Flexibility and the workplace of the future: What does that mean?
On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus a global pandemic. Within days, employers across the world sent workers home to work remotely. Soon after that, a Gartner survey of top executives showed that roughly half of their organizations had more than 80 percent of their employees working from
How to Make the Business Case for Change
McKinsey & Company’s research suggests that 70 percent of change efforts fall short of their objectives or fail altogether. That creates a challenge for you as a leader to obtain approval for change initiatives when you are not the ultimate decision-maker. Increase the likelihood of getting approval from your superiors by making a strong business case
Leading Change with Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a primary driver of leadership effectiveness. Numerous research studies identify EQ as more important than technical skills, industry knowledge, and other factors that set apart top-performing leaders. EQ expert Daniel Goleman credits emotional intelligence for 90% of the difference between star performers and average ones in senior leadership roles. EQ is essential
Lessons on Change from a Night at the Airport
It’s inevitable. It happens at virtually every airport, every day, across the world. Flights are delayed or canceled. Sometimes, it’s weather-related. At other times, maintenance issues, crew schedules, or other logistics are to blame. No matter the cause, the response from the flying public is fun to watch as I did on a recent business trip.
Employee Engagement and Successful Change
Employee engagement is a crucial driver of several positive business outcomes, such as productivity, employee retention, customer satisfaction, and profitability. What’s often overlooked is the importance of employee engagement in driving successful change. Research by Anna University management professors C. Swarnalatha and T. Prasanna discovered a vital link between the two. The Gallup organization has studied
How to Build Trust-Filled Relationships in Fast-Changing Environments
Tom is the HR Director for a large healthcare organization. Like others in his field, Tom has been charged with increasing employee engagement and retention. For several months, he and his team have been working behind closed doors on a new employee appreciation and recognition program. Tom’s team borrowed an idea from their health insurance company
Recognize Individual Differences in Your Team
“Change is in the air.” I chuckled at the headline in an airline magazine as I planned this article. That’s a constant as we repeatedly hear that the pace of change will never be slower than it is today. Still, most people struggle with the reality of yet more change on the horizon. The best change
Executive Coaching and Leading Change
Leading change is one of the most stressful responsibilities of leadership. Change initiatives require heavy workloads, long hours, and helping others navigate the change process. It’s a lonely endeavor as leaders often have to go it alone due to the sensitive nature of change. It’s no surprise that a Korn Ferry survey found leading change one
Leading Organizational Change: It Starts with You
Mark Twain once said, “the only person who likes change is a wet baby.” The same is true of most organizations. It may not be a wet diaper, but change isn’t usually welcome until there’s a crisis or problem at hand. After all, organizations take on the characteristics of the people who serve there. Leading change
5 Ways To Lead Change In A Change-Averse Environment
Despite the constancy of change in today’s global marketplace, the environment for change in many organizations is unfriendly at best. Few organizations have the appetite for change found at Facebook, Google, Amazon, and other innovative firms. I work extensively with CPAs, CFOs, and other technical professionals; a group not known for its propensity to change. As
