I Have Never Managed People Remotely. How Do I Even Begin Now That My Team is Working From Home Because of Coronavirus?
Because of the coronavirus pandemic and many states’ mandates to shelter in place, millions of managers across industries are managing remote teams for the first time. This can feel like a brand new challenge, but my hunch is that you are more prepared than you think. Have you ever worked with a supplier based in […]
Chatbots vs. Networking Luncheons: How to Develop Your Millennials’ Communication Skills for the Sales Workplace
Chatbots and automatic sales funnels are all the rage in online marketing. You may have had a Millennial or Gen Z employee mention a new website widget in last week’s team meeting. Eyes beaming, they gushed about how their widget will warm leads while cutting down on work hours.
But doesn’t this miss the whole point of sales?
Career Q&A: Millennial “Common Sense” and Management Strategies for Young Leaders
Welcome to Career Q&A, where I answer career and workplace questions submitted by professionals like you. Tech Founder from Generation X Wants to Better Understand his Millennial Employees In 2010, I founded a small tech startup, which I’ve grown to about 60 employees. Like most other tech companies, my employees are primarily Millennials. They know […]
How to Manage People Older than You Are
Alina Morse is thirteen years old, and she’s already become the face of a multi-million-dollar company. (For context, thirteen-year-old Lindsey was playing mediocre middle school field hockey and doing a little neighborhood babysitting). Together with her dad, Alina solved a problem every kid faces. She created a lollipop that was actually good for teeth! In […]
Breaking Down Generational Perspectives on Phone Calls, Face-to-face Conversations and Promotions
I’ve seen it many times. After wrapping up one of my presentations, I’m approached by a Baby Boomer or Gen X manager who says, “My young employees just don’t have any common sense! How can I understand them?”
Career Q&A: Job Advice, Millennials and Asking for Feedback
Welcome to Career Q&A, where I answer workplace questions submitted by professionals just like you. Gen X Insurance Leader Wonders Why it’s so Important to Hire Millennials I’m a Gen Xer and I work in the insurance industry. Recently, in a company-wide town hall, our CEO said that in order for the company to grow, […]
14 Tips for Creating a More Inclusive Workplace
After a great response to my recent post on saying thanks to employees, I began thinking about small actions that lead to big results. For example, knowing a junior employee’s name can be more impactful on that person’s motivation than a $1,000 bonus. Then I came across this Harvard Business Review article on tips to […]
Top 5 Trends for 2020: Generational Integration
How many 2020 top trend prediction posts have you read already? Four? Eight? A dozen? I know… ‘tis the season for speculation. I do hope this list adds a fresh perspective. As a keynote speaker, every year I am privileged to interact with thousands of employees across multiple industries around the country. I get to […]
Real Holiday Cheer: 3 Tips to Remix Your Office Holiday Party
Let’s be honest. Holiday parties are kind of passé. You know the stereotypes. Ugly sweaters, overly competitive white elephant exchanges, and enough alcohol to give your HR rep a heart attack. Each December you ask yourself, “Are we really going to do this again?” But what if you took a different approach? Imagine, for instance, […]
Generational Labels: Building Bridges or Burning Them?
In recent weeks, the meme “OK Boomer” has dominated the headlines of many major news outlets. It seems that the phrase, as young people reject the authority and opinions of their elders, represents a growing animosity between generations. I wrote an op-ed for Newsweek about this phenomenon. You know the stereotypes: “Millennials are entitled.” “Generation […]