Inward Blog

Viewing entries posted in July 2015

The Difference Between A Dream And A Vision Is A Plan To Get There

Effective decision making is one of the key traits of a strong leader. On one end of the scale, there are leaders who always look for one more piece of data or evidence before making a decision and often end up in analysis paralysis. On the other hand, there are those leaders who make impulsive decisions, with no input from others or facts to support their position. There is never a decision that can be made with 100% guarantee of the desired outcome. Effective leaders find the balance between analysis / input and pulling the trigger.

Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am

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Seven Necessary Skills For Effective Program Management

This is the ninth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about recognizing and rewarding people. In this post I will discuss the importance of project management for smooth implementation.

Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 12:00pm

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Bad Attitudes Look for Company, Not Correction

You’ve heard it said a number of times from recruiters. I would rather hire someone with a great attitude and willingness to improve their skills than someone with great skills and a bad attitude. In a quest for a highly engaged workforce, a bad attitude can quickly derail a team. Effective leaders need to address bad attitudes head on, rather than let them grow and become the driver for a disengaged team. 

Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am

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Inexpensive And Effective Reward And Recognition Programs

This is the eighth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about the creation of logo lockups and taglines. In this post I will discuss the importance of recognition and rewarding people.

Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 2:00pm

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Are You Inspiring Others By Balancing Your Work And Other Things That Are Important To You?

In a book he wrote before he died of lymphoma, Paul Tsongas, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts made the statement that “ No one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office’”. Today, in our fast paced world, work/life balance can be a challenge. And yet, effective leaders find a way to balance the things that are important to them and to their relationship with others. An engaged workforce is one in which people are passionate about what they do and that passion is driven by both the work they are doing and the values and beliefs reflected in their behavior. One of the primary motivators for employees today is the opportunity to have an impact. It’s not just about the compensation. It’s about doing meaningful work and making a difference.  And that happens when people are able to find a balance between their work and other things that are important to them and to those around them.

Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am

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Channeling Your Inner Don Draper – Creating A Logo And Tagline

This is the seventh submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke importance of WIIFM (What’s in it for me?). In this post I will discuss the importance of logo lockup and having a tagline.

Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 3:00pm

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Honoring Commitments Requires Knowing When to Say Yes And When to Say No

You’ve heard it said that the path to failure is paved with good intentions. Commitment and enthusiasm certainly inspire others and can create a culture of high engagement. But after listening to words, people look for concrete actions and follow through before truly trusting others and becoming fully engaged in the cause. I realize there are exceptions, but I would like to believe that most people have great intentions and truly mean to follow up with those things they speak about or commit to. But others cannot see intentions…they only see action and behavior.

Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am

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What’s In It For Me?

This is the sixth submission in an 11-week series on how to launch an employee engagement program. Last week I spoke about message architecture and laddering. In this post I will discuss the importance of WIIFM (What’s in it for me?).

Posted by Allan Steinmetz at 11:00am

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Leaders who think they can control everything are setting themselves up for disappointment

I admit it. I’m a control freak. Sitting on my desk is a plaque with a constant reminder of the need to overcome that weakness… a saying by Reinhold Niebuhr, “Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference”.

Posted by Rick DeMarco at 11:00am

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