Individual Performance

The Strengths to Confront Tough Times

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Almost daily, companies are cutting workers, and morale and productivity are suffering as a result. In this environment, a strengths-based approach is vital because it creates hope, opens the doors to untapped potential, and brings out the best in people and in companies.

The Twelfth Element of Great Managing

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When Gallup analyzed high-performing workgroups to understand what drives their success, one of the dozen elements that emerged as most important was the statement “This last year, I have had opportunities at work to learn and grow.” Decades of research reveals that employees give more of themselves when they feel a sense of progress rather than feeling stagnant, according to the authors of 12: The Elements of Great Managing.

The Eleventh Element of Great Managing

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This element is measured by the statement “In the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.” Some people think a performance review will suffice. But it’s not nearly enough, write the authors of 12: The Elements of Great Managing.

The Tenth Element of Great Managing

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Measured by the statement "I have a best friend at work," this element has proven to be incredibly controversial to executives. But those business leaders who think friendships are none of their business don’t understand human nature, according to the authors of 12: The Elements of Great Managing.

Many Paths to Engagement

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There isn’t a perfect route to employee engagement, a single path that passes from manager to employee to productivity to profit. Instead, there are as many effective ways to manage people to attain high performance as there are great managers. Want proof? Here's the story of two managers with very different styles, both of whom have become highly successful with the same company, Mars Incorporated.

The Ninth Element of Great Managing

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It's summed up this way: "My associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work." This means that managers should make sure that their teams aren't infiltrated by slackers, who can hurt performance and undermine the morale of those determined to do their jobs to excellence.

The Eighth Element of Great Managing

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The need to feel a connection to a larger cause is very important to most employees. In fact, believing that "the mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important" is a primary motivator, according to the authors of 12: The Elements of Great Managing.

The Seventh Element of Great Managing

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It matters a lot to employees if their opinions count. That's because people work much harder at something that is at least partly their own idea, according to the authors of 12: The Elements of Great Managing.

Their Best Friend at Work

Thu, 13 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Some managers inspire excellence. Some inspire loyalty. But a very few, such as Diane Marinacci at the federal General Services Administration, inspire people to the highest quality of work, the sincerest forms of loyalty, and passionate engagement. Find out what makes Marinacci so special, and successful.

Transforming Government

Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT

It matters a lot to taxpayers whether the 14,000 employees of the General Services Administration are engaged at work. Marcella Banks, a visionary manager at the federal agency, knows this. Her success at inspiring employees offers a model not just for the rest of government but for managers across industries and sectors who want to improve performance.