Articles

“Some of the most engaged employees in your organization are your worst performers and some of the least engaged are your highest performers.” The article explores how high performers can get disengaged when standards are not clear, reinforced and when lower performing employees can slip by.

“It’s fair to say that one’s approach to running a business is likely driven by one’s understanding of nature of competition.” Different case studies are viewing what it means to be competitive such as, “focus on Improving their own business” or entrepreneurs viewing fellow peers as “colleagues”. The article also focuses on looking at your business though you were “playing emperor”.

What it means to be “an effective unit” is scrutinized more closely in this article. “The single strongest predictor of group effectiveness was the amount of help that analysts gave to each other. In the highest-performing teams, analysts invested extensive time and energy in coaching, teaching, and consulting with their colleagues.” Fascinating insights on how helping behaviors can be demonstrated through “seeking help”, “reciprocity rings”(which first ask for personal requests and then professional requests) and allowing employees to request something personal they want in their lives and having it granted. Also, the different traits of a “giver culture”, “taker culture” and “match culture is explored.

“In this age of downsizing, outsourcing, and virtual organizations, managers are desperate to optimize the human resources at their disposal, regardless of where they reside. Figuring out what motivates people to cooperate (i.e. collaborate) with peers is a difficult challenge.” This article reveals the findings of two articles that provides background to promoting collaboration. Some of the seven findings that encourage human cooperation are to “reward-but not necessarily with money…find elements that are valued by team members”and “frame the business appropriately” which makes context a motivating factor.

“For most people, however finding our passion requires life experiences, exploration of different disciplines and overtime identifying a problem that you can help fix!” Beth Kuhel, a career coach, takes a different approach to “finding your passion” by explaining more in depth how your experiences, “finding the need” and your interests are contributing factors to “a sense of autonomy and feeling that you’re good at what you do and are having an impact on the world.”

“Workers who are inspired are more productive, and passion can provide the energy necessary to fuel engagement, amidst obstacles and setbacks. But while passion seems clearly desirable, recent psychological research suggests that not all forms are adaptive. In fact, some forms can be downright detrimental.” Learn the difference between harmonious passion and obsessive passion and the effects it can have on your career and your business environment.

Martha Beck follows three women’s stories to find their (super)hero powers that they had possessed all along. The article discusses the three different personality traits (The Self-Deprecator), (the Stymied) and (Thinking Small…Too Small) that prevent these women to be “on the right course.”

Passionate leadership is not about being flashy, loud and rah-rah, as may have been portrayed in media. According to the author, true passion requires honestly committing to something about which you feel deeply, and staying committed through difficult circumstances. She adds that passionate leaders bring their people along toward a common mission beyond the leader.

“For today’s aspiring entrepreneur, exploring avenues of creativity to find your passion is likely the quickest route to increase your chances of launching a successful business.” As of one of the strategies, then article suggests to revisit your childhood and what you loved to do then. Explore other exercises to unlock your passion in the article.

“Neglecting passion blocks creative flow: when you’re passionate, you’re energized, when you lack passion, your energy is low and unproductive. Equally, energy is everything when it comes to earnings. Your thoughts, attention, and focus affect your energy and, therefore, everything around you – including your bank account. This article will explore how to get that passion back into your work to give you your energy once again.