Welcome to the Management is a Journey™ Blog

Videos, tools, and knowledge to increase your management and leadership skills and improve organizational productivity!

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Seven Reasons Why Managers Fail to Plan

by Robert Tanner on May 15, 2012

Some believe that planning is dead!  They say that today’s environment changes too often and too quickly. Despite the disruptive and unrelenting pace of change, planning is still an important function in the workplace. A good plan provides a framework for organizing company resources and it provides direction for employees on how they can help the company [...]

The best hope of solving all our problems lies in harnessing the diversity, the energy, and the creativity of all our people. –Roger Wilkins

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Everyone Has it in Them to Shine [Video]

by Robert Tanner on May 11, 2012

Some managers question the value of coaching an under performing employee.  They argue that it is much simpler for them to just get rid of their non performing employee and replace them with someone who can do the job. As I coach managers, particularly newer managers, I stress the value of adjusting this perspective of [...]

I’m tired of giving 150% to this organization and only getting grief back from my boss! I’m going to pull back and just do the minimum until I can get out of here! I remember the frustration I felt from “Karen” as she said these words to me.  Karen’s frustrations were valid.  She was a [...]

A failure is an event, never a person. – William Brown

In 100 Words: Keep it Short and Simple or Go Back to the Drawing Board!

by Robert Tanner May 4, 2012
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If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.  –Albert Einstein When business leaders are unable to communicate in simple terms, they create confusion and frustration. Their vague organizational goals make employees unproductive. Their complex mission, value, and vision statements are put in file folders and remain unimplemented in everyday operations. Their [...]

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Employee Engagement: It’s Still More Than Money and Benefits [Infographic]

by Robert Tanner April 30, 2012
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Research has shown that ineffective managers damage employee engagement. This research is not surprising! It is difficult for any employee to have a highly positive emotional connection to his organization if he feels he is being treated badly by his boss. Employees are more likely to be engaged when they work for a manager who [...]

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Saturday’s Quote – Jimmy Carter on Motivation

by Robert Tanner April 28, 2012
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You Can Do Whatever You Have to Do, and Sometimes Even Better Than You Think You Can. – Jimmy Carter

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Saturday’s Quote – Gifford Pinchot on Vision and Leadership

by Robert Tanner April 21, 2012
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A vision is not a vision unless it says yes to some ideas and no to others, inspires people, and is a reason to get out of bed in the morning and come to work. – Gifford Pinchot

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