Work Archives

1 Essential Team Motivation Idea That Works Long-Term

What team motivation ideas work the best? How do you foster long-lasting motivation in a team? Find Your Why author Simon Sinek says your energy and commitment to your purpose are contagious, so having clarity on it helps you pitch your ideas in a way that’s more authentic and enticing to others. By holding a purpose discussion to find your team’s common purpose, you can achieve long-term team motivation, according to Sinek. Read on to learn Sinek’s team motivation idea for creating long-term motivation through purpose discussions.

Dealing With Unhealthy Competition in the Workplace

Is your organization rife with ladder-climbing sharks? Are people working together or against each other? According to Tribal Leadership, Stage 3 is the most common work culture, and it’s where most professionals spend much of their careers. Stage 3 features shark-like competition, office politics, and high-powered professionals striving to dominate their workplaces. Authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King explain how to determine whether your organization is in Stage 3 and how to progress to Stage 4. Keep reading to understand unhealthy competition in the workplace and to learn how to move your organization beyond it.

The True Importance of Trust in the Workplace

What is the importance of trust in the workplace? How do high- or low-trust relationships affect your work? In The Speed of Trust, author Stephen Covey examines all the ways trust impacts your life, from personal to professional relationships. Covey believes trust is your most valuable asset, and losing or gaining trust in the workplace has a real impact on your career. Read on to learn the true importance of trust in the workplace, according to Covey.

What Are the Qualities of a Good Manager?

What are the qualities of a good manager? Do all managers share the same traits? In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo explains that great managers motivate people to work toward a shared goal. They do this by upholding an inspiring vision, establishing trust, and communicating clear expectations. Learn the qualities that good managers exhibit.

How to Find Fulfilling Work—Simon Sinek’s 3 Tips

What is the best method for finding fulfilling work? How does understanding your life’s purpose lead to fulfilling work? According to motivational speaker and author Simon Sinek, taking the time to examine your life’s purpose will lead to finding fulfilling work. Sinek provides a proven method for discovering your Why, or purpose, and shows how purpose-driven people lead happier lives. Keep reading to find out Sinek’s steps for finding fulfilling work through living a purposeful life.

How to Build a Cohesive Team: Stage 4 Culture

What’s Stage 4 culture? What do cohesive teams have in common? How do you create one? According to Tribal Leadership, any organization succeeds or fails on the culture of its tribes—groups of individuals that share ways of thinking, interacting, and working—and we can improve our organizations by upgrading the cultures of those tribes, progressing from one stage to the next. Stage 4 culture involves a cohesive team. Tribal Leadership outlines three characteristics of cohesive teams and three strategies for building one. Keep reading to learn these characteristics and strategies for how to build a cohesive team in your organization.

Handshake Deals: Are They Realistic or Risky?

What is the meaning of a handshake deal? Are handshake deals a realistic way to conduct business, or are they too risky? Author and former CEO Stephen Covey wrote The Speed of Trust to illustrate the importance of building high-trust relationships in business and in your personal life. Covey’s great depth of experience lends credibility to his argument for trusting and using handshake deals in business. Read on to learn why Covey says handshake deals can be less risky than convoluted contracts.

Why Sharing a Vision Leads to a Successful Team

Why does sharing a vision matter? What are the features of a good vision statement? One critical function managers must perform is sharing and reinforcing a powerful vision. In The Making of a Manager, Julie Zhuo discusses why a vision matters for a successful business. Continue reading to learn how to share a vision with your team.

How to Encourage Idea Sharing in the Workplace

How does idea sharing in the workplace benefit an organization? How can you inspire your team to get involved and share ideas? Author Simon Sinek believes everyone, no matter their role or status, deserves to find fulfillment at work. According to Sinek, discovering the core purpose that inspires your team to do the work they choose to do will promote team engagement and idea sharing. Read on to learn Sinek’s approach to encouraging team idea sharing in the workplace, including a thought-provoking exercise.

What Is Wage Inequality and How Does It Happen?

What is wage inequality? Why is wage inequality rising? According to Thomas Piketty in Capital in the Twenty-First Century, wage inequality is inequality of income from labor. Many factors contribute to wage inequality, and it’s not getting any better. Read below for a basic overview of wage inequality, as explained by Piketty.