Ask the Expert

Question: How do executives contribute to conflict? Answer: Executives contribute to conflict by communicating ambiguously, either intentionally or unintentionally. Most of us want to avoid conflict, but we can sometimes “talk out of both sides of our mouths” and give mixed messages. In optimal circumstances, issues may be resolved, but such communication fosters an organizational […]

Question: How important is it to focus on employee strengths or weaknesses? Which works best? Answer: There’s a reason why managers’ focus on strengths and weaknesses is so important. Most organizations are obsessed with fixing weaknesses. They consequently conduct performance reviews, 360-degree assessments and they like to evaluate how well employees and managers are measuring […]