What Stops Employees From Speaking Up…and What Helps Employees Speak Up

Apr 27, 2016 | Humor in the Workplace Blog

A few weeks ago in my weekly e-zine Inspiring Workplaces I raised the issue of employees not speaking up in their workplaces. I was flooded with responses from subscribers adding to the list of reasons employees don’t feel comfortable speaking up to their senior managers. Some told stories of how they were fired for speaking up too often at work, while others had been demoted or reprimanded for speaking up. And one person shared how she was let go for not speaking up enough at work!

Customer Service: Would You Like a Side of Empathy With That?

Mar 29, 2016 | HUMOR AT WORK, Humor in the Workplace Blog

Do your employees understand the importance of expressing empathy to your customers when required?

My wife and I just returned from a speaking trip in another country. The trip turned into an epic adventure involving delayed flights, missed connections, missing baggage, and yes, more delayed flights. Some of it was weather related, some issues were mechanical, sometimes we were waiting for the “paperwork”. At one point we had a pilot but no plane, then later on we had a plane without a pilot.

Employees’ Families are Part of Your Support Team

Feb 16, 2016 | Humor in the Workplace Blog

We recently celebrated Family Day in my home province of Alberta. The holiday is intended as a day for people to spend time with their family, which reminded me of the role families play in businesses. Inspiring workplaces recognize that families matter and that the families of employees are part of their support team.

Consider the impact work has on your life. Chances are, it is the biggest use of your waking hours – in fact, many people spend more time with their colleagues than they do with their family. Work affects your mental and physical health, your attitude and energy level you carry home with you, and your personal development and growth. Work can’t help but have an enormous impact on your marriage and on your children’s lives.

Miles of Smiles Creates an Inspiring Workplace

Nov 9, 2015 | Humor in the Workplace Blog

Barry Williams likes to mix a lot of humor into his workplaces. As the former manager of Barney’s Motel in Brandon, Manitoba, he created a fly bounty to get people laughing over flies in the motel rooms, added hilarious slogans to his highway sign, and incorporated humor into his help wanted ads.

Celebrating Individuality Helps Drive Success

Oct 28, 2015 | Humor in the Workplace Blog

Here’s how Kimpton Hotels promotes it’s careers on-line: “Are you creative, passionate and entrepreneurial? Are you MacGyver–like in your ability to solve problems with a little ingenuity (and perhaps some duct tape)? Well then, we like you already! For us, this business is not about building

Workplace Communication: Are You Accessible AND Approachable?

Oct 14, 2015 | Humor in the Workplace Blog

I’ve been doing some political door knocking for our federal election, which has given me a chance to practice my ability to suss out which dogs are approachable and which ones are, well, not so much. Of course some dogs are all bark and no bite, while others that seem

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Michael Kerr

What Stops Employees From Speaking Up…and What Helps Employees Speak Up

Customer Service: Would You Like a Side of Empathy With That?

Employees’ Families are Part of Your Support Team

Miles of Smiles Creates an Inspiring Workplace

Celebrating Individuality Helps Drive Success

Workplace Communication: Are You Accessible AND Approachable?

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