Blog
If you want to be a workplace influencer, don’t rely on the quid pro quo
I’m fond of saying, “If you don’t have authority, you’ve got to use influence.” Sounds great, right? But ‘influence’ is often hard to define in the workplace. What does it look like? And, more importantly, how do you get it? Merriam-Webster defines influence as “the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or…
How to transform work interruptions into opportunities
If you’re wondering whether interruptions from colleagues have disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic, rest assured, they have not. Ask just about anyone—those side conversations are still happening, whether you’re working remotely or onsite. Whether it’s a Zoom meeting tangent, or a rambling Slack thread, or the relentless ping of incoming text messages, there is still…
How to Create a Shareable Job Aid
The number one most effective form of shareable job aid I have seen is the humble checklist. It’s a simple but powerful tool used from kindergarten classrooms to nuclear launch sites. And in a world of increasingly remote, asynchronous work, these types of job aids will be invaluable. Yet, as simple as they may be,…
Avoid these 5 bad attitudes at work
Attitude may be intangible, but it really matters. You cannot always control your feelings (nor should you necessarily try to). But feelings are on the inside. Attitude is what you show everyone else on the outside—and that is always under your control. Everybody has bad days or bad moments. But, even if you are not…
Improve productivity by practicing good email hygiene
We all know it but don’t often say it—email is a huge productivity killer. Like clockwork, as soon as we are about to start working on a task or project, an email pops into our inbox. We may try to ignore it, and it may work for a little while, but the distraction of that…
When You Don’t Have Authority, Use Influence
When work is highly collaborative, there arises an authority conundrum. When there’s a problem or delay, and you’re left to work things out at your own level, nobody has the power of rank to resolve things swiftly and efficiently. In those situations, my advice has always been: when you don’t have authority, use influence. But…
The Go-to Person’s Guide to Great Meetings
Meetings can be great opportunities, but not all meetings are great. There are really only three good reasons for a meeting: To create a feeling of belonging and togetherness To communicate a bunch of information to a bunch of people, in the same way, at the same time To brainstorm about a project, or deal…
Practicing extreme alignment will set your remote team apart
The folks at Fellow recently posed this question on Twitter: What is the most underrated management skill? My answer? Alignment. Alignment — Bruce Tulgan (@BruceTulgan) October 6, 2020 Alignment has become a huge focus of my work with clients over the past decade or so. As silos have broken down across organizations and high levels…
Trust is required for progress. Here’s how to build trust on remote teams.
“I believe that all human progress begins with trust.” This was something Frances Frei said to me in a recent conversation we had about transforming toxic workplace cultures. And research seems to support this belief. In one Harvard study, employees in high-trust companies reported: 50% higher productivity 40% less burnout 74% less stress and 76%…
Making people-first decisions at TGI Friday’s
In my 27 years with RainmakerThinking, I’ve been able to experience firsthand what it’s like working in a wide range of industries. One of the most challenging and demanding is the restaurant industry. And each of those restaurants—no matter how big or small—is responsible for the livelihoods of so many people. We have been living…