How often have you smiled thinly at an unsavory joke, withheld a critical opinion, or kept silent instead of pointing out a mistake a colleague has made? There are many situations in which we choose not to speak up, or at least not to speak up with the truth, fearful that we will suffer, or [...]
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A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person’s brow.
–Charles Browder
When I started the 400 Year Project (to demonstrate and encourage ways of accomplishing 20 times more with the [...]
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The new electronic interdependence recreates the world
in the image of a global village.
–Marshall McLuhan
When I started the 400 Year Project in 1995, I sensed that electronic communications about the project’s goals would be important. But I was clueless about what to do.
The youngest people at Mitchell and Company assured me that we had to have [...]
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For most of us, the thought of confrontation sits up there with going to the dentist, making an off-the-cuff speech or being summoned by our bank manager.
What are we scared of? Are we afraid that our emotions will run away with us when we feel strongly about something? Are we scared of exposing ourselves to [...]
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The background to performance review discussions ought to make these conversations run smoothly. The roles of employee and manager are clearly defined; the relationship between them is structured and based on familiar organizational principles; goals, targets, measures and action plans are usually in place.
How then can we explain the conflicts that arise during performance appraisals [...]
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Newsletters and Magazines are a great way to communicate, not only with customers but the general public as well. You will get your name out there and people will start talking about your business with others. You will not only be getting the exposure of the magazines but also word of mouth. Any business can [...]
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Over the years Human Resource Departments have become more and more sophisticated in designing performance appraisal processes and documentation. We have goals, objectives, targets, outputs and key performance areas. We achieve them, using inputs, competencies, and behaviours. We add in measures, standards, criteria, and key performance indicators, then roll it all up in a performance [...]
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Managers and their employees would generally agree that when performance is being reviewed there are three desired outcomes. Performance problems should be resolved; the employee should be given some positive motivation and acknowledgment for work done well; and the conversation should be of benefit to the employee as a coaching and development opportunity.
More often than [...]
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The best-laid plans o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.
–Robert Burns
Let me share with you how I came to realize the importance of symbolizing goals and programs. It all started when I launched the 400 Year Project (to make improvements 20 times faster than ever before) in September 1995. I held an initial meeting to [...]
Posted in Blogging | Tagged Communication