them.
The key is to try to hire upbeat, self-motivated people and to keep the ...READ»
Grrrrr. I just got off the phone with a client who was describing the vast amount of dollars spent on their yearly employee survey. He told me the that the lowest respondent scores were around feeling challenged at work, feeling ...READ»
Some managers believe we've returned to an employer-centric era and we're here to stay. Why else would they think (sometimes even say) to their talented people, "Quit whining, be glad you have a job."
I believe those managers ...READ»
Bev, you mention tough times.
I wonder how others feel about the New Year. Are we getting past the tough times? Are you feeling more optimistic about your organization or your opportunities?
If the answer is yes, what does that ...READ»
I was surprised this morning, while pouring a cup of coffee, to see a segment on the Today show about blogging. Anyone catch it? Matt Lauer interviewed a psychologist about teenage blogging. She said that teenagers love this ...READ»
