Management Archives

Your First Sprint Planning Meeting: Full Preparation Guide

What should you do before your first sprint planning meeting? How does Jake Knapp suggest you prepare? With the help of John Zeratsky and Brian Kowitz, Jake Knapp ran hundreds of successful sprints at Google and other companies like Lego, Airbnb, and Slack. According to Knapp’s book Sprint, there are four important steps you should take in preparing for your first sprint planning meeting. Keep reading to learn how to prepare for your first sprint planning meeting, based on Knapp’s four steps.

How Specialized Workers Can Increase Employee Happiness

What are specialized workers? Why should businesses embrace specialization? In A World Without Email, Cal Newport argues that employees are unhappy at work because they have too much on their plates. To fix this and increase productivity, he suggests practicing specialization at work. Let’s look at what specialized workers do and why they’re important for employee happiness.

The Ultimate Guide to Effective Feedback in the Workplace

Does your workplace have a culture of feedback? Are you skilled at giving and receiving feedback? Effective feedback in the workplace is important. Whether it’s delivered in a formal evaluation or a frustrated outburst, feedback is vital information that can lead to positive changes in you and your organization. We’ve assembled some best practices for giving, receiving, soliciting, and incorporating feedback, as well as some tips regarding feedback in other cultures. Keep reading for insights on effective feedback in the workplace.

The Red Queen Effect & Other Ways to Beat the Competition

What’s the Red Queen effect? What are some ways to thrive in the midst of competitors? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, authors Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish introduce two evolutionary models—the Red Queen effect and adaptation. They use them to explain the importance of keeping up with our competition and the mechanisms by which we can do so. Continue reading to learn how to apply these models to your life and work.

Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Your Most Important Asset

What’s emotional intelligence? How important is emotional intelligence in leadership? How can you create an emotionally-intelligent team and organization? Business leaders are usually the biggest believers in cutting emotions out of business. But, it’s not only possible to lead with both your head and your heart, it’s vital. Fortunately, there are practical ways to increase your emotional intelligence and create an emotionally-intelligent team. Keep reading for a comprehensive look at emotional intelligence in leadership.

Team Trust: Why It Matters & How to Build It

Can your team members freely share feedback and ideas? Do they believe that you care about them personally and professionally? Team trust is essential if you want effective and happy employees. It’s important to understand what trust is, why it’s important, and how you can cultivate trust in three directions: from leader to team, from team to leader, and among team members. Read more to learn the importance of trust in the workplace and practical ways to foster it.

Why Change Is Hard: Intriguing Answers From Physics

Why is change hard? How is momentum both a help and a hindrance to change? How can understanding friction help you remove barriers to progress? In The Great Mental Models Volume 2, Rhiannon Beaubien and Shane Parrish argue that the laws of motion and thermodynamics can help us understand why change is hard. They discuss how the principles of inertia, momentum, and friction play a role in our lives. Continue reading to see how these lessons of physics can help us understand resistance to change.

Going Back to the Office: 3 Tips for Employers

How can employers help with workers going back to the office? What are the best tips for easing the transition? As the pandemic draws to a close, businesses are eager to bring employees back into the office. Most employers recognize, however, that hybrid models are likely here to stay in some capacity. Read on for three practical tips for employers facing a transition period as workers begin going back to the office.

Is Work-From-Home Ending? Advice for Employers

Is work-from-home ending? What challenges do employers face? What work models should they consider? If companies decide to end work-from-home jobs, they’re advised to establish a work model that makes employees feel that their needs are respected. This means ensuring that everyone gets face time in the office—so that remote workers don’t miss out on advancement opportunities. Keep reading for advice on ending work-from-home schedules and reintroducing in-person work.

The 3 Principles of Rebel Leadership (Rebel Talent)

What are the three principles of rebel leadership? Why should you aim to be a rebel leader? According to Francesca Gino in Rebel Talent, being a rebel leader will help you challenge the status quo. In the process, you’ll influence others to do the same. Continue reading to learn the basics of rebel leadership that you should adopt.