How COVID-19 Has Helped Companies Increase Efficiency In March, nearly every industry was faced with a sudden shift in a new direction. Six months later, we’re seeing just how deeply that shift has affected business. Though many challenges have lept to the forefront, for three companies, necessity has been the mother of invention, and yielded surprisingly positive outcomes. Take, for example, a manufacturing plant in the Southeast.  Is Overspecialization a Problem in 2020? They were faced with a common problem (that was once considered a solution): a seemingly specialized workforce. In fact, every employee was needed to run specific machines [...]

Things You Can Do Today for a Better Workplace Tomorrow Leading well has always been a challenge, but managing a team well during a pandemic adds a level of difficulty, to be sure. Some teams are working remotely, which can lead to feeling disjointed and distant. Many are navigating delayed timelines, financial uncertainties, and personal struggles. If you’re a leader who feels as though things have gotten “off track” in recent months, these six simple reminders will help you and your team move forward, boost company morale, and conquer challenges that arise.  Be a Visionary  A good leader can both [...]

HOW TO PROMOTE WELL AND AVOID MEDIOCRITY Have you ever promoted an employee, only to have their performance drop off once they settle into a management role? If so, you may have accidentally fallen prey to the “Peter principle.” This principle essentially states that most employees will continue to be promoted to a new role based on performance in their current one, until they reach positions in the company in which they can no longer thrive. They’ll then remain in those positions, uncomfortable and delivering mediocre-at-best results, because they can no longer demonstrate the competence it would take to receive [...]

These are trying times for companies all across the globe, and most leaders are doing their best to offer empathy and extra space around expectations as employees figure out how to navigate tasks and time management while at home. Adjusted expectations are fair and right during this season, especially considering that many team members are also parenting and unexpectedly homeschooling, sometimes in small spaces with no designated office or workflow. However, when COVID-19 quarantines fade and offices begin to open again, employees who choose to remain at home should be subject to a different set of expectations and a higher [...]

In recent years, many companies have seen a slow shift in the workplace -- more and more employees are staying home. Whether due to a difficult commute, a need for flexibility, or simply finding no impetus to be present in the office, working remotely has had an appeal, especially in certain industries. But now, as COVID-19 brings a new normal to the work week, businesses everywhere are finding remote work their best or only option. Companies who have already put “work from home” policies in place at some earlier point may be handling this shift fairly well. But many teams [...]

We’ve entered a new era in the workforce.  As businesses have found themselves thrust into a challenging new world, many have scrambled to cope with the new realities COVID-19 has introduced. As we adjust to this new normal, we also need to prepare for the permanent changes that will impact how people work, live and play. Whether or not you were considering “going remote” for some, or all, of your team, the genie is out of the bottle now. There may be no turning back—this is no experiment.  Success will look differently these days than it did in even our [...]

In my previous post about adaptive employees, I identified two different kinds of roles you’ll find in your company: static and dynamic roles. While static roles generally can stick to a rigid script or process, the future of your company relies on how well your dynamic employees can adapt to problems, people, and the larger context. In this second post of the two-part series, I’ll give you some key insights on my strategy, developed over thirteen years consulting for dozens of business leaders in the manufacturing industry. Don’t process-engineer a people problem. In the previous post, I let you in [...]