The Middling Manager Hub Podcast

Today we're talking about fun and joy! Having fun in the workplace is about more than mere distraction from mundane tasks. Helping employees have fun and find joy is an important element in increasing motivation, encouraging collaboration, and improving employee engagement.

Annual reviews are sometimes a dreaded task for managers, especially if we go into them looking at them as a box to check off. In reality, performance reviews can be a very rewarding experience as we utilize them to recognize the efforts and impact our employees make, while reinforcing previous conversations and coaching as we look with our employees towards the future.

As long as passive aggressive bosses have existed, so has quiet firing. But with the increase of remote workplaces quiet firing is on the rise. In today's episode we discuss the ethics and practice of quiet firing and look at the example of Milton's quiet firing in the movie Office Space.

The concept of the "work family" is one of my biggest pet peeves and in today's episode we discuss the benefits and the drawbacks of creating a culture around a "work family" as we look for a better way.

In today's episode we discuss the phenomena of "Quiet Hiring", the benefits and potential pitfalls to this practice for both the employer and the employee.

When building our teams we tend to prioritize the recruitment and hiring process but we sometimes fail to follow through with effective onboarding of the new hire. Onboarding should be given the same priority as recruitment or we could experience losses in time, money, resources and morale. In today's episode we talk about turn over, specifically as it relates to new hires and the onboarding proce...

Effective Communication is the most critical skill in a manager's tool kit. In this episode we talk about Skills every manager needs, focusing on principles of effective communication, drawing some inspiration from Ted Lasso.

In this episode we discuss emotional intelligence (EQ) and the value in building the EQ in ourselves as leaders and also in our teams so that we are prepared to handle workplace challenges in a responsible and professional way.

Managing Employees during times of tumult, struggle and change can be very challenging. Tune in for strategies that will help managers monitor and address the struggles of engagement with their employees.

Managing Multi-Generational Teams can be challenging at times but the benefits far outweigh any obstacles. As managers it's important for us to understand generational differences especially as we welcome Gen Z to the workforce. Once we have a clear understanding of strengths and expectations, we can better deploy our teams for great success.

Managers have the responsibility to help their employees be successful. Sometimes this requires the manager to step in to deflect both internal and external distractions and meddling. This episode discusses ways the manager can act as a Human Shield as well as some potential pitfalls and ethical dilemmas.

Change is more rapid now than it's ever been and it will never be this slow again. Change is constant and fast. If we aren't continually learning and adapting we will be left behind. Creating a culture of learning is a win for the organization and a win for the employee. Continuing education and upskilling programs strengthen employee satisfaction and creates an employee who can adapt and thrive i...

In this episode we dip our toes into the art of engaging challenging conversations with our employees. We talk about the pros and cons and provide helpful tips about how to make the most difficult conversations productive.

In this episode we delve deep into the heart of fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. Discover the power of empathy, allyship, and conscious leadership in building an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. We'll share actionable tips, and explore the tangible benefits of diversity, from enhanced creativity to improved employee satisfaction. Learn more about y...

Situational leadership is all about being a chameleon-like leader, changing your colors to match the needs of your team. Remember, leadership isn't static – it's a dynamic process that requires a blend of Activities Based and Results Based coaching styles to effectively guide your team toward success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The "Great Resignation" and "Quiet Quitting" are really just opportunities as managers and leaders to engage our staff in their "Great Renegotiation" about how work life and personal life should balance. As we engage our employees and recognize the challenges they face we can uncover ways to help them renegotiate their values in the workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...