Ben was driving in a line of cars on a hilly two-lane road. Everyone was driving at the speed limit, recognizing the need for patience. Unfortunately, Ben noticed in his rearview mirror a driver who instead chose impatience, closely tailgating and continually passing vehicles. When the driver passed him in a no-passing zone, Ben hoped to see the driver pulled ...
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, JPMorgan and Bank of America are trying to “fix” the issue of investment bankers’ excessive hours. By capping these young bankers to 80 hours a week, think about the message these banks have sent. Basically, they’re saying, “We hear you have a problem with working so many hours, so we’ll cap them ...
I was leading a non-profit board when we faced a divisive issue. Emotions were high, so we brought in a seasoned mediator to help us find a solution. The mediator recommended activities focused on building relationships and consensus to allow us to move forward. I, and a couple other board leaders, decided the issues couldn’t wait. We pushed through a ...
A common refrain I hear from many CEOs is that, “it’s lonely at the top.” Business owners often make tough decisions that they’re not comfortable sharing with their team members. Unless they find a group of peers, or pay for a business coach, many CEOs often end up making decisions in isolation. This can lead to a lack of wise ...
When a cook in North Carolina was hired by an IHOP restaurant, he informed his boss that he didn’t work on Sundays for religious reasons. This man’s wish was honored until new management took over. When the cook refused to work on Sunday, his new manager fired him. This cook sued IHOP and he recently received a $40,000 settlement ...
In his early 20s, my friend, Butch, bounced from job to job. I remember feeling sorry for him because he seemed lost. That’s until the day Butch proudly pronounced to his father, “I was hired today to work at your company.” Butch’s father was a successful construction superintendent. Butch’s dad was apprehensive because of Butch’s past work history. But ...
When it’s back-to-school time many parents are looking for a little grace and a family-friendly workplace. It takes time and effort for involved parents to get kids settled into a new school year. One way for an employer to build loyalty with their employees is to allow parents flexibility when needed. Since the work that these parents/employees still needs ...
As a college graduate, one adjustment I had to make was from being a student who managed my own time to suddenly being accountable to an employer. My new role required more discipline and sensitivity to my boss’ expectations. Soon, I learned that working for a business required that I produce at a high-level of satisfaction and timeliness. If ...
According to a Gallup State of the Workplace 2023 survey, 44% of global employees experienced daily workplace stress in 2023. This was an all-time high for the second year in a row! Worse yet, we have a growing mental health crisis leaving us short of psychiatrists and behavioral health professionals to care for our employees. Kathy and I recently ...
Justin wanted to join the insurance industry, so he became 50/50 partners with an experienced insurance broker who claimed to also be a follower of Jesus. When Justin’s partner started violating the partner agreement and breaking the law, the situation became tense. Unfortunately, in business, when there are only two equal partners you are bound together much like an ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
