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Asking Questions Shouldn’t Be Scary

Asking Questions Shouldn’t Be Scary

What is it that employees want from their managers? Simply put – timely, respectful and relevant communication. And even more precisely, the April 2015 Gallup study finds that employees want to know that they can approach their manager with “any type of question,”...

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5 Ways to Build a Culture of Engagement

5 Ways to Build a Culture of Engagement

A Gallup Business Journal article states that “only about one-third of U.S. workers are engaged at work and just 13% of employees worldwide are engaged.” That’s a problem – especially since engagement has a direct effect on business results. Compared to their less...

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4 Ways You Can Be a Better Leader

4 Ways You Can Be a Better Leader

Assuming the business acumen and operational knowledge foundation has been formed, the skills most critical to being an effective leader have to do with relating to people. This means turning your organization's strategy into a story that inspires employees to action....

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How to Brag: 3 Rules for Effective Communication

How to Brag: 3 Rules for Effective Communication

Talking about your accomplishments to others – and not coming off sounding like a jerk – means following the three basic rules of effective communication. Follow these rules, whether you are in a one-on-one conversation at a cocktail party or giving a speech to a room...

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4 Tips to Engage Hearts and Minds

4 Tips to Engage Hearts and Minds

Superior leaders lead through effective communication. The “secret sauce” is engaging hearts and minds to inspire action. Did you know that many of the so-called “rational” decisions we make – and the way we behave – are governed by our emotions, and that our emotions...

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Build Trust by Staying Ahead of Visible Signs

Build Trust by Staying Ahead of Visible Signs

People notice visible signs before you “officially” tell them anything. These signs constitute anything out of the ordinary, everyday experience, including: Frequent closed-door meetings in an environment where doors are almost always open Unannounced visits by...

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6 Activities that Influence Change Success

6 Activities that Influence Change Success

Organizations with highly effective ‪communication and ‪change management practices are more than twice as likely to significantly outperform their peers. Here are six activities that influence overall change success. Leading Put together the right team for your...

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5 Things You Can Do NOW to Engage Workers

5 Things You Can Do NOW to Engage Workers

5 things you can do NOW to engage workers... OTSP CEO Tracy Benson was recently featured on Smallbiz Radio’s podcast and shared tips on how to boost ‪workplace‬ engagement‬. Smallbiz America with David Wolf is a weekly podcast featuring up close interviews with...

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How to Ask Better Questions

How to Ask Better Questions

There are so many contexts in which people ask questions in the workplace – from peers in the office or on the manufacturing line working out a problem to a leader assessing and diagnosing a large-scale operational issue. In all of these scenarios, five rules apply....

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