Joan Lloyd Archive |
 Have you ever encountered an organization where the employees frequently go two, three or more levels above their supervisor to complain? We have a few VPâs and a COO who have open door policies. Employees feel comfortable bringing all sorts of complaints about their supervisors and /or managers to them.... Click here for details... |
 I am writing for my daughter who works in a big organization in the Marketing Department. She called me the other night and was quite concerned with her workload. She has so much to do, she canât get it done. My daughter tends to be a perfectionist and I suspect that she is doing things very wellâperhaps too well, which is putting her behind. Do you have any words of wisdom I can offer her for her workload and her work style?... Click here for details... |
 I
recently interviewed (2 ½ weeks ago) for a position as an HR Assistant. I presented
a portfolio of my work as an Administrative Assistant to the Administrator.
I was supposed to hear something by a certain day. I have not received a letter
or a phone call, so I called just to see if they had made a decision... Click here for details... |
 It
was a case of âWhack a Gopher Management.â You know the carnival gameâwhere
the gopherâs head pops out of holes and you have to whack it with a hammer.
The managers were so busy whacking issues as they popped up, they never took
the time to proactively fix what the underlying problems were... Click here for details... |
 Teambuilding can open communication, build trust and create accountability.Click here for details... |
|
|
How should I go about giving my boss advice? Our company is experiencing a
problem, which is similar to one I have dealt with before with a previous employer.
I know how to solve the problem we are facing due to past experience but I
do not want to be viewed as a pushy employee. What is a tactful, yet strong
way of showing him how to proceed without making him defensive? Click here for details... |
The economy has caused layoffs and downsizing but don't believe those who
will tell you not to bother looking for a job during the holidays. Things
are picking up and the holidays offer some unique opportunities that could
land you a job before your New Year's Eve resolution is broken... |
"It's about them, not about you," I told an executive recently. He had all
the technical skills and experience the company desperately needed to turn
a poorly performing plant around. As his executive coach, I was going to help
him with the people side of the business. Like many bright, talented leaders,
he lacked some of the subtle savvy required to get cynical employees to follow
him....
|
I have a question about people who just want to do their jobs and go home at
the end of the day, and not worry about their responsibilities. They don't
want to move up or get ahead. How do I motivate these types of people?...
|
I have an employee who has personality quirks but not an easy to document performance
problem. She has a negative attitude and is constantly badmouthing colleagues,
policies, new ideas and probably me, behind my back....
|
I was recently promoted into a Director role in a large company. I report to
the senior executive in charge of the area. What advice can you give me about
interacting with the executive level? I will be making more presentations and
involved in more strategic decision-making. My boss told me that I need to
learn how to "face upward" in this new role....
|
How does one work with someone who is just plain annoying? I know this may
sound petty or harsh, but here it is. I work directly with a woman in my department
(who sits across from me) who has annoying habits, which just plain bother
me. It may be a personality clash -I don't know.....
|
Presentations to senior executives bring about that rising sense of panic for
a good reason. Speaking to any group can be sweat producing but speaking to
the people who have the power over your career can be downright nerve shattering....
|
Why? Several trends are converging: Companies want everyone, from the receptionist
to the president, to provide a great experience for the customer-not unlike
a "guest experience" at a fine hotel. So, some companies are providing training
on how to make a proper introduction, how to eat at a fine restaurant, and
even the proper way to conduct business over lunch....
|
I have an opportunity to run and operate my own Escrow Branch with a new, up
and running insurance company. This company will be establishing several branches
throughout our county. My concern is that I do not have much as far as management
experience. I have been in the business for more than fifteen years. Could
you tell me what are the specific things that employers look for in a potential
candidate for management?...
|
With strong encouragement by a friend I agreed to contact a Resume Service
to have my current resume reviewed for free. I met with this service and was
dumbfounded when I received a bill for $560.00. The resume presented by this
service did not adhere to the traditional do's and don'ts of how to write a
resume. This resume appeared to have the praise of a mother speaking to others
about how well a child did in school and in life....
|
I have achieved a wonderful executive position in a local government office
but I am currently experiencing two gender bias issues that I have difficulty
overcoming. To begin, my manager and his male staff members often socialize
together on staff time and I am not invited. My second issue revolves around
coverage for our female office assistant....
|
I have been dealing with an over-talkative co-worker. She's either constantly
talking to me or being incredibly disruptive by discussing non-related work
with me out of the blue. I've tried keeping the peace by not saying anything.
Whose responsibility is it to say something, the boss or the co-workers...
|
I like the idea of doing a 360-degree review with my management team. I am
a Vice President with eight direct employees. My department deals with all
the other employees and managers (IT) and I think it would be helpful to have
feedback from our users about how we're doing. I'd also like my employees to
get feedback from each other and me. How would I structure such a thing?....
|
I was recruited from the outside to come in and make some pretty dramatic changes.
The former manager allowed things to deteriorate. Poor performers were allowed
to get away with their behaviour and some very big changes were being introduced
by the organization that he was not managing well. To complicate things further,
the culture here (prior to the former manager) had been very anti-management.
The problem I am finding is that I am being asked by my boss to make these
changes but my employees are fighting it all the way. I'm getting sullen compliance,
at best. Any advice?....
|
"If I become a manager, I'll never be like thatâ¦" we often say when we have
a lousy boss. The problem is that we often over correct and our behavioral
pendulum swings too far in the opposite direction....
|
I am only in high school right now, but I get nervous when I publicly speak.
I was fine with speaking in front of anyone up until freshman year. I don't
know what it is, a mental block or thinking too much. But when I have to speak
I get really nervous. Do you have any information or any strategies to reduce
my nervousness?...
|
Our company has started a new Mentor Program for high potential employees.
I have been selected as one of the mentors. Our HR department has suggested
that we meet with our "mentees" (who they paired us with) on a regular basis
but haven't given us much guidance regarding what we should talk about and
what they expect out of us....
|
Most companies do a lousy job of developing their best technical talent. In
fact, they often end up sabotaging themselves by promoting the best technical
people into managerial jobs, to which they are ill suited. The company loses
the person's technical contribution and the technical person is less satisfied
by managerial work. It's a lose/lose situation...
|
I gave my two week notice at my job for a family owned business. The owner's
wife was upset with me that I did not give her a three week notice, since I
was a manager. She told me that if anyone called her for a reference on me,
she would tell them that I was not eligible for rehire. I had never heard of
a three week notice before.....
|
I have been a receptionist for my whole office career (15 years). What is the
proper way to let a caller know that 1) No, we don't know how long Mr./Ms.
Doe is going to be, and, 2) No, you may not hold forever, and 3) We are not
the Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, or Warehouse Departments.......
|
Do you need to get out, or to get over it? You may be needlessly trapping yourself
in a prison cell for which you hold the key. Explore other options. After you
look at other jobs and other companies, you may decide to stay right where
you are. But it will be a decision you made, not a decision you avoided. There's
a big mental difference......
|
We have an employee who has been perfect for the three years she has worked
with us. She does a great job as a secretary and is extremely efficient and
a superb and reliable asset. About three months ago, her performance started
going down dramatically. For the first time she started showing up late, neglecting
responsibilities, etc. This performance is directly tied time-wise to a new
boyfriend....
|
I am wondering if you have any insight on HR's role in a merger. We are about
to combine two companies. My job will now mean that I will be flying out to
the other two locations of our newly formed company. They have not had an HR position there and I will have to establish myself and build up rapport and a comfort level with the other employees. What should the first steps be?... |
You may be very confident about answering job-related questions but are you
equally prepared to answer the questions: âHow much money are you looking for?â
or âWhy are you leaving your current job?â These are two of the questions you
can expect.Telephone interviews, references and repercussions of being fired... |
I was catching up on some casual reading over the weekend and I noticed that
the same people seemed to appear on the pages of every magazine I flipped through.
It occurred to me that many of these celebrities weren't any more talented
than their peers --- they just seemed to have the right publicist.
|
My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Sadist, was a master of peer pressure. The problem
was, it never had the desired effect. When one student was misbehaving, she
made the rest of the class stay in for recess. Instead of blaming him for our
misfortune, we hardened our dislike for her.Peer pressure ineffective form of reprimand.... |
I have a situation with an account executive that I am avoiding dealing with
for fear of hurting her feelings and/or damaging the relationship.
|
Workplace humor isn't always a funny thing. Get Joan Lloyd's column this week
and tell us if you see anyone you recognize from your office. Sound off about
bad workplace Humour on the Hub forum boards!
|
I am a new manager, having recently been promoted after five years at this
company. I am concerned about how to discipline employees. Some of my questions
are...
|
Despite the positive feedback I get from his boss (the site manager), as well
as people from other sites in North America, including our site, this man will
not give me a compliment.
|
âI was so excited to be a part of the committee,â a colleague told me recently.
âThatâs why it is so frustrating that we are going nowhere.â... Tips for effective
cross-functional teams,
|
I was hired into a company as a Project Manager and was asked to be an account
manager over this small business. I have had a hard time getting the owner
of the company to set policies and procedures in place. Therefore, it has been
hard to manage a team without rules...
|
I
work at a small software company (total 10 people). There are four administrative
workers (all female) including myself and the boss’s wife. One of the
two other co-workers is my sister-in-law and the fourth person is the newest
person. Sponsored Links:
PA Training for Admin Professionals
Training, Webinars, Seminars, Conferences from passionate trainers around the world.