An employee at a large oil company submitted a suggestion that netted him $18,000 from his company’s incentive-awards program. Although I can’t share the … Read more
How to Turn Down Applicants Tactfully — and Truthfully
Eggs and rejections should be done over-easy. Turning down applicants with class pays off in your long-term recruiting efforts and reputation as a great … Read more
How COVID-19 Has Changed Communication for the Better — and the Worst
When you have yet another email hitting your inbox with an invitation to an online meeting, how do you react? Eager to take part or irritated at the … Read more
3 Ways to Unload a Loaded Question
Let’s assume an angry reporter doesn’t confront you every day to ask why your organization has committed some scam or why you’re improperly handling … Read more
How to Stop People From Rambling
You run into ramblers everywhere: On a Zoom webinar. In the boardroom. In your training class. The reasons vary: They have extensive experience. They want … Read more
Feeling Trapped by Forced-Option Questions From Leadership?
The old “Have you stopped beating your spouse?” dilemma captures this problem well: “Yes or no?” Either way you answer, you’re in trouble. During a … Read more
How to Keep Hypotheticals From Burying You
Suppose you’re in a staff meeting or rolling out a new policy in an all-hands meeting, and Rani, an employee, poses this question to you: “You say that … Read more
Capture Mentoring Moments for Career Growth
Early in my writing career, an executive assistant to the CEO of a large oil-tool company astounded me with her business acumen — and how she got it. More … Read more
How to Guarantee Employees Understand You
Envision the last time you presented new information to a group of employees in an extended session of one to three hours: Rolling out new software and how … Read more
The One Question You Have to Answer Correctly Every Time
As an HR leader, you get questions every day; some serious, some trivial. “What else is the company going to do to protect us from COVID?” “What did you … Read more