Tip #280: Dealing With A Disgruntled Employee

No matter what type of organization you work for or own, there is a good chance you know of at least one negative employee on the payroll. You know the type: Quick to complain about anything and everything, brings the rest of the team's morale down, always manages to find the flaws in a new initiative but never the benefits, etc.

A Negative Employee Is Not Necessarily A Bad Employee.

Trouble is, these same employees are often still hard workers who get the job done and even excel enough to climb the corporate ladder. Despite a good work ethic, however, their attitudes can still affect those around them and in turn the company. Naturally, this demands a leaders attention.

5 Ways To Handle A Negative Employee:

1. First, Observe And Document Their Behavior - Without any proof of an employee's bad behavior/negative attitudes, they will simply refute your claims. Also, keep in mind that one observed or documented case of negative behavior is not indicative of a negative employee. Do not approach someone unless their negative behavior has been persistent, and keep a log of their behavior for later reference.

2. Set Your Expectations On How Someone Will React - Very few people can handle being called out on something. And in the case of negative employees, most are unaware of their own cynicism/negative outlook. Your goal should be to bring their attitude to their attention, to make them aware of the concern, not fess up to it.

3. Extend A Helping Hand - Trying to understand an employee's negative behavior is the best way to break them out of it. Once made aware of their behavior, an employee may offer insight as to the cause. Others may prefer to speak with an employee assistance counselor, if available. Just remember that you cannot, and should not, force assistance upon the employee.

4. Include Non-Subjective Content In Their Performance Reviews - One way to help a negative employee is to include non-subjective information in their performance reviews. We also suggest gathering feedback by asking employees about the employee's attitude, and then presenting your findings to the employee. Be sure to keep a positive tone when you do.

5. Avoid Throwing Gas On The Fire - In other words, "fighting fire with fire" does not apply to dealing with negative employees. Being harsh or critical towards them will only exacerbate their own negativity. Every employee wants their manager to believe in them, even when being disciplined. To send that message, remain positive and thoughtful when you address your concerns over an employee's negativity.

Summary: Employees who display negative attitudes and behavior at the work place are common in the business community. Every company has at least one person like this on staff. But instead of taking their approach and griping about the negativity take a more proactive approach and attempt to root out the cause of the employee's negativity. Doing so will invariably boost morale and foster a more pleasant work environment.

Tip #279: Being A Team Player In The Business World

Being A Team Player In

The Business World

• Most jobs require teamwork.
• Most careers depend on teamwork.
• Most companies insist on teamwork.

If you were selecting a group of people to start a new division at your company who would you select? Would it be someone you get along with but does not contribute to the overall good? Or someone who is great at what they do but does not get along with most people? How about the person who gets along with mostly everyone, has above average skills and is willing to put the extra effort into not only getting things done, but also done right?

In today's business world leaders not only grade their employees (or keep you on their payroll) based on how well they communicate effectively, but also on how they get along with other team members and improve a team's performance. If you want to become better at being a team player, you might find this e-tip timely.

10 Qualities An Effective Team Player:

1. Is Consistently Reliable - Good team players not only get their work done on time, but also are willing to get things done when deadlines are looming.

2. Communicates Positively - Business leaders want people who can motivate others around them by clearly articulating what needs to be done.

3. Has Good Listening Skills - Team players should not only understand and consider new ideas, but also new points of view from other people without arguing every point. They also know how to listen first so they can fully understand each angle before giving an opinion or trying to solve a problem.

4. Is An Active Participant - Good team players play an active role and are willing to become engaged in solving any type of problem.

5. Shares Key Information Openly And Willingly - Good team players are willing to share key files and documents to help the overall good of the team, from research data to sales history and everything in between.

6. They Get Their Work Done - An effective team is comprised of team players who work well together and get their work done. They respond openly to requests for assistance and take initiative to assist others in solving their problems.

7. They Are Flexible - The business world is always changing, from new government regulations to new products or services. Great team players not only accept these changes but embrace them, too.

8. Is Committed To The Overall Good Of The Team - Strong team players know when not to put their personal goals ahead of the team goals. They know the business is better off if they consider the overall good of the team, not themselves.

9. Helps Proactively To Solve Problems - Face it, problems happen everyday in business. And often times we see people dwelling on who caused the problem instead of fixing the root cause and thus the problem itself. Good team players put the problem on the table and then work out cost-effective solutions.

10. Is Supportive Of Others - Quite simply, great team players deal with people in a professional manner and are willing to support an ally even when they have nothing to gain.

Summary: Team players look beyond their world and their personal stakes to focus on what it takes so the team wins. Team players are the ones who step up and take charge to ensure things get done in a timely and cost-effective fashion. Most importantly, team players always leave the channels of communication open to help facilitate the company's success.

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Tip #278: 6 Communication Tips For Leaders During Turbulent Times

Communication in the workforce is a crucial element to the success of any business - especially when a company is facing tough economic times. What many owners and executives seem to forget is whether news is good or bad, what matters most is how they deliver that news.

Effective Communication Can Mean The Difference Between Good And Bad Team Morale.

When it comes to the morale of a company, bad news delivered ineffectively can dismantle a team's unity. However, that same bad news delivered effectively can drive a team towards success. The key to making this happen are the leaders who deliver it.

6 Communication Tips For Leaders During Turbulent Times.

1. Mean What You Say - Do not just be a communicative conduit; make what you are communicating personal. Have just as much of an investment in what you are saying as the listener does. Believe what you say. Mean what you say. Being a good communicator means constantly working to maintain and improve the communication process, whether it is written, oral, contextual or intuitive.

2. Rely On Information Channels - Waiting for news to reach you is unwise. Chances are when it finally does fall on your lap the news will already have reached critical mass. Stay ahead by actively gathering information using various information channels - both formal and informal. Use any open doors you have in the company to paint a complete picture for yourself.

3. Talk More, Not Less (and keep your office door physically open) - We live in a world where communication has taken over and is readily available in a multitude of ways. There is no excuse for anyone to be kept in the dark, and attempts to keep anyone in the dark are mostly futile. We communicate so frequently that employees will quickly forgive mistakes, but will not forgive the absence of communication. Not communicating at all will result in irreparable loss of trust.

4. Strike Up Proactive Conversations - There is almost no downside to talking to people, especially face-to-face. In times of uncertainty and change, displaying a willingness to field questions, listen carefully and respond to concerns is a surefire way to build and establish trust, honesty and dependability.

5. Be An Investigative Reporter At Your Business- As mentioned earlier, passively gathering information is not enough. Great leaders get out of the chair and into the field, like an investigative reporter. They actively seek to learn what is being said around the office and they give others the chance to be listened to. Maybe you don't have all the answers, but showing that you are willing to listen and learn will go a long way.

6. Promote The Flow Of Positive Things - You want to create an atmosphere of effective communication, not manipulated information. Worry less about keeping the lid on any news and more about facilitating the flow of information. Better something come from you, the leader, than build mass as a rumor. More importantly, when bad news is delivered candidly it minimizes demoralization.

Summary: Just because these tips are geared towards "turbulent times" does not mean they are not useful all the time. It is said that in real estate "location, location, location" is what sells properties. If that is the case, in business "communication, communication, communication" is what sells management initiatives and keeps a team banded together.

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Tip #277: 5 Tips For Better Public Speaking And Presentation Skills

Since technology has taken over our business and personal lives, effective public speaking and communication skills have been on the decline. Sadly, growing up in this digital age has made younger workers poor public speakers and communicators. We are even seeing veterans of the workforce letting their public speaking skills get rusty. What many forget, or never learned, is that there is more to public speaking than simply getting up in front of a crowd and talking. It is both a science and an art. And like any learned skill, there are some basics to be aware of.

The Four Basic Components To Public Speaking:

1. The Preparation
2. The Purpose or Objective
3. The Message Used
4. The Delivery

The Five "W's" And The One "H" To Public Speaking.

When preparing to speak publicly, address each of the four basic components of public speaking by asking the five W's and the one H: Who, what, where, when, why and how. Exploring these six questions will help you sculpt your speech or presentation into cohesion and guarantee that your audience follows every word and does not miss a beat.

• Who? Who are you speaking or presenting to?

• What? What do you wish to communicate?

• Where? Where will you be speaking?

• When? As far as timing and delivery goes, how should you frame your speech or presentation?

• Why? Why should the audience be listening to you?

• How? How can you best convey your message?

5 Tips For Better Public Speaking And Presentation Skills.

1. Never Forget What Your Body Language is Saying - Your goal is to capture your audience's attention, so standing motionless in one place is not a good idea. Be natural, move around, use hand gestures and be expressive, even if you are behind a podium.

2. Speak With Conviction - If you want your audience to believe what you are saying, then you had better believe it yourself. Do not approach and deliver a presentation as if it is a high school project. Put some "oomph" into your delivery. Be articulate, and never apologize if you stumble over any words.

3. Incorporate Stories From The Audience - The best way to keep an audience's attention is to engage them, and the best way to engage them is to include them. The most successful speakers are the ones who seamlessly integrate a story from an audience member into their presentation. To do this, get to know your audience ahead of time. Talk with them about the subject you are speaking about.

4. NEVER Read Your Notes Or The Slides Verbatim - Unless you are a famous essayist performing a public reading, you should never read from your notes verbatim. Keep your notes concise - bulleted reminders about what you wish to touch upon. Everything else should be committed to memory. Otherwise, your delivery will sound bereft of any sincerity.

5. Make Eye Contact With The People In The Room - There are no tricks to avoid making eye contact. If you want your speech to land like a boxer's blow, then you need to look your audience in the eye. Then you need to hold that eye contact for at least 2-4 seconds. Make sweeping glances across the audience, but also lock eyes with individual audience members.

Summary: As with most things in life, effective public speaking hinges on the amount of preparation you put in prior to delivering your speech or presentation. Rehearsing might feel strange, but it is invaluable. When the time for you to speak publicly does come, remember to use body language, talk slowly and articulately (including pauses) and use a variety of tones. Do not hesitate to study your favorite public speaker and observe the range of tactics they employ to make their delivery stand out.

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E-Tip #276 - 8 Effective Employee Training Tips

In an ideal world, every employee you hire would arrive with all the skills and knowledge necessary to be the ideal employee you want. But this is the real world, and in the real world, your employees need to be trained on an ongoing basis.

The Value Of Well-Trained Employees Is Immeasurable.

The great thing about training is the message it sends to an employee. It shows that you are interested in them as a vital aspect of your success and that they will play a part in the company's future. Very few motivators are as positive as sending someone to training. To kick-start an effective employee training program, follow these 8 tips:

8 Employee Training Tips To Strengthen Your Team & Your Company's Morale.

1. Look At Training As An Investment, Not An Expense - True, good training will cost you some money, but you cannot put a price on the long-term investment in the growth and development of your workforce.

2. Focus On Your ROI - We all know that training is invaluable; however, you need to determine who would benefit the most from it.

3. Promote An Environment Of Continuous Learning - Business is faster-paced than ever before with people doing more work with fewer resources. And the way to leverage a person in today's challenging workforce is through continuous learning. That said, look for ways to improve your staff through the necessary training resources.

4. Test Run A Particular Training Program - Before rolling out a customized training program at your business, try it out on a small group, gather feedback and then retool the appropriate areas so that it meets the needs of your organization.

5. Focus On Quality Instructors And Material - Like a parent who wants the best education for their child, you should want the optimum education for your employees.
   And one of the best ways to get the most out of the training program is to ensure that the instructors have the right personality for your employees and the supporting documentation is not only easy to follow, but does not overwhelm your staff.

6. Where Will Training Be Conducted - Choosing an environment that is conducive to learning is identical to buying real estate: Location, location, location. Preferably, you want it to be free of distractions, noise, and interruptions.

7. Know Your Objective BEFORE The Training Starts - Another step in getting the most out of your training program is making sure they understand its objective and come to training with the right mindset.

8. Even Your Most Seasoned Employees Need Training -Training is not just for new employees; research has proven that everyone can benefit from further training - no matter how seasoned of an employee. As any best in class company knows, training programs are the catalyst for keeping employees engaged. And companies with engaged employees outperform their competition as much as 202% according to a study by Towers Perrin.

Summary: No matter who you are, where you come from and what you do, there is always room for improvement. In fact, training your staff will have a direct and positive impact that will increase one's job satisfaction, morale and motivation. You can also see efficiencies in processes, the ability to adopt new technologies and methods as well as innovation in strategies and product design.

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