In this series, we’re talking about the rising incidence of manager burnout. The Harvard Business Review identified six reasons behind our growing level of burnout. The second reason listed was a perceived lack of control. In the Harvard Business Review, Elizabeth Saunders wrote, “Feeling like you lack autonomy, access to resources, and a say in decisions that impact your professional ...
My friend Glenn had hit rock bottom. He had pursued his work more than his wife, resulting in a divorce and a lonely evening in an empty house. That’s when Glenn received a pivotal call from his long lost friend, Dave. Because of their history, Dave had the influence to deliver a direct message. Dave told Glenn, “You need ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. The fourth and last step I recommend is decreasing payroll. Many large organizations start with massive layoffs without considering other solutions. Previously, I worked for a bank that frequently downsized. One year, the bank creatively allowed 40-hour employees to shift to 35 hours a week. This allowed many working mothers ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. We’ve discussed getting closer to your customers and hiring freezes, the third step you might consider is to trim expenses. In 2009, the economy was crumbling. For those who adjusted and weathered the storm, I heard many tell me a similar story. They discovered that during the good times they ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. After staying close to your biggest customers, the second step during a recession is to consider a hiring freeze. As a good shepherd, you should protect the jobs of your existing employees. By adding team members during a downturn, you may risk needing to make hard decisions later. Instead, if ...
In this series, we’re discussing preparing for economic storms. With inflation and interest rates soaring and the stock market crumbling, the storm clouds appear to be rolling in. One of my favorite indexes is the National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index. Because it’s a survey of small business owners’ perceptions, it has helped predict economic storms. In ...
When I was young, clothes dryers were a luxury. We took our clothes outside to our clothesline and hung them up for the sun and wind to dry. This required remaining alert for upcoming storms. When dark clouds rolled in or the wind whipped up, we knew to prepare for the storm by gathering our clothes before they were ...
For the first time, it cost me over $50 to fill my car with gas. For me, $5 per gallon gas is an annoyance, but it’s not devastating. For many front-line workers, however, $5 a gallon gas, can devastate your employees and their families. Much more than your highest paid people. These pain points can impact your team’s ability ...
As an optimist, troubles must stack up pretty high before I begin to feel discouraged. However, I had one of those weeks recently. Our upcoming event was becoming overwhelming. We were experiencing some online problems and I learned of some customer issues. The discouragement was building. I needed solitude. As I took a car ride, I prayed and asked God ...
The nature and culture of the workplace has changed dramatically since 2019. In 2019, only 4% of professionals worked remotely, today it’s 15%. Inflation was only 1.81%, today it’s 7.9%. Pre-Covid, only 10 million people knew how to use Zoom; today that number is 300 million. With the stress of the pandemic, racial tensions, and political polarization, 40% of employees ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
