Tactical vs. Strategic

How do you assess training needs? During these difficult economic times organizations often base training needs on a tactical approach. Tactical implying that they are targeted for current or immediate needs. Tactical needs are important but organizations should also consider their strategic needs. Strategic needs will help the organization or the individual employee in the future. I am a firm believer that organizations should assess their needs by searching for root causes and not focus solely on the presenting problems. How does your organization approach its training and development needs?

U.S. Job Losses Mount - Conflict Increases

As U.S. job losses continue to mount, so does workplace conflict. Informal surveys have indicated that many experts believe workplace conflict continues to increase during difficult economic times. Some would perhaps argue the opposite. While our workplaces continue to be shattered by the economic downturn many employees will avoid expressing conflict or may suppress conflict feelings. Employers sometimes believe that this is good, noting that workers have stopped “whining” and are “getting back to business.” In one sense this may be true, but the consequences of conflict suppression are far more detrimental to the future of the organization. Employees who are suppressing conflict will tend to stop being team players, will avoid communication efforts, and may even purposely sabotage others pursuits of relationship building or production and service efforts. During these times it is often difficult to detect conflict situations at first glance, while we may feel a sense of teamwork (some whining has stopped) a far worse case scenario is occurring. When employees express conflict it is much easier for business leaders to recognize and take appropriate action. How is the conflict climate at your workplace?

Communication and Trust

Often businesses report that they have a problem with communication. They strive to understand why their employees do not communicate effectively. Pondering the situation they believe employees simply do not wish to communicate effectively or perhaps the employees do not understand the importance of information transfer. In many of the cases employees lack trust in their peers or worse yet in their superiors. Effective communication requires trust and a balanced flow of upward and downward communication. How is the communication climate in your workplace? Do the employees trust each other?

Effective Listening Skills - Video Brief

Being a good listener is a necessary competency for everyone in the workplace. View this brief video segment and take the three item mini-assessment. Remember that improving your listening skills really only requires -you- to make a difference.