Monday Morning Manager Series #38 — Everyone loves a holiday, including me. We plan it, save up for it, and look forward to it. We dream about the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, the bitter taste of the lemon in our gin & tonic, and the hedonistic pleasure of relaxing by the pool…

Quick Leadership Tips #5 — If you want to gain a reputation as a great leader and attract the best people to your team, make a point of being available. Yes, you can keep your boundaries to stay sane, so please don’t think being available means every night and weekend. Not at all. It means…

Quick Leadership Tips #4 — Updating your team weekly on the latest news from the senior leadership suite is a great way to keep your team engaged. It demonstrates trust, transparency, and authenticity on your part. “Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to…

Quick Leadership Tips #3 — One common theme of engagement surveys is that line managers don’t ask for improvement ideas from the team. Even when ideas are put forward unasked, many managers could be more appreciative. Ideas are ignored or dismissed, leaving the team member feeling disregarded. “Clients do not come first. Employees come first…

Quick Leadership Tips #2 — In How to Spot Check Engagement: Just Ask the Team (Quick Leadership Tips #1), I talked about checking in with your team in their one-to-one meetings and asking the questions: On a scale of one to ten, how engaged were you at work over the last week? How can I…

Monday Morning Manager Series #37 — For most of us, applying for a job isn’t much fun. Especially when your primary motivation is to get away from the job you’ve got rather than an appetite for a new one. Add in the hours spent scouring the internet for opportunities and updating your CV & LinkedIn profile…

The Monday Morning Manager Series #38 — Last year, I went to Wellington with friends, and the highlight was the wearable arts show. WOW is held every year and is a fantastic collection of art modeled by dancers and singers. We were in awe of the youth and fitness of the performers (especially the pole dancer) and…

Quick Leadership Tips: #1 — If you want a productive team, high employee engagement is essential. We all know this, but how do you know if your team is as engaged as possible? If you want a quick engagement pulse check, ask your team how they are in each one-to-one meeting. I’ve run engagement surveys…

The Monday Morning Manager #35 — Managers and leaders are all about goals, KPIs and getting things done. Mostly, this is what I embrace. Writing down objectives, deciding what success looks like, and getting on with it like the responsible worker bee I am. Encouraging my team members to do the same. Helping other leaders complete…