Instructive, intriguing and practical information on "hot" topics in the modern workplace. Our Leadership Tips are based on years of rigorous research in the field of HR, psychology, management, and employee well-being.
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How much is that hiring mistake really costing you?
Most companies can survive the occasional bad hire, but when hiring is done by trial and error, you get a cumulative effect. If your recruitment process is lacking, chances are that there will be consequences. Not only does this cost a lot of money, it also has an effect on the rest of the team. |
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Using tests for HR purposes
The onboarding process is crucial to getting new employees started on the right foot. It's an opportunity to clarify tasks and roles, to ease them into the social environment, and clear up the shell-shock of starting in a new place. With assessments, you can help an employee adjust more quickly to their new position. Here's how: |
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When Honesty Is Your Company Policy
While honesty tests in general need to be taken with a grain of salt, research has shown that honesty testing in the employment setting does have its merit. In companies where testing has been implemented, theft and other forms of dishonest behaviors have decreased dramatically. Research has also found a reasonably strong link between integrity test results and overall job performance. |
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The Emotionally Intelligent Employee - Why Emotional Smarts Can Matter More Than IQ
Most of us are familiar with the concept of IQ, but what about EIQ? Emotional Intelligence isn't just a matter of how well someone controls his or her emotions. It's the capacity to be self-aware, to resolve conflict effectively, to be resilient in the face of difficulty, and to deal with people in a socially-insightful way. |
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When You Don't Have a Picasso or da Vinci on Staff - Developing Creativity in Employees
Creativity is one of the least understood areas of human ability. Our ideas about our creative selves are too frequently discouraged in our early years by others whose ability to judge this matter should be questionable at best. To nurture creativity in employees, it's important to uncover if there are any psychological obstacles that can be snuffing their creative fire. |
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Multi-tasking is for Jugglers, Not Employees
Multitasking may seem to be a simple concept but it is actually a complex and frequently misunderstood mental process. Unlike a computer, we can only perform one complex task at a time, regardless of how fast we think our brain works. Employees in a busy organization obviously need to be able to work on many different projects. So what's the alternative? |
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The Ultimate Leaders: PsychTests Releases Study on Leadership Qualities That Differentiate the Best from the Rest
It's important for companies to recognize that management and leadership are distinct, and that in order to bring out the best in employees, a person must have the business know-how of a manager but the finesse of a leader. Good leaders are in a class of their own with a very distinct personality profile. |
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The Managerial Jigsaw - Finding the Right Piece to Fit Your Company's Puzzle
One of the most difficult positions to fill in a company is, arguably, a managerial one. It has to be filled by someone who can wear a lot of different hats - coach, cheerleader, leader, innovator, visionary, etc. Finding a manager who possesses the right set of competencies is important, but so is the type of organizational atmosphere and circumstances you're hiring for. |
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Performance Evaluations Don't Need to Taste Like Brussels Sprouts - Making Reviews an Appealing Experience
Giving evaluations, especially where there's some negative feedback involved, is like a ripping a band-aid - you just want to get it over with, and suffer as little pain as possible. Here are some tips on how to ensure that the performance appraisal process of your company is a productive one. |
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Work Motivators - When Money and Coffee are not Enough
Everyone holds different values in regards to work and needs different things in their job to feel satisfied and fulfilled. Motivation is at the heart of every productive employee, and the missing link in those who are not living up to their full potential. If managers truly want to get the best out of their workers, they need to start viewing motivation as a case-by-case issue. |
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Do Your Employees Spell Team with M-E? Reasons Why Teamwork Isn't Always a Pleasant Experience
Teamwork is the foundation of success for many companies. Creative ideas are more easily generated, large workloads can be shared, and it's always great to have others to turn to for help. For many people though, teamwork rarely works like a well-oiled machine - more likely, they see it as a rusty set of gears that creak and squeak at each other. |
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Sources of Stress at Work
Most employees go into work with the intention of doing the best job they can. As a manager, your goal is to create an environment in which employees can thrive so that they can provide the best work or service possible. Here are 5 common workplace stressors that employees face on a regular basis: |
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Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying, like schoolyard bullying, occurs when one or more individuals use persistent aggressive or unfair behavior against a peer. Workplace bullying can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, and physical abuse, and humiliation. Be on the lookout for the following behaviors: |
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How to help a distressed employee
Not all employees are comfortable talking to their managers, let alone telling them that they are feeling stressed. This is why it's important for you as a manager to create an atmosphere in which your staff will be at ease coming to you for help. Here is a quick guide for managers on how to handle a stressed-out employee. |