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Run projects when you don’t control all the resources

Most project managers face a fundamental mismatch: they’re accountable for results but don’t have authority over all the people and assets needed to achieve them. Team members report to other managers. Critical equipment or budget lives in other departments. Success depends on cooperation you can’t command. Running a project without controlling its resources requires influence,... View Article

Position yourself for roles that don’t exist yet

Traditional career planning assumes a ladder of known positions, each step defined by a job title and set of responsibilities. You can see the path ahead and position yourself accordingly. But in fast-changing organizations, the most interesting opportunities often aren’t on any org chart. They emerge as needs evolve, and the people who fill them... View Article

Evaluate cultural fit without sacrificing diversity

Cultural fit has become a loaded term in hiring. At its best, it ensures new hires share values that make collaboration effective. At its worst, it becomes a cover for selecting candidates who look, think, and act like the existing team—undermining diversity while giving hiring decisions a respectable-sounding justification. The goal isn’t to abandon cultural... View Article

Coach the employee who avoids conflict at all costs

On the surface, employees who avoid conflict seem easy to manage. They don’t argue, don’t create drama, and don’t generate complaints. But beneath that peaceful exterior lies a pattern that damages teams and limits careers: the inability or unwillingness to engage productively when interests collide. Conflict-avoidant employees let problems fester, agree to commitments they can’t... View Article

Document performance issues without creating a paper chase

Managers often resist documenting employee performance problems because the process feels bureaucratic, adversarial, and time-consuming. Yet when documentation is absent or inadequate, organizations face difficult terminations without supporting evidence, potential legal exposure, and situations where underperformance persists because no one created the record needed to act. The solution isn’t more paperwork. It’s smarter, leaner documentation... View Article

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Tools

The Employee Problem Solver

This convenient resource helps you figure out the best way to handle more than 160 common situations so they don't turn into long-term managerial headaches.

Manager's Training Library

Keep on top of vital issues and improve your interactions with subordinates with a wide range of printable training guides.

Multimedia Training

Learn the easy way with a trove of video and audio recordings exclusive to the issues you face.

Hiring Toolkit

Job Descriptions, Interview Questions & Exemption tests for 200+ positions