When the Trump administration released its proposed budget for the upcoming federal fiscal year, the budget contained a proposal for a major change involving two of the nation’s most prominent civil rights agencies, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Regardless of whether and when this change will occur, the propo...

We have all heard how important an inclusive workplace is and how it encompasses five different generations of workers. Each generation brings its own communication styles, complexities, priorities, and so much more. With all these differences, how can we manage other dimensions of diversity? Is this an unprecedented challenge or is it an incredible opportunity for change? When we think about diversity and an inclusive work...

Although most of us believe that we are ethical and unbiased, and that we can make objective assessments to reach fair and rational conclusions, this is nearly impossible. Scientists postulate that when the brain is overloaded with information, it creates shortcuts to process that information, and uses past experiences to draw assumptions. Hidden, or unconscious, biases are part of the human condition. Even the most open-m...

Much has been made about human jobs that will potentially be replaced by automation and artificial intelligence in the coming years. But where does that leave businesses that base so much of their success on intimate, human connections? And how can owners who are already struggling to stay in business today contend with the prospect of having to future-proof their companies? I reached out to three owners, Ben Landers, C...

Many leaders experience setbacks—or even failures. Perhaps they feel like their influence is waning. Their ideas aren’t translating, or their teams aren’t producing at the right level. These leaders might be doing all the right things, but their effectiveness seems diluted. Ever had that feeling? If so, the problem could be leadership blind spots. These occur when there’s a disconnect between our...

Social media has given us an incredible tool with which to reach millions and millions of people across the globe. With 7.5 billion people and counting and almost 2 billion on Facebook alone, as a leader, it is more important than ever to be thoughtful about what you post, tweet, and share. So, how do you know what to “tweet”? In the video interview that accompanies this blog, Todd Lombardo, digital market...

If you want to learn what it takes to become a great mentor, one place to look is at the great mentors who’ve influenced your success. As a motivational speaker, my mentors (and I’ve had several including Jim Kouzes, Tom Peters, and Terry Pearce) had more confidence in my abilities than I did, and always looked for opportunities to shove me into the training and speaking spotlight. If you don’t think you h...

While we all like to believe we're confident in our skills and experiences at work, everyone battles with a level of self-doubt. Interestingly, women's leadership expert Tara Mohr says that confidence means little in this regard. Tara is the author of "Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message," and she describes to Tim Muma the key strategies you should be using to shake off your own self-doubt and the doubt...

Change of any kind can be challenging, but it can be especially difficult in the workplace. With a variety of personalities, generations, and opinions in one organization, you're going to witness tons of different reactions. Hamish Knox of Sandler Training addresses some key components of his book, "Change the Sandler Way: Understanding the Human Dynamics that Cause New Initiatives to Succeed." He gives Tim Muma the lowdown...

Business owners who wish to increase their growth trajectory should be mindful of succession issues and make solid plans to ensure that the next generation of leaders is ready to take over. Manager training is a critical part of the mix, but should your business engage in formal or informal training, and what type of mentorship should you encourage? I spoke with three business owners about their strategies for getting th...