Engagement Archives - Point Above

How to Handle a Narcissistic Manager

People with narcissistic tendencies often get into management positions. Maybe it’s because they are drawn to positions of power – maybe they’re just good at convincing others that they are the right person for the job. Whatever the reason, if you’re stuck with working for a narcissistic manager, it can be emotionally draining and eat away at your self-esteem. Being able to recognize the signs and implement some strategies for survival can save your sanity. What is a Narcissistic Manager? The literal definition of narcissism is "excessive interest in or admiration of oneself" but when it comes to management habits, it may be more recognizable as extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration. Sound familiar? While most...

6 Long-Term Benefits of a Company Retreat

Title Herb Carver | Date 2018 | . You're thinking about offering a company retreat because something needs a push, a change, a breath of fresh air, a shake-up. This puts you in good company with innovative businesses who take retreats yearly, quarterly, or even monthly. Why should you follow suit? Business leaders are learning that spending more hours working does not lead to better work. As a culture, we work hard. Most Americans report working 47 hours per week, and up to 40% of workers in the United States put in over 50 hours per week. We receive fewer vacation days than most developed countries, and we don't even use them all. Our work/life balance...

Thanks, But No Thanks

When people apply for a job, they go above and beyond to make certain they leave a good impression. And when it comes to the job interview, the same attitude should prevail among the recruiters and HR personnel responsible for finding the best talent for the team. Job candidates today are doing their homework before the interview, and they'll be sizing up your company based on the impression your recruiters give them. One misstep by an HR person could send the most qualified applicants running for the exit. The Don'ts of Recruiting Here are some "don'ts" that you and your HR recruiters can follow to avoid common mistakes when interviewing potential employees: Don't get "cute" with the questions. There's nothing wrong with thinking outside the...

Reputation at Risk? How to Deal With Bad Online Reviews From Job Applicants

As a Senior Manager or Business Owner, you’re likely already familiar with the impact social media has on influence marketing. Literally billions of dollars have been spent promoting an organizational voice, establishing relationships with target markets, and heralding brand identities. Because your reputation is always at risk. When it comes to individual user experiences and interactions – social media has proven useful in establishing the performance and credibility from positive reviews. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. Your organizational identity can suffer from online reviews if the comments posted are negative criticism from those who have an otherwise dissatisfying experience with your organization. Just typing that sentence reminded me of one my favorite examples – and while this story involving a customer is often easily...

How Should HR Handle Employees With Controversial Political Views?

In today's world, opinions about political matters are practically everywhere. One place they shouldn't dominate, however, is the workplace. Here are some of the basics that HR employees should know about handling political disputes. Why Do Overly Political Employees Present a Problem? An employee who holds a controversial political opinion isn't a problem by necessity. The problem arises when that employee discusses his or her views at length in the workplace, often making other workers uncomfortable in the process. At that point, political conversations between that employee and others can disrupt the normal flow of business. Though most political controversies at work will only produce minor problems, some can get out of hand. One of the most prominent recent examples of major disruptions caused by...

4 Keys to Get Your Company Culture Back on Track

“Is it too late to improve our company culture?” the Senior Executive leaned into the conference table as he asked. “Well no,” I responded a little slowly. The question caught me off guard. It wasn’t the topic of our meeting invitation, but it was clearly the issue we were brought in for. One thing was clear: The way this company was working… wasn’t working. In less than fifteen minutes of conversation he admitted he was no longer excited about coming to work in the morning, didn’t feel much appreciated while he was there, was finding it difficult to get most of his important work accomplished, and didn’t believe that what he’s doing was making much of a difference anyway. It was early afternoon and he...

5 Advantages of the “No Jerk Rule”

After 20+ years in the corporate world, I’ve dealt with my fair share of jerks. I’ll even admit to thinking that jerks must have just been drawn to my field – they appeared too frequently not to be. But after a few years working as a success coach alongside those in industries as diverse as software development, media production, materials manufacturing, engineering, product sales, and professional services, I can assure you that jerks find work pretty much everywhere. Sometimes these jerks are customers and sometimes they’re “important” clients. Sometimes they’re trainees, sometimes they’re coworkers, and sometimes they’re learned veterans. Perhaps worst of all, sometimes the boss is a jerk. If there is any pattern that I’ve been able to discern it’s this: the more critical a...

3 Powerful Ways to Be Happy in Life

Are you searching for ways to be happy in life? Use these 3 powerful habits to reset your outlook from negativity to positivity. Turn your mental frown upside down and enjoy each day just as it is. Eliminate Expectations A quick way to become unhappy is to develop expectations about people and your life circumstances. It’s rarely the actions of others or the situations you find yourself in that make you unhappy; it’s the thoughts that you have about them that cause the misery. For example, if you expect your best friend to have infinite time for you, to always remember your birthday, and to call you every day, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. (and can we just admit together that your…

How Active Listening Improves Workplace Performance

You subconsciously know when people actively listen to you. They give you their full attention, and you feel respected. On such occasions, you easily get your message across because others don’t just hear you, they understand your words. If they aren’t sure what you’ve said, they ask for clarification. As such, there’s no misunderstanding, and you don’t have to repeat yourself needlessly further down the line. Active listening involves paying attention to spoken words, noticing the tone and speed of words spoken, and recognizing the body language accompanying what’s said verbally. Passive listening is inferior, low-grade communication. It occurs when people are only partially attentive to what’s said. As a result, they listen selectively, honing in on data they expect to hear and missing vital…

7 Tips for “The New Guy”

Although we often work with mid-life career changers, we’re frequently asked to to offer advice to those nearer to the beginning of their career (that time when it may seem that success is far away). As a newcommer, you’re likely at the bottom of the hierarchy, you have no responsibility, and your salary is relatively low. Still, what you may lack in postion you make up for in optimism and energy (traits we not only remain envious of but also secretly hope are contagious). Aside from hard work, longevity, and luck, there are certain qualities shared by those who succeed. Here are seven tips for achieving success in any career: 1. Make Good Mistakes It’s not smart or constructive to repeat old mistakes, but sometimes making new…