Ask, Don't Tell - Coaching through Facilitation

2 Minute Read

How many times has somebody come to you with a problem at work, and you just tell them the answer? Win-Win! Right? ... Until they come back tomorrow. And the next day. Again and again until all you do is solve their problems.

History has taught us that one of the main responsibilities of a manager is to answer employees' questions. Of course, this seems like a noble gesture. And it could be necessary when employees don’t have the needed information. But in reality, true empowerment comes from helping employees learn where to find or figure out what they need. And that comes from facilitation. When you provide a quick answer, you solve one problem. When you facilitate a discovery process, you create problem solvers!

How Do Your Communication Skills Measure Up?

4 Minute Read

Communication: It’s an exchange. A process of sharing your thoughts, ideas, or feelings with another person. It’s easy right? We all communicate perfectly...Not so much. Especially today, the ability to communicate effectively is one of the most critical skills an employee or manager must have.

Whether it be remote or face-to-face, it's key to have people in your company that are transparent, assertive, and positive; otherwise it's almost certain you'll feel a shift in your company's culture...if you haven't already. For communication to be effective, it requires great skill in both listening and speaking. Here are a few tips to improve your skills as a communicator.

Leading With Fairness, Respect & Support

4 Minute Read

We’ve all been there. And some are still there. Maybe this will remind you of the people on your team. In a spot where what was once a career is now just a job – a means to an end. All purpose is gone and people don’t feel valued. Negative behaviors have become the norm. It feels like some have given up. People start to feel stuck or are keeping their eyes peeled for a new job…far, far away from here. What happened?

The short answer: YOU could be the problem.In fact, an HBR survey revealed that 58% of people say they would trust a complete stranger over their own boss. That’s over half of your workforce. Do we have your attention yet?

It’s All a Matter of Perspective

3 Minute Read

Perspective is a funny thing. Consider this all-too-familiar scenario: You’re driving to work behind an SUV that abruptly stops before an intersection. No turn signal, no warning. Just stops in the middle of the street. How inconsiderate! You could have wrecked! So you lay on the horn, angry and flustered, yelling a few choice words. We know what it feels like. Your morning was off to a bad enough start already. You probably feel frustrated, like nothing else is going to go right.

But what you couldn’t see was that there was a smaller car ahead of the SUV. That car was the one actually turning. And it DID have the turn signal on. The SUV was simply waiting for the car to turn. Now, how do you feel? Glad you honked and yelled for no reason? Or embarrassed that you acted without having all of the information?

Why Your Ping Pong Tables Aren't Working

5 Minute Read

Let’s get real about corporate culture.

You have no idea why your culture sucks. It just does. You bought the ping-pong tables. You started Happy Hour Fridays. You even do the obligatory birthday cakes for your employees. The problem is that none of this has made a difference; your organization still seems lackluster.

People just don’t click. They can’t communicate. Your turnover rates are on the rise; and the employees you do keep don’t seem like they want to be there. Getting people to work together, collaborate, and have a normal conversation is like pulling teeth. And those words you had so beautifully hung on the wall seem meaningless.

Giving Feedback: Say What You Mean!

4 Minute Read

In the video, Shargaa gives a comical presentation about the word "awesome." Every single thing these days is awesome: sandwiches, PDF documents, your new chair. She says, "if you have everything, you value nothing."

And because of that exact statement, she stresses the importance of using words as they're meant to be used. Throughout her presentation, she gives ten examples of things that are truly awesome: the Pyramids, the Grand Canyon, the invention of Photography…

The Results: Chatterkick X Revela Remote Work And Flexibility Survey

11 Minute Read

Remote Work And Flexibility Survey Blog was Written and Published by Chatterkick

Businesses are approaching the workplace differently, thanks COVID-19! We've literally had to change our mindset on the things that we've learned to utilize to get better as a business; technology, communication, operating systems, safe physical spaces, stable sales environments, and flexible work opportunities. Our approach to these topics are being as COVID-19 is forcing us to dig deep into our businesses. As Revela and Chatterkick collaborate on a series of the Generation Social Media Podcast episodes, we wanted to hear honest feedback on remote work and flexibility. We sent out a 5-minute survey on remote work and flexibility during COVID-19, and the results were fascinating.

You Started Strong. Don't Let Up.

2 Minute Read

We’re all about six weeks into this pandemic. Some a little longer, some a little less. What uprooted and affected our entire world has now become what we consider normal…for now. In the beginning, when people started working virtually or rotating their shifts at work, we all tended to be more intentional about connecting with our teams. Having daily huddles, weekly (or more frequent) team meetings, happy hours, and individual check-ins. But now that some time has passed, are we really still being as intentional as we were before?

Change, Communication, LeadershipApril 27, 2020connection, intent, intention, power of intentionComment

How to Keep Remote Employees Engaged

4 Minute Read

Telecommuting...sounds like something from the future. However, it is one of the most challenging issues for businesses today. Employees want flexible work schedules and work hours. And many companies are trying to make it a priority and allow employees to work remotely. Some have even gone as far as hiring full remote teams that work in different states across the country.

#AskRevela - Toxic Boss

5 Minute Read

Let us be your leadership “Google.” Ask Revela!: Last year, in an article from our #AskRevela series, we addressed the question of how to deal with a toxic person on your team. We examined possible reasons and tips for handling someone who is less-than-pleasant. We looked at it from the perspective of a peer or direct report. But what about a toxic boss? What if that person is your manager? So here’s today’s question…

How do you successfully motivate your team when your supervisor’s toxic behavior affects morale, both yours and the team's? - Anonymous

Ask Revela, Communication, Company Culture, Retaining EmployeesNovember 20, 2019#askrevelaComment

Leading with Compassion: A Requirement of Leaders Today

4 Minute Read

The word compassion holds many meanings, and it’s hard to define. Here’s what we know. Compassion consists of three main elements: recognizing or noticing when others are struggling, understanding and feeling for the person that is struggling, and responding or having the motivation to act and help relieve the struggle. Compassion takes empathy one step further with that final element: having the motivation to act.

You might be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with leadership? I can’t fix every person’s problems.” Our answer: It has everything to do with it. Human beings are born with a compassionate instinct at our core. In fact, research by David Rand at Harvard University shows that with both adults and children, our first impulse is to help others, not to compete with them.

Communication, Leadership, TrustOctober 30, 2019business leadership, compassion, leading teams, Leading with empathy

Transforming the Employee Evaluation

Managers vs. Leaders – BORRRRING!!

5 Minute Read

Let’s guess what you’re thinking. Probably something along the lines of: “Another article about what it means to be a leader, even if you don’t manage anyone.” And you’ll probably move on or delete this as your eyes roll to the back of your head. But wait! Keep reading…

This topic has been a hot one for a while. If you search for it on Google, you will get about 35,800,000 results (at least that’s what we got). There are more pictures than you can count of a leader helping push people up a mountain, while a manager steps on heads to make it to the top first. And the memes? Don’t get us started.Alongside all that, you’ll see articles: “3 Differences between Managers & Leaders,” “Leaders vs Managers: Which Are You?,” “Want to Be a Leader Not a Manager?” and so on.

How to hold people accountable without ruining relationships.

4 Minute Read

Picture this scenario: People at work are unengaged. You can feel your direct reports whispering about you around the water cooler. Sometimes you feel walked on. And your team thinks that they can get away with anything…because you won’t do anything about it. Does any of this sound familiar?

Having crucial conversations with your team is hard. We know our employees have good intentions. But sometimes, they make mistakes, or we need to correct performance issues. And holding them accountable for missing the mark can be extremely uncomfortable.

Creating Critical Thinkers In A Society Of Test Takers

Communication, Leadership, TrainingApril 2, 2019Asking Questions, critical analysis, Critical Thinker, critical thinking, Decision-Making, how to make a decision, how to think critically, leader, leadership, Questions, rational thinking, Right Questions, Thinking Critically Comment

You're not my boss! - How to deal with your micromanaging coworker.

3 Minute Read

Every company has one. The micromanaging coworker. You know who we’re talking about. The one employee that has his hands in everything. He’s the go-to for all the questions you have. But also a bit of a control freak. Things that aren’t his job easily become his job, because he can’t let go. He checks up on your work and he’s always questioning what you’re doing. Sometimes, you might even start to wonder how he has time to do his own job when he’s spending so much time trying to do yours. And here’s the worst part…You don’t even report to him! Therein lies the dilemma. How do you keep your working relationship intact, yet still be firm enough to set your boundaries? It’s time to deal with your micromanaging coworker.