Category Archives: Management Skills

Gender Bias – The Flinch Factor

When flicking through channels, I find that I am always willing to pause on Alan Alda’s skinny grin, especially when he’s gaming with university scientists.  The Brains on Trial episode I happened on wanted to answer the question:  “Can we … Continue reading

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21st Century Managers: Guiding Stars

True Story of an Unguided Star   There was once a bright graduate from Syracuse University who found a full time job with a Name Company in the midwest. Imagine her disappointment to discover that her job required none of her … Continue reading

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Employee development – Day One – Discretionary skills

DAY ONE  I tell my college students that whatever their level of skills may be is okay by me.   My role is to help them:  identify and build on their strengths, improve their thinking skills,  and gain confidence in their … Continue reading

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Tapping Employee Entrepreneurial Spirit

When we think of entrepreneurs we think of energy, drive, risk-taking. We think Success! Consider the current high school and college graduates. They believe that they can start their own businesses at any time. Many of my college students, inspired … Continue reading

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Business Decisions are Rooted in Values

You may not agree with the Fortune editors’ selections on The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time (Title of their 2012 book ) but you will certainly find the proverbial food for thought.  What struck me, as I read the stories, … Continue reading

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Performance Appraisal: Same Old Mistakes – No Development, No Honesty.

Sad, but True Story There was once a bright graduate from Syracuse University who managed to find a 4 month internship in the down economy.  The internship in her field gave her base experience and introduced her to the level … Continue reading

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Collaboration – Skills or Software?

Recently, I was scouring for written words on collaboration skills – aside from the unreadable psyche studies little focused on those skills.  Instead, I found articles on collaboration software.  If my experience teaching college students on how to work together … Continue reading

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Collaboration – Does it need a Framework?

Do diverse collaborations have elements in common?  Are frameworks needed for success? I think so. Here are two stories – one inside an institution, the other outside client-consultant.  See if you agree. The Insiders Dr. Harris Berman, dean of Tufts … Continue reading

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Collaborating with Customers

Today’s  Customers: Trained to Collaborate! The Do-it-yourself ness of the Digital Age, where customers enter their info, choose services, and pay on the spot, has changed customers’ self  perceptions!  It affirms the belief that their needs and viewpoints are critical … Continue reading

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Do you have what it takes to collaborate?

Why Collaborate at all? Experience shows that collaboration not only works for solving problems, implementing changes and confronting complex issues, collaboration produces better results.  Better than the individual acting without consultation?  YES! While geniuses exist who change the world with … Continue reading

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