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Improving the Working Environment
We thought you may find the following books
helpful as you tackle some of the issues covered in this newsletter:
Q Crucial
Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson et al
Q Crucial Confrontations by Kerry Patterson et al
Q What Clients
Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business by Harry Beckwith
Q The Five
Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick
M. Lencioni
Q Top Grading, How
Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People by Bradford
D. Smart
Companies
frequently request assistance from EKW&A with their efforts to help
executives, managers, and employees elevate skill levels in communicating
and dealing with others. Our
tool box includes proven training and development techniques and
assessments.
For
more information, contact E. K. Ward & Associates at 716-626-1188
or please click here.
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OI Partners - E.K. Ward and
Associates
November
2005 Newsletter
Problems
can beset management from both inside and outside the organization, and
we've all found the need for 'damage' control from time to time. Problems can come in the form of
economic downturns, legal pitfalls, community relations issues and
employee dissatisfaction, among others. When the issue results in
problems with employee morale and reduced productivity, it's important
that we find ways to deal with the environmental fallout in the
workplace.
In this issue, we present
several ideas for improving the workplace during tough times. Low morale is a symptom of
bigger issues, but left unchecked, it can cause morale to dive even
further.
All organizations find themselves fighting unforeseen
issues that can negatively affect the workplace. The real test we face is how
management responds to these challenges and how we work with our
employees during the tough times.
Anne
Mahoney Glose
OI Partners
(Williamsville, NY)
Please click on
the links below to read the complete articles.
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Morale and the Challenge to Maintain It in
Tough Times
In the best of times, morale seems easier to come by and is often taken
for granted. In the worst of times, when economic and other
difficulties beset the organization, management and information may
be less available, the spotlight tends to rest on problems rather
than accomplishments and relationships can become strained. While
management cannot guard against all threats to morale in the
workplace, it can take some basic actions to sustain morale in bad
times.
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How to Manage
Difficult People
We all want to be proud of what we do and proud of the organizations
for which we work. "Them" and "us" is no longer a
satisfactory or inevitable mindset. The focus must increasingly be on
what *we* can do, *our* positive motives and intentions and *our*
willingness to help. Today's business environment, with its emphasis
on empowerment, consensus building and team orientation, emphasizes
learning how to deal with problem behavior, how to confront issues
and how to provide feedback. Here are some ideas on how to do just
that.
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Overcoming
Negativity Can Boost Bottom Line
Negativity is an increasing problem in the workplace, costing U.S.
companies about $3 billion a year in lost productivity, according to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whether it's due to downsizing,
budget cuts, lack of participation in decision-making, or co-workers
who are simply pessimistic, negativism hurts everybody. Suzanne
Metzger knows this firsthand.
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Maintaining
Employee Engagement When Communicating Difficult Issues
An IABC survey shows that companies that take a strong position and
answer questions as forthrightly as possible reap the benefits
Everywhere you turn, it is all over the news-missed earnings
estimates, product recalls, strikes, layoffs, bankruptcy, corporate
relocations, ethical wrongdoing, natural disasters. It seems
virtually every organization has been touched by difficult issues.
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Office Design and
Productivity Enhancement
Aug. 12--Research conducted by the consultancy firm, Gensler, shows
that poor office design hurts productivity. In fact, they conclude
that improving your work environment can boost staff morale and drive
up productivity by nearly a fifth. According to Gensler's Gary
Wheeler, the challenge for the 21st century business is to increase
knowledge worker productivity without increasing working hours. ...
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