Articles by Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed

Employee Engagement: Are your Workers "Checked in" or "Checked Out"

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed

Employers large and small are concerned about the question of employee engagement. Increasingly experts are finding that most American workers are not very “engaged” on the job. By definition engaged employees are more productive, in tune with the organization’s goals, and enthusiastic about performing their jobs. However, surveys conducted by the Gallup Organization paint a very dark picture when it comes to the question “How engaged are American workers?” The answer is… Not very engaged.

Performance Appraisals That Transform Employee Performance

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed

Have you ever wondered exactly how many employees hate receiving regular performance reviews? The answer is … probably most of them! No one enjoys receiving negative feedback and employee performance reviews are often viewed as one-way discussions leading to criticism of the employee. However, the reverse is also true. Few supervisors enjoy conducting reviews, because most people don’t enjoy giving negative feedback either. But performance reviews don’t have to be annual “torture sessions.” With a little advance planning you can conduct performance reviews that you and your employees find informative, useful and (hopefully) effective.

Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Managers

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed

When a new year arrives it becomes customary to formulate some resolutions for the next 12 months. But rather than wrestle with the usual goals about of money, health, or relationships, managers may wish to consider resolutions dealing with ways to improve their supervisory skills and maximize success for themselves and their employees. Below are goals to consider for a productive, successful year ahead. So, for 2017 managers should consider the following resolutions:

Are Your People Stuck in Meeting Gridlock? 

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed

If it feels like you’re spending too much time in meetings without getting much done you aren’t alone. According to research reported by Atlassian, a software development company, the average employee spends approximately 31 hours per month attending as many as 62 meetings.

It May Be Time to “Supercharge” Your Team

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed

Whenever NASCAR racers zoom around a track their drivers have to rely on gauge for critical information. Without those instruments a driver wouldn’t know when to pull into the pits for more fuel and a fresh set of tires. That’s when the pit crew leaps into action, rapidly replacing all four tires and dumping gallons of fuel into the car, all in less than 20 seconds! For NASCAR racers that kind of speed is critical. Even a few additional seconds could make all the difference between winning and losing! Effective teamwork is the critical factor.

Should You Be Managing or Should You Be Coaching?

By Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed 

Do you think of yourself more as a manager or as a Coach? Knowing when to manage your employees and when to coach them may spell the difference between a workplace that’s wallowing in frustration or one that’s bursting with enthusiasm. The trick is to know when to wear the “manager” cap and when to wear the “coach” cap.