. CLICK ON A TOPIC: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE ..Want some workplace humor? Look for the icon below! ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION The 7 Engagement Imperatives Yes, your workplace can engage hearts and minds every day. Here's how. The Blossoming of a Workplace Drone Walter used to be a lot like Dilbert -- until a smart supervisor treated him like a real person. Achieving the Flow of Great Performance Want to work "in the zone"? Then follow the lead of people like Handel and Pelé. Refreshing Lessons in Empowerment A well-meaning dad tries to control the lemonade stand -- until two young employees take over and show what it really means to co-create a successful enterprise. An Ageless Question from Kindergarten Many schools are all about keeping kids in line -- at the expense of curiosity and enthusiasm. Can the same be said of your organization? Making Music with a Great Teacher If you want to strike the right chord as a coach, be a partner and provide choices. White Paper: Making Sense of Motivation Take This Job and Shovel It It's amazing how people find purpose in their work. Case in point: Pete Hulse of Pet Butler Dog Waste Removal Service. Motivation: An Inside-Out Proposition Incentives, rewards, and other extrinsic motivators are a good thing...right? Meaningful Missions and Visions "What exactly is the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement, and how can ours be world class?" A Burning Sense of Mission Just because you have a mission statement doesn't mean you have a mission. Grab some lighter fluid and start changing things for the better. OTHER TOPICS: LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE LEADERSHIP Lessons from a Principled Leader Leading in an incredibly demanding work environment, Fred Burton slows down and puts effectiveness ahead of efficiency. Learn how you can too. IN-DEPTH PROFILE: The Strengths That Matter Most If you've ever felt lacking as a leader, Aaron Smith and great-grandson David Branch want you to know their story. A Lesson from Mongolia: Do What You Can When it comes to making a difference, there are no limits. Just ask Michelle Lewis. The Soft Side of a Steel Company In a tough, unforgiving industry, Ken Iverson achieved remarkable success by bringing out the best in people. Timeless Wisdom from My 104-Year-Old Friend Does a to-do list have something to do with longevity? LaRue would definitely say so. Leaving a Bright Legacy The life of a creative good guy prompts us to ask some big questions about our role in the world. White Paper: Power Over vs. Power With OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE TEAMS AND TEAMWORK If You're on a Workplace Improvement Team, Please Read This! Take action now to turn your team into a productive force for positive change. 7 Steps to Painless, Productive Meetings Is your day filled with meetings and more meetings? Here are ways to make them faster, better, and less frequent. The Problem With Know-It-Alls Do you work with someone who's a self-proclaimed expert on everything? Here's how to stay civil while exerting your own know-how. In Praise of Workplace Cynicism Dave is one part Einstein, one part Rodney Dangerfield, and one part dental drill. Here's why we should like him. Speeding Up Those Never-Ending Teams Why do some teams need months of meetings before they can pilot their improvements, and what can be done about it? Meaningful Team-Building Activities "Our office is going on a retreat, and we're thinking of doing some kind of team-building activity. Any suggestions?" Making the Most of Ground Rules "It seems like every group in the world develops a set of ground rules. What do you think -- are ground rules really worthwhile?" OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE CIVILITY AND RESPECT Civility At Work: 20 Ways to Build a Kinder Workplace Workplaces work better when people get along. Here's how to make it happen. ...French Version -- UK Version Strong Like an Oak: 10 Ways to Grow Trust in Your Workplace Trust requires patience, persistence, and plenty of action -- by you. I'm Important, You're Important, We're All Important Self-worth is a hazy concept, unless it's OUR sense of worth we're talking about. Here are 20 ideas for building it up. Learning Respect in the Arizona Desert Lesson #1 -- Make sure your tank is full. A Face-to-Face Encounter with Differences From Opie to Satan in two months: How a little beard taught me big lessons in acceptance. A World of Civility: 15 Ways to Wage Kindness Starting Now Use these action-oriented aspirations to bring compassion and empathy back to life -- in your workplace, community, and country. OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE CHANGE AND INNOVATION Going Beyond the Brainstorm: 9 Ways to Turn Good Ideas into Great Achievements Are you ready to facilitate, strategize, persuade, convince, and compromise? That's what it takes! How to Create Your Own Kitty Hawk Wilbur and Orville left behind some powerful lessons in invention -- lessons you can put to work right now in your organization. Change (Gasp!) Can (Gasp!) Be Fun Want to bring positive change to your workplace? Expect a little pain before you hit your stride. Biohazards in the Suggestion Box Want to get more good ideas from employees? Then beware the canned ham. OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE COMMUNICATION Are You Turning Toward? When people reach out to you, how do you respond? Your approach can make or break those important workplace relationships. Taking the Time for Dialogue Opening your ears -- and your mind -- requires plenty of personal adjustment. The Myth of the Communication "Problem" "One of my colleagues says that every workplace problem is really a communication problem. Is there any truth to that?" Eager for a paradigm shift? Not so fast! If your workplace is buzzing with buzzwords, it's time to watch your language. Play Buzzword Bingo! You're sure to shift your paradigm as you play this win-win winner of a game. OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION WORKPLACE CULTURE WORKLIFE WORKPLACE CULTURE 10 Conversations That Can Transform Your Workplace If you want to effect meaningful improvement, begin by asking the right questions. When Fear Strikes the Workplace If you're the Freddy Krueger of management, you're the one who should be afraid -- because you're going to get scary results. Competition: As American as Apple Pie? It's supposed to motivate. But more often than not, competition causes rivalries, passive-aggressive behavior, and fractured workplaces. Some Choice Words on Management by Slogan Poster Pete plastered the walls with good intentions -- and the workers had a few choice words of their own. Creating a Flexible Workplace It's amazing but true -- someone really IS worrying about toenails and toenail polish. Welcome to the new TQM. OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKLIFE WORKLIFE The 10 Commandments of a Happy Worklife Thou shalt assume the best...and nine other guiding principles for everyone who wants work to be more than just work. 5 Questions to Ask Yourself (Before You Leave Work Today) Shake up your routine with these thought-provoking prompts. Individuality at Work When it comes to being yourself in the workplace, it helps to know your KASSIs. You DO know your KASSIs, don't you? The Case for Slowing Down In a world of fast companies and impossible deadlines, there's something to be said for slowing down, living in the present, and taking time to appreciate all that is good. The Challenge of "Challenge" Labor Day angst: How to find just the right work balance. Ring in the New Year with Old Year Reflections If you want your resolutions to stick, then take a thoughtful look at the past 12 months. OTHER TOPICS: ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND TEAMWORK CIVILITY AND RESPECT CHANGE AND INNOVATION COMMUNICATION WORKPLACE CULTURE Copyright © 2008 Tom Terez Workplace Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 21444, Columbus, Ohio USA 43221-0444. Tel. 614-488-9721. Online Contact Form Home | Ideas and Insights | Improvement Tools | White Papers | Reprint Center | Talks, Workshops, Consulting | E-Letters | Contact | For Clients Visit our other sites:...TomTerez.com...InnerBest.com BetterWorkplaceNow.com, Better Workplace Now, TomTerez.com, InnerBest.com, and Inner Best are trademarks of Tom Terez Workplace Solutions, Inc.