Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know

How Great Bosses Build Top Workplaces: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Q&A with Jill Geisler

Jill Geisler — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:26:27 +0000

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel just published a special section focused on strong and healthy workplaces in southeastern Wisconsin. There are clear distinguishing qualities that set the best apart.

To help identify and illustrate the leadership aspects of great workplaces, the editors asked me to take part in a Q & A, based on many of the lessons in "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW." Since it's my hometown paper, you can imagine how happy I was to oblige:

The interviewer asks:

Q: In your book, you talk of the five "symptoms" of a healthy workplace culture. What are they, and what makes them healthy? A: In a healthy workplace culture: Employees know it's not a democracy, but their voices matter. When employees feel they can offer ideas and be heard, they are happier at work - even if they don't get to make all the final decisions.

For the the rest of the symptoms and many more tips, here's a link to the "Top Workplaces" special section.

128 Topics in the “What Great Bosses Know” Collection on ITunes U!

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:30:31 +0000

With the latest addition, on the topic of brainstorming and creativity, we now have 128 topics for managers in the "What Great Bosses Know" iTunes U collection. The downloads are free, of course.

If you'd like to listen and learn at your leisure, here's a link to the full library on ITunes U.

If you have topics you'd like to see added to the collection, feel free to let me know!

Great Bosses Cultivate Great Ideas

Jill Geisler — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:54:29 +0000

I'm in Washington, DC this week, teaching workshops at NPR. Folks here have just moved into a beautiful new building. It's not just a state-of-the-art workspace. It's also designed to bring many creative people together for better opportunities to think and collaborate.

That's important here, for sure, because public radio is built on ideas. But every good organization wants to capture and cultivate good proposals, plans, thoughts, suggestions. It works best when leaders understand how to cultivate great ideas. How to make it easy and effective to pitch, catch and coach them.

In preparation for the teaching, I immersed myself in a good amount of literature about brainstorming, collaboration and innovation. I turned that into a column and podcast for Poynter.org, titled "Don't Be an Idea Killer: Ten Tips for Cultivating Good Ideas." Here's how I begin:

Some of our best ideas come when we’re taking a break from concentration. At least, that’s what recent research says. Since the concept for this column coalesced while I was sweating my way through a Zumba class, I’m prepared to believe it.

I’d been doing a lot of reading about the cultivation of ideas — especially the leader’s role in brainstorming, creativity and innovation. I collected insights and advice from all sorts of experts to use in my teaching. I wanted to craft a column, too, but kept debating with myself about the framing.

Not surprisingly, my breakthrough came when I stopped fretting and shifted my focus to enjoying some music and keeping pace with the class leader.

And here's a link to the full column and all ten tips.

Happy Mother’s Day

admin — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:43:43 +0000

Often, in management seminars, we will ask the group to identify a leader who had a powerful positive impact on their lives. We hear about managers and mentors, teachers and coaches. And we often hear the answer: "My Mom."

There's always a story behind that reply. Inevitably that tale involves strong values and high standards, sometimes in the face of adversity and with some measure of self-sacrifice.

Mother's Day is great time to remind ourselves that moms instinctively know the first tenet of leadership: the most important thing a leader does is help others succeed. Thanks to all the moms who've done exactly that through the lessons they impart, the lives they lead and the love and belief they generously share.

700 “Likes” — Thanks!

admin — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:42:12 +0000

Today, the Facebook page for "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" hit the 700 mark for "likes." I enjoy sharing leadership resources there and on this website. I'm always on the lookout for good research and advice for leaders. I know that busy bosses appreciate someone pre-reading and suggesting good topics for them The Facebook page also seems to provide a sense of community, with people easily weighing in with questions and comments. Feel free to join in the conversation. I'd "like" that very much.