Open Door Policies, How Effective are They?
I have had many managers and supervisors tell me they have open door policies, but what does this truly mean? When I think of an open-door policy I think of having accessibility to an individual. During these times of accessibility there should be time for conversations around new ideas, proposals, clarification, guidance, concerns and hopefully some teaching and mentoring moments. My personal experience with this has been all over the board. I have had managers who have clai
Is it Possible to Save Everyone? Determining When to Make an Employee Available to Industry
One of the most challenging situations managers face is the decision to release an employee. So how do you determine when you have done everything within your power to make them successful? In short when is enough, truly enough? This is a difficult question and to be honest there is not one simple answer. First, I would like to discuss what happens if this situation is not dealt with. I am guessing that most of you have made a hire that was less than stellar. You know the one
Supporting Staff as They Seek Work Life Balance
I often hear hiring managers say, "We promote an atmosphere of work life balance". The interesting thing about this is, work life balance means something different to everyone so how do you effectively promote this? You have heard me say this before, communication is king. Take an interest in what is going on with your employees. Is it important for Suzy to drop her children off to school in the morning? Is this something we can accommodate by adjusting her schedule? It could
Follow the Leader
As a leader, you are responsible for setting clear and concise expectations for your team, and holding them accountable when these expectations are not met. This is leadership 101, right? What happens when the leader is not setting a good example? For instance, the employees, including the leader, have an arrival time of 8:00 am, seems reasonable, right? The leader shows up every day without fail somewhere between 10:00am and 10:30am. They may call to let their team know they