A few days ago, I decided to change a photograph that’s been on display for the last several years in one of the picture frames which currently grace my desk. The photograph was a picture I had taken of my girls several years ago on one of those days from summer which we tend to look back on fondly through a soft-focus lens. Of course, in the time since that photograph was taken, my girls have grown up and it seemed overdue for this photograph be replaced by a more recent memory of our time together.

Although the act of replacing this photograph was fairly mundane, I still found myself being much more aware of this picture frame’s presence on my desk. Naturally, my first assumption was that this was simply a result of the new image staring out at me from that frame. However, what I realized was that this greater sense of awareness regarding this picture frame on my desk had less to do with the image itself and more to do with the fact that it had changed from something familiar and consistent, to something new and different.

What’s also interesting is how Click here to continue reading »”Taking Another Look at Leadership and Change”

Over the last few posts, I’ve been writing about the subject of employee engagement – of how it can be fostered in the workforce without elaborate plans or costly incentives, as well as pointing out what employers would gain in creating an engaged team of partners in place of a group of subordinates.

Of course, despite everything that has been written here and elsewhere about the value of employee engagement, there are inevitability many leaders out there who simply refuse to incorporate this viewpoint into how they lead their teams. For employees who work under such leadership, it can be a frustrating and demoralizing experience. However, even though your boss doesn’t see the value in engaging his workforce doesn’t mean employees can’t nurture a respectful and motivating work environment.

Again, we have to remember that creating an engaged workplace is not about Click here to continue reading »”Employee Engagement Is Not Just For Leaders”

Employee engagement is certainly a hot-button issue these days, and with good reason. With businesses struggling to gain a stronger foothold on an increasingly global market, companies are starting to look beyond their current practises in order to find that magic bullet which will give them a competitive edge.

However, some leaders still resist the idea that we need to foster a sense of engagement in the workforce as a possible means of gaining traction in their market, mainly because they don’t see this assomething businesses need to focus on. After all, shouldn’t we expect employees to do the job we’re paying them to do? On the surface, it certainly sounds like a fair and reasonable statement. So why, then, do we need to concern ourselves with engaging our employees? Well, it all comes down to whether we want a group of subordinates as opposed to a team of partners.

It’s a common reality of the business world for companies to Click here to continue reading »”Why Employers Need To Engage With A Purpose”