Category: Managing Down

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.

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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.

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Are You a Manager Who Is Afraid of Upsetting Your Staff?

It’s really hard to manage effectively if you are afraid of upsetting your staff. On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss this challenge for some managers. They start with a question from someone who is new to management but realizes she must give certain members of her staff some tough feedback. This manager is afraid that honest feedback will result in people getting mad at her.

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How Do I Fire a Long-time Employee?

In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a subject that many people in leadership positions must address: How do you fire a long-time employee? They start with a question from someone who was recently hired as the senior director of a large department and realizes there is a key employee who must be let go. Kathi and Katherine discuss how to navigate this kind of delicate situation carefully and professionally.

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Can I Turn Down a Promotion?

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address an interesting question: Is it okay to turn down a promotion? They start with a question from someone who has been offered a promotion but doesn’t want the management headache that comes with it. Kathi and Katherine consider the pros and cons to saying “No,” and what your options might be if you have to say “Yes.”

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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.

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Introverts Who Struggle With An Extroverted Workplace

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about introverts, and the challenges they face in the workplace. They start with a question from an introvert who must attend long meetings and worries that appearing checked out after a meeting could be interpreted as rude by his extroverted colleagues. Kathi and Katherine clarify some of the internal challenges of introverts and offer tips for handling delicate situations.

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Keeping Secrets During Re-Structuring?

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a provocative topic — How do you keep secrets when your company is re-structuring? They start with a question from someone who is on the executive team of a company that is re-organizing.
This person feels increasingly uncomfortable holding the knowledge of who will stay and who will go. Kathi and Katherine discuss how to hold that information in confidence and prepare for the eventual fallout.

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