The most powerful policies are usually the shortest ones. When GM’s Mary Barra replaced a 10-page dress code with just two words—“Dress appropriately”—she did more than simplify a rule. She sparked a cultural shift in how leaders made decisions and how teams took ownership. This true story, shared by tech CEO Wouter Durville, shows what […]| Michael Timms
“I love performance reviews!”—said nobody, ever. Despite their unpopularity, most companies still conduct annual performance reviews even though 98% of CHROs admit their performance management processes are broken. Why cling to something that doesn’t work? Because many executives simply can’t imagine a better way to enhance employee performance. What if there’s a way to ditch performance reviews and […]| Michael Timms
What if your entire management team leveled up in a single year? At this company, they did. The ripple effect was transformational. The Challenge: Growth Without Alignment Westview Co-op (“Westview”) operates a mix of businesses—gas stations, grocery stores, home centers, liquor stores, and agricultural outlets. After several rapid acquisitions, they struggled to integrate new locations […]| Michael Timms
Establishing a culture of feedback can help leaders tackle tough conversations more effectively. Having difficult conversations is one of the hardest — and most essential — leadership skills. Yet, the higher leaders climb, the more they tend to avoid addressing poor performance or behavior, often out of fear of being disliked. But avoiding friction points […]| Michael Timms
By implementing these seven strategies, you can effectively foster a more collaborative and cohesive team culture. Do you have employees who act more like “lone wolves” than team players? Individuals or teams who work in isolation from the larger organization can stifle innovation, limit knowledge sharing, and create resentment when others perceive them as playing […] The post 7 Strategies to Turn ‘Lone Wolves’ into Team Players appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
“This is hopeless,” he muttered, sinking into his office chair. The CEO of a medical device company had just returned from another fruitless executive meeting, where he had pleaded for improved teamwork. For the third consecutive quarter, the company had missed its sales targets, and the cause was glaringly obvious: the executive team was deeply […] The post 2 Game-Changing Strategies to Influence Others. appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
“He’s a nice guy, but I’m not sure he’s up to the job.” This is what the VP of Construction told the CEO about his main rival on the executive team, the COO. The VP of Construction and the COO were equals on the org chart and both reported to the CEO. However, it irked […] The post The First Move Great Leaders Make to Ignite High-Performance. appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
Finding employees has never been harder than it is today. The US and Canadian unemployment rates are at or near record lows, and virtually every employer I speak to is struggling to keep up with work demands because they don’t have enough of the right people. Perhaps the alarmingly high inflation rates will eventually cool […] The post 3 Ways to Attract, Engage, and Retain Employees in any Market Conditions appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
What one skill do you think has the greatest positive impact on workplace culture and performance? From my years of helping leaders create a culture of accountability, I have found that the ability to provide feedback directly and respectfully makes the biggest and most immediate positive difference to individuals and organizations. Contrary to popular belief, […] The post 5 Steps to Provide Feedback That’s Helpful, Not Hurtful appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
Like many others in the midst of the Great Resignation, Tom is leaving his company. Tom has worked as a top-tier project manager for an IT services company for over 5 years. He wasn’t looking for a new job, but when an acquaintance at another IT services company told him about where she worked, Tom […] The post Putting Profits Before People Is Killing Your Company appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
What’s the difference between a good leader and a great one? Steve Jobs is one of the most celebrated and admired leaders of all time. Apple, the company he co-founded, substantially changed our world. He revolutionized several industries, including personal computing, animated movies, music, and cell phones. His story is legendary. He was kicked out […]| Michael Timms
You’d think that a CEO of a major airline who is earning over $12 million a year would understand this basic principle of leadership: Leaders set the upper limit of accountability for their organization. No one will take accountability to a greater degree than their leader does. Apparently, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau hasn’t learned […] The post Leaders Set the Standard of Accountability & Performance appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
What’s a manager supposed to do when a team member doesn’t follow proper procedures, puts the company at risk, then lies about it or refuses to accept responsibility? Most managers would say, “Fire them!” However, could certain leadership practices prevent the situation from reaching that point? Let’s investigate. A construction client told me about a […] The post How to Manage a Poor Performer and Elevate Every Employee’s Performance appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
Have you ever attended leadership training and then realized a few months later that you aren’t really using any of it? If so, you’re not alone. Surveys show that most executives don’t think leadership training has made a lasting impact in their organization. It doesn’t have to be this way. The reason leadership development fails […] The post Why Leadership Development Fails and How To Make It Stick appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
If you took some time off this summer, odds are you came back to an overflowing inbox. Tons of emails aren’t just annoying, they waste countless hours in a time when most organizations are struggling to keep up and employees are already stretched to the max. In the following video, I share a few tips […] The post How To Reduce Communication Overload appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
If you’ve ever felt that you don’t have time to do the strategic work you should be doing, then this is for you. I am excited to share a video clip with you from my latest webinar, “Doing More With Less,” about the crucial topic of delegation and its impact on individual and organizational success. […] The post How Delegating Can Save You 15 Hours A Week appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
Believe it or not, your brain often unknowingly walks past many of the real causes of your problems when it is searching for solutions. It’s true; we’re all wired to “jump to conclusions.” We have a glitch in our mental wiring called the fundamental attribution error. Researchers have discovered that when we see a problem, […] The post How to Engineer Solutions to Your Biggest Problems appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
Sandi is an up-and-coming marketing manager at a big tech company—at least she thought she was. Then she started receiving negative feedback in emails from her manager. Things began to go south when Sandi had what she thought was a typical one-on-one meeting with her manager. Shortly after she returned to her office, Sandi received […] The post One Rule That Will Dramatically Improve Your Workplace Culture appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
Do you have an employee with performance problems? Every manager will have to deal with a difficult or struggling employee many times throughout their career. Many business professionals refer to this as “performance management.” I call it “leadership,” because its in these situations that a manager’s leadership is truly tested and revealed. Leadership isn’t necessary […] The post Should I Write Up My Employee? appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
When I joined a construction company as the head of their new human resources department, I was full of confidence. I had successfully built an HR department earlier in my career and had just finished a stint at a top consulting firm that gave me exposure to cutting-edge tools and practices. I was brimming with […] The post Why Leaders Should Build Confidence in Those They Lead appeared first on Michael Timms.| Michael Timms
