Don’t Like Your New Boss?

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss a common workplace dilemma: What happens if you don’t like your new boss? They start with a question from someone whose former boss retired, and the new boss is a completely different kind of manager. We’ll consider what you can do when management changes in a way that you don’t like.

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.

Are You Managing a Slug?

Low performing employees are very stressful to manage. On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a particular management headache — the slug. It’s the kind of employee who only does the bare minimum at work. We’ll start with a question from someone who currently supervises a very sluggish employee and wonders how to get this person to produce more.

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.

Feeling Underappreciated at Work?

On this My Crazy Office podcast Kathi and Katherine address a topic that some people consider “soft” but actually affects staff morale, productivity and retention — showing appreciation. They start with a question from a manager who recently learned that their staff do not feel appreciated. Kathi and Katherine discuss different ways to demonstrate appreciation and why it can be critical to your success.

Waiting Too Long to Fire Someone?

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about waiting too long to fire an employee. They start with a question from someone whose recent hire has become a real problem. This person is always late, disorganized and unable to perform the job well. Yet the manager can’t seem to fire them. Kathi and Katherine discuss what makes it hard to fire an employee and what you can do to speed up the process.

Afraid To Hold Your Staff Accountable?

It can be scary to confront staff if you fear that they may get angry and quit. In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss the importance of holding your staff accountable for their behavior. They start with a question from someone who manages many frontline staff but never confronts any of them because of the fear that they will quit. Now this lack of holding staff accountable is getting the manager in trouble.

How Much Should You Invest In a Bad Hire?

In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine explore an important question for anyone in management: How much should you invest in a bad hire? They start with a question from a manager who hired a very likeable person who lacks the skills needed for the job. This manager has invested time and money trying to upgrade the new hire’s skills, but it’s not working. Do you wonder how much to invest in someone who isn’t able to do the job? Listen here.