Coaching secrets, becoming a better coach

What are your strategies for becoming a more effective coach?
Your Rant: I’ve got an employee who has a lot of potential. How can I help her to do a better job? 
911 Repair:
Did you hear about the German man who woke up very early one morning, stark naked, in the middle of the street? [...]

Making Human Resources a strategic asset

 What is your strategy for making Human Resources more strategic?
Your Rant: After years of complaining about HR, I was recently transferred into the belly of the beast. Any advice?
911 Repair,
The Commodore Hotel was a popular place for journalists to stay during the Beirut Civil War. However, checking in to this hotel in a war zone [...]

What employees wish their boss knew

What would you like your boss to know? 
Your Rant: I have 10 employees who are working for me and they all seem to be moving in slow motion. What can I do to get them to perform better?
911 Repair:
The U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the “armed” robbery conviction of Deshon Odom. Sure he was [...]

Managing telecommuters or people you can’t see

What’s your strategy for managing employees you can’t see? 
Your Rant: I’ve had a lot of success managing teams. But suddenly I’m in charge of a virtual team full of telecommuters. None of my old approaches is working. MANAGING BLIND
911 Repair:
Given the high levels of obesity in kids, the Cadbury Company launched a campaign in [...]

I can’t do this alone! Delegating effectively

Your strategy for delegating at work? 
Your Rant: I am overwhelmed at work. I work longer and longer hours but the work just keeps piling up. Do you have any advice on how I can get more done?
911 Repair:
Donald Sebastian recently pulled over a driver on the highway and became concerned about the driver’s [...]

Job-level feuds. Conflict between bosses and employees

What’s your strategy for class division in the office? 
Your Rant: The “working-class” vs. the “no-class” bosses. I’m tired of all the differences at work. Does anyone else see this? 
DEAR READERS: I recently wrote a column on men and women and the “battle of the sexes” at work. I received a ton of e-mail on the [...]

Leadership lessons from a dog and a cat

I’m in the process of founding my fourth corporation (two non-profits and two for-profits). So I’m not just another of those annoying pontificating journalists. No, I’m an annoying pontificating journalist who got bit early by the entrepreneurship bug.I’m not embarrassed to say that I didn’t learn the most about running my business from my MBA, [...]

How to get the most out of the people who report to you

Dear WW: Most business books offer just conjecture about how to be a better boss. Is there any advice out there based on real research? JUST THE FACTS
Dear FACTS,
I recently took a flight on Northwest Airlines. Instead of boarding by row, after letting first class and frequent flyers board, Northwest opened up boarding to [...]

How to manage an older employee

Dear WW: I was recently promoted to be manager of my group. Unfortunately, I’m the youngest person in my team. It’s been a nightmare trying to get older people to do what I need them to do. STILL WET
Dear STILL,
I recently read a great article in on Elephants. I learned that most of what I [...]

How to get the most out of knowledge workers

Dear WW: I’ve been managing a bunch of geniuses. Of course, I’d never say that to their faces. What are the keys to managing really smart people? OFF THE CHARTS
Dear OFF,
If you saw this in a TV show you would think it was totally implausible. A thief fled his attempted robbery of a Git-N-Go convenience [...]