This week, Sara examines recent research from Checkr, which highlights a significant gap between management and employee perceptions of workplace communication. 71% of management reports having great relationships and open communication with employees – and yet 58% of employees agree. Sara outlines actionable steps leaders can take to address this misalignment, bridge the perception gap, and create a more cohesive work environment.
Read MoreIn this week’s Business Bite, Sara covers the strategy of process mapping and how visualizing your business’ steps through diagrams and flow charts can help you spot inefficiencies and streamline processes! Learn the historical context and get concrete examples of how process mapping is used to improve everything from customer onboarding to manufacturing.
Read MoreSara interviews Jonathan Reitz, a coaching entrepreneur with roles at Fluxify and Weatherhead, to explore the evolving landscape of feedback in coaching, especially with the rise of AI tools. They discuss how feedback impacts leadership development, the importance of self-awareness, and practical strategies for effective coaching.
Read MoreSara highlights how employee engagement vastly increases when consistent feedback is provided – as research from Clutch that reveals 82% of employees value all types of feedback. Consistent feedback reinforces desired behaviors, identifies areas for improvement, and makes employees feel noticed and valued in their workplace. Sara shares key strategies for building consistent feedback into your organization.
Read MoreSara sits down with Tom, a director of talent management at an insurance organization, to discuss feedback this week! Tom shares his personal experiences and insights on the challenges of giving and receiving feedback, especially for conflict-averse people. Together, Sara and Tom dig deep into the nuances of feedback as both criticism and recognition, discussing strategies to deliver meaningful feedback to foster growth and improvement.
Read MoreFor this week’s Business Bite, Sara covers the popular ADKAR model framework, focusing on an individual’s experience during organizational change and using that experience to maximize effectiveness on both an individual and organizational level. Sara shares examples of how the ADKAR model can be used and provides tips for implementing it in your organization.
Read MoreSara examines a survey by Enboarder, where 71% of employees agree that they need to have discussions with others to learn something new or change their thinking. Sara explains how collaborative learning can provide clarity, validation, and changes in perspective that leads to deeper understanding and more effective change implementation. Sara shares actionable steps for leaders to leverage this finding and ways to implement it in their organizations.
Read MoreThis week, Sara interviews Erin, a development director at a nonprofit that helps individuals experiencing homelessness. Erin shares how she uses positive reinforcement to build trust and open communication to improve both giving and receiving feedback. Whether you’re looking to improve your feedback skills or curious on how it can foster growth, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways!
Read MoreThis week’s Business Bite breaks down the PESTLE model – a powerful strategic analysis framework. Sara provides an overview of the six external factors that can impact any organization, and shares why this model is essential for understanding the broader context of your business operations.
Read MoreOn this week’s Research Revealed, Sara discusses a Harvard Business Review report which highlights that 54% of leaders believe that the CEO of an organization should be highly engaged in leadership development training programs. Active participation is not just symbolic – it greatly impacts the effectiveness and perception of the training programs within the organization. Sara shares specific steps that CEOs can take in championing current initiatives and improve their effectiveness.
Read MoreFor this week’s interview, Sara interviews Blake, VP of client engagement at a staffing and recruiting company. Blake and Sara explore the nuances of how context, tone, and the relationship between individuals can shape the experience of giving or receiving feedback. Blake shares his insights into crafting meaningful, actionable feedback and creating a culture of open communication in your team.
Read MoreSara covers the balanced scorecard, a powerful performance measurement and strategic management tool, on this week’s episode of Business Bites! Sara explains how the balanced scorecard can translate an organization’s vision and strategy into a set of measures – making it clear how to align business activities with strategic goals.
Read MoreThis week, Sara is joined by Sophia, CEO of Illuminate You Coaching. Sara and Sophia explore the evolving landscape of leadership, the importance of psychological safety, and the myths surrounding inclusive leadership. Discover actionable insights and best practices for fostering a growth mindset and empowering teams.
Read MoreIn this week’s Research Revealed, Sara draws insights from a Harvard Business Review global leadership development study and discusses why empathy, active listening and emotional intelligence are becoming crucial in the current work environment. This episode has actionable steps to cultivate these human centric skills within your organization and team to foster a more collaborative, inclusive, and resilient work environment.
Read MoreThis week, Sara interviews Genna, a senior manager at a nonprofit, to explore the complexities of feedback in professional settings. They discuss emotional responses to feedback, the importance of intentionality, and Genna shares her perspective of what makes feedback meaningful!
Read MoreIn this week’s Business Bite, Sara discusses the PDSA cycle – a powerful method for continuous improvement and problem-solving. Discover how this framework, developed by Dr. Walter Schuhart, can transform your business processes.
Read MoreIn this episode, Sara interviews Carrie Aguilar, a coach and consultant specializing in tech startup sales strategy. Carrie shares her background in tech sales and her experience in managing and training sales teams. They discuss the challenges of remote work and the importance of trust but verify in managing sales teams. Carrie emphasizes the need for a sales strategy in startups and the importance of understanding the problem the product solves. They also discuss the importance of delivering honest feedback and the impact of having a deliberate sales strategy in a startup environment.
Read MoreIn this episode, Sara discusses the importance of leaders being able to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty in today's rapidly evolving business world. She shares three steps to foster this ability in organizations: developing agility and adaptability, fostering a culture of innovation and learning, and enhancing communication and transparency. Sara also provides questions for self-assessment and strategies to help teams navigate change and remain productive. By focusing on these steps, leaders can enhance their teams' capability to thrive in uncertain conditions and guide organizations through complexity.
Read MoreIn this new episode of Can I Offer You Some Feedback, Sara brings on Courtney, a program development manager at a nonprofit. They discuss their initial reactions to feedback, preferences for giving and receiving feedback, and the importance of empathy and meaningful feedback. Courtney shares examples of receiving feedback in a remote work setting and emphasizes the need to check biases when giving feedback. They also discuss the importance of leading by example and creating a culture of feedback within teams.
Read MoreThis week Sara gives us a new Business Bite on mind mapping. A visual diagramming technique used to represent different words, ideas, tasks, and concepts branching out from a central idea. It was first popularized by Tony Buzan in the 1960s as a way to enhance memory and creativity. Mind mapping can be used for project planning, brainstorming, and problem-solving. Two key considerations when starting with mind mapping are identifying the central idea and using colors and images to enhance visualization. Mind mapping can help organize information, make connections more apparent, and stimulate creative thinking.
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