Nicole Scott
Creating a Culture of Healthy Debate
Creating a Culture of Healthy Debate When teams face opposing ideas, debates can quickly turn from constructive to contentious. A tool called a Polarity Map can help manage these situations by providing a visual framework that encourages objective discussion and reduces emotional responses. Let’s consider a scenario where your team is developing a leadership program. One group believes the program
To Lead Effectively…Strive for Consistency and Predictability
To Lead Effectively…Strive for Consistency and Predictability You’ve likely heard that success in today’s business world requires being unpredictable—challenging the status quo, thinking outside the box, and pushing boundaries. While that may work when developing a product or staying ahead of competitors, unpredictability is not a leadership strength. In fact, it can be unsettling for your team. What your team
Can Excessive Assertiveness be Harmful?
Can Excessive Assertiveness be Harmful? Let’s begin our discussion with the assumption that assertiveness is directly tied to the introversion-extroversion scale. In other words, individuals higher on the extroversion scale tend to be more assertive, while those higher on the introversion scale are less likely to be assertive. In her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That
Finding the Perfect Construction Hire is Challenging – PSP’s Employee Testing Can Help
Finding the Perfect Construction Hire is Challenging – PSP’s Employee Testing Can Help A recent article from ConstructionDive highlighted the ongoing challenges recruiters face in the construction industry, with more than half predicting that hiring will be particularly difficult in 2024. The article identified several key reasons for these struggles, but two of the most significant challenges, according to recruiters,
Navigating the Chaos
Navigating the Chaos At work, discipline is often defined by an individual’s strong work ethic, reliability, and commitment. These individuals are organized and maintain a consistent, focused work routine. They excel at prioritizing tasks and consistently deliver high-quality results. But what happens when the work environment becomes chaotic? How does someone who thrives in a structured setting, with clear processes
Understanding the Needs of Job Candidates
Understanding the Needs of Job Candidates A 2022 article on the ConstructionDive website highlighted the growing importance of strategies to enhance employee well-being in the construction industry. The article referenced research by the marketing platform Semrush, which found that between February 2020 and February 2022, Google searches for well-being services increased by 1,300%, while employee searches for ‘how to ask
Taking on a New Team
Taking on a New Team Transitioning into a leadership role, especially when inheriting an existing team, is a complex challenge that requires careful planning and execution. The question often arises: “Where do I start?” Michael Watkins, in his book The First 90 Days, outlines a four-step process to help leaders navigate this transition effectively: 1. Assessment – What Is Begin
Continuous Improvement: It Starts with Reflection
Continuous Improvement: It Starts with Reflection It’s often said that the seven most dangerous words in business are, “That’s the way I’ve always done it.” This phrase typically points to established habits or behaviors that once brought value or success. But what happens when those methods no longer serve us? What happens when what got us here is no longer
Move Them to Action by Asking Two Questions
Move Them to Action by Asking Two Questions When you assign or delegate a task, it’s crucial to ensure the recipient intends to act on it. Headshakes and nods often mask true intentions. To truly gauge readiness, you need to ask effective questions. Typical Questions Fall Short Questions like “Does everyone know what is expected?” often yield superficial nods without
Are You Growing Your Leaders?
Are You Growing Your Leaders? Passionately advocating for leadership development comes from personal experiences and observations. Many leaders struggle to transition from individual contributor to leader, often because they lack proper preparation, knowledge, skills, tools, coaching, and support. Deloitte’s 2015 Human Capital Trends Report surveyed 3,300 business and HR leaders from 106 countries, revealing that building leadership capabilities was the