Productivity

News Flash: Workplace Socializing Is Productive

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Contrary to their every instinct, managers should actually encourage their workers to chit-chat, to gather around the water cooler -- even to gossip. An MIT researcher reveals why these guilty pleasures are, in fact, good for a company's productivity.

The Five Stages of Workplace “Tribes”

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:45:00 GMT

Two researchers say that your tribe is more important than anything else at work. Here’s how companies can harness the power of that insight to understand and influence team performance.

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.

Can Employees Be Friends With the Boss?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Yes indeed, according to research. In fact, managers who demonstrate care for employees have more engaged staffs. So writes bestselling author Tom Rath in his latest book, Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without, which was released this month.

The Talent to Manage Your Time

Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Some people excel in the art of time management, while others are never able to keep up. Whatever the case, we all could stand to improve in this area, and our odds of doing that are better if we make the most of our innate talents.

New Book Shows How Positivity Increases Productivity

Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

While the daily headlines are full of information on the staggering cost of disengaged workforces, the authors of How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life focus on the other side of the equation: the impact that positive interactions make on people’s lives -- both at work and at home.

The Power of Praise and Recognition

Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Research shows they are critical to increasing employee productivity and engagement, according to the authors of How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life. What's more, people who receive regular recognition and praise are more likely to stay with their organization, receive higher loyalty and satisfaction scores from customers, and have fewer accidents on the job.

Cultivating Employees' Abilities

Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Thailand's Prime Minister has urged his country's industrialists to improve productivity and quality amid increasingly tough global competition. This is a tough challenge for any company. The first solution that comes to mind -- investing in new technology and machinery -- is only open to financially strong firms. A better solution is to harness a company's human potential.

Acting With Intent

Thu, 10 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Many employees have only a vague sense of what their talents are, if they know them at all. Their performance improves when they can actually name their talents and start intentionally using them. Here's how managers can help them do just that.

Can talents be misused?

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Yes. Talents are morally neutral, as are knowledge and skills. No talent is "good" or "bad." How you use a talent is what counts. Each talent is simply a recurring pattern of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied. However, the same talent can also be cultivated for negative ends.