Coach's Corner Archive - Page 5 of 15 - The Trocchio Advantage

Beware of Bias in Emerging-Market Data

We want to believe that data is an objective, critical input for strategic planning and operations. But any data can be biased, leading executives to make misguided investment decisions and putting a company’s reputation and jobs at risk. This problem is exacerbated in emerging markets. For example, organizations tend to use local governments’ historical data, which may reflect whatever agenda the government has. While developed markets have stronger institutions that…

3 Ways to Counteract a Negative Relationship with Your Boss

Everyone wants to feel respected by their manager, but over half of employees say they don’t. What do you do if you’re in that unfortunate majority? Try these three things: Manage your energy. Sleep, exercise, good nutrition, and stress management can help to ward off the negative effects of being disrespected by your boss. Seek positive relationships. Negative, draining relationships have an effect on your sense of thriving that is four to…

Simple Ways to Be More Considerate to Your Colleagues

No one wants to be told they’re a selfish jerk at work — and being thought of one could hold you back in your career. But if you are inconsiderate, chances are it’s not because you’re mean; it may be because you’re not paying attention or you’ve invested too little time in becoming aware of others’ goals and opinions. Become more conscious and you’ll become more considerate. Start by paying more attention…

Don’t Share Office Gossip with Your New Coworker

It might be tempting to bend your new coworker’s ear and let him in on all of the office dirt. You may even think you’re helping him out by giving him the inside scoop. But sharing the ins and outs of office politics with the newcomer isn’t always advisable. Doing so could reflect badly on you and bias him against his new coworkers. Of course you can help your new…

Help Your Team Through Times of Crisis

National tragedies — mass shootings, hurricanes, suicide bombers — affect us all. A leader sets the emotional tone and the example both in good times and, perhaps more important, in bad. As a manager, how do you help people deal with their feelings during times of crisis? Don’t repress your emotions. Research shows that doing so is not good for you physically or mentally. And while we may want to leave…

To Build Resilience, Write Down What You’re Grateful For

When it comes to building your emotional resilience, nothing does more good than maintaining a positive outlook and regularly expressing gratitude. These two actions have been shown to decrease anxiety, reduce symptoms of illness, and improve the quality of your sleep. But it’s not enough to be optimistic and say “thank you” a lot. You can increase the effect of these activities by keeping a record of your positive interactions,…

Keep the Conversation Focused in Your Next Meeting

You’ve seen it happen in a meeting before: One person expresses an opinion, two others respond to that comment, someone else subtly segues to another topic, and everyone starts weighing in on that new issue. Even if it’s all related to the agenda, a team loses momentum when people start down multiple conversational tracks without reaching a conclusion. Stay focused with this simple rule: If you raise it, you land…

In a Heated Negotiation, Use Facts, Not Threats

When it comes to negotiations, let’s face it: We don’t always act rationally. And quite often a seemingly friendly discussion can turn nasty. If you and your counterpart are not seeing eye to eye, don’t try to force the other person to take your point of view by threatening them. Instead, do everything you can to share your understanding of the situation without implying that you have malicious intent. Try…

Play “Catchball” at Your Next Brainstorming Session

Not all brainstorming sessions need to start with a clean slate. If your team already has an idea or two, you can use the “catchball” approach at your next meeting. Here’s how it works: Someone on the team “tosses” the idea to someone else. Whoever “catches” it must understand it, reflect on it, and improve on it in some way. That person tosses the modified idea back to the group,…

Strike the Right Tone When Delivering a Performance Review

Writing and delivering performance reviews can be one of the most challenging tasks for any manager, and it’s easy to be either too positive or too negative when reviewing a team member’s performance. Sometimes a struggling employee walks away thinking that everything is just fine in his job performance; sometimes a star employee thinks you’re disappointed in her. That’s why it’s important to strike the right tone. Decide ahead of time…

Highlight Your Loyalty When Negotiating a Raise

You’ve probably heard this before: “The only way to get a raise is to get another job offer.” Yes, the outside offer can work, but you need to do it carefully. Otherwise, you risk appearing disloyal if you intimate that you’re going elsewhere, even if you have no intention of leaving. Instead of risking your position by issuing threats, subtly nudge your manager into giving you a raise by highlighting…

Maintain Your Entrepreneurial Passion by Being Flexible

Most of us think of entrepreneurs as passionate professionals who have a “ﬁre in their belly.” But it’s hard to maintain that level of dedication no matter how passionate you are, and research has shown that entrepreneurs’ enthusiasm for their projects can fade over time. One way to prevent this is to avoid sticking to a plan. Strictly adhering to your business plan is a recipe for disengagement. You need…

Whether an individual, team, or organization,increase your value by developing the voice of a leader.

Whether an individual, team, or organization,
increase your value by developing the voice of a leader.