Need Your Employee More Than They Need You?

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a difficult situation for any manager: What do you do if you need an employee more than they need you? They start with a question from a manager whose key employee is skilled but produces mediocre work and seems unmotivated to improve. Kath and Katherine consider what you can do to motivate an employee who doesn’t really care about
the job.

Afraid Your Top Performer Might Leave?

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine consider a challenging situation for any boss: What do you do if your top performer might leave? They start with a question from a manager who discovers that their best employee was almost poached by a competing organization. Kathi and Katherine discuss what you can do if you fear that your top performing employee is heading out the door.

Are Supervisory Shoulds Hurting You as a Manager?

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine go over Ten Supervisory Shoulds that many managers hold about how their staff should behave. Supervisory Shoulds are beliefs that prevent managers from supervising their staff effectively. Do you believe you should only have to say something once? Do you assume your employees should know how to prioritize their work? Listen to this My Crazy Office podcast.

Is Your Anger Backfiring with Your Staff?

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine ask an important question of anyone who manages people: Is you anger backfiring with your staff? They start with a question from someone whose angry reactions to under-performing employees are hurting their reputation at work. Kathi and Katherine discuss what managers can do instead of getting angry when employees under-perform.

Taking Over Another Manager’s Team?

Today on My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss the challenge of taking over another manager’s team. They start with a question from someone who has been asked to take over another manager’s department and worries that the staff will resist her management style. Kathi and Katherine go on to consider how you can assess and re-train a team of employees that you inherit from someone else.

Afraid of Losing Your Best Employee?

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi, and Katherine talk about what it takes to manage (and keep) your best employees. They start with a question from a manager who has a super-competent employee and fears losing this person. During the second part of the podcast, they address the “star” employee directly — how does a stellar employee determine the next career steps?

What To Do When Someone Lies to You at Work

Do you suspect that someone you manage is lying to you? In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss how to handle it when someone you supervise lies to you. It may be a junior co-worker or a member of your staff. What do you do when you know they are not telling the truth?

Managing an Argumentative Employee

Kathi and Katherine discuss how to manage an argumentative employee. Are you trying to manage someone who challenges your every move? In this podcast, we’ll examine what happens when a member of your “support staff” questions or corrects everything you want to do. During the second half, we consider the employee’s perspective — What if you challenge your boss because he or she seems insecure or indecisive?