logo
#

Latest news with #team

The Four Traits Of Bosses Who Get Results
The Four Traits Of Bosses Who Get Results

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Business
  • Forbes

The Four Traits Of Bosses Who Get Results

When it comes to accountability, it's not enough to chant the slogan around the office and hope people get it. Asserting that you're the type of boss who holds people accountable isn't enough to do the trick. Your team must trust and believe that there is a fair and accurate process for keeping track of their actions and tying their behavior to real example, imagine your boss came in tomorrow morning and said, 'If you do a great job today, I am going to give you a $1,000 bonus. If you do an average job, you get to keep your job. If you do a bad job today, you are fired.' There are three things you would want to you would want to know exactly what a great job, an average job, and a bad job look like. Second, you would want to know that someone is keeping a close eye on your performance, so it isn't overlooked when you do a great job. Third, you'd want to ensure your performance is measured based on the expectations that were spelled out up front—and nothing need a fair and accurate process for tying real consequences to each employee's real concrete actions. That process doesn't have to be complicated:Establishing accountability cannot be done once or twice a year, during formal performance evaluations. It must be done up close and let real world complications get in the way. In the real world, however, there are many complications that make it nearly impossible to maintain an airtight process linking individual actions to consequences. But don't let those complications become excuses for not practicing real most organizations today, managers must compete for an employee's time and energy. When you give a direct report an assignment, it's not always clear how many other assignments that person is juggling or whether an urgent assignment from another person will interfere with completing an assignment on time for can you hold an employee accountable in this case?A senior manager in a large media company, Phil, had a conversation-stopping answer to this question: 'I am absolutely determined to be the manager that employees do not want to disappoint. Everybody knows you don't accept an assignment from me unless you can complete it to my specifications. I am the one who is going to follow up, follow up, follow up. There is nowhere to hide from me. I will come to find you. Unless you are on your deathbed, you had better have an answer for me.'Looking around the room, it was clear from his colleagues' reactions that this was true. Everybody knew Phil was that are four lessons to take from Phil and other bosses like him. 1. Be the boss who is most engaged and you will be the boss to whom your employees are most responsive. If they know you will follow up, monitor, measure, document, and insist on accountability, they will put assignments for you first.2. Be the boss who sets up employees for success and rewards them accordingly. If people know they will get something valuable, even out of a demanding assignment, the best employees will want to work for you.3. Be the boss who understands what other projects someone is juggling for other managers. Ask lots of questions about other tasks and deadlines. Talk about how your assignment might interfere with that person's other work. Decide together whether they will be able to meet your requirements. Make a plan for how they will respond if any other responsibility interferes with meeting your deadline or requirements.4. Be the boss who sets higher expectations and standards. If other managers who are your peers have fundamentally different expectations, standards, and requirements for employees, remind your direct reports regularly and enthusiastically that you are different. Make it a point of pride. Let the people on your team appreciate your especially high standards and make that part of a culture of high outcomes you all share in.

How Great Leaders Know What to Solve and What to Learn From
How Great Leaders Know What to Solve and What to Learn From

Entrepreneur

time2 hours ago

  • Business
  • Entrepreneur

How Great Leaders Know What to Solve and What to Learn From

Many leaders default to quick fixes — but some problems can't be solved, only led. Here's how to spot the difference and stop wasting time, energy and trust. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. A few years ago, I was coaching "Maria," a department head at a large organization. She was sharp, strategic and exhausted. "I've tried everything," she told me. She definitely had: New software, new structure, redefined roles, outside consultants. Still, her meetings were flat. Collaboration was stalled. Decisions were passively undermined or actively reversed after the fact. The problem wasn't technical. It was cultural. After some conversations with department members, I learned that her team didn't feel safe telling the truth. The ghosts of past conflicts and unspoken judgments had produced a climate where "smile and nod" was the only path forward. Once we named that, the work changed, and we began solving for the right problem. Maria stopped trying to fix the team and started leading it. That work began with building the kind of culture where truth could breathe. That's adaptive leadership. It's less black and white, but oftentimes, this is the kind of leadership that makes goal achievement possible. Ronald Heifetz's foundational work classified challenges as two types: Technical challenges (e.g., budgeting, scheduling, legal compliance, product defects), which have clear problems and clear solutions based on expertise. Adaptive challenges (e.g., rebuilding trust, leading through loss, navigating culture shifts, or redefining success), which are fuzzy and relational, requiring co-created solutions based on learning and deep change. When we don't name this distinction, we throw tools at things that need conversation. We mistake silence for agreement. We promote people who are great at fixing, but unpracticed at coaching team members and facilitating others' learning. Over time, that mindset costs us trust, talent and traction. Related: A Customer Ghosted Her on a $1,700 Bill — So She Used This Clever Move to Get Paid The cost of swift solutions Here's what I see again and again: a leader is handed a tangled problem, such as declining engagement, siloed communication or team conflict. Without blinking, they launch into action: They move a few roles around. They send a heartfelt memo. They allocate some budget. Maybe they even bring in a consultant. For a moment, it feels like progress. But six months later, nothing has changed. The problem may have gone quiet, but it hasn't gone away. When leaders treat adaptive challenges like technical ones, three things tend to happen: Over-functioning: The leader becomes the fixer, absorbing complexity, decision-making and ownership. This is when I hear leaders complain, "I'm too stuck in the weeds." Disempowerment: People stop engaging creatively and instead wait for direction. You'll hear team members say, "Just tell me what you want," or worse, "I didn't think it was my place to weigh in." Rework: The problem returns because the root causes were never addressed. That's when you hear sighs, see eye rolls, and stakeholders ask, "Didn't we already solve this?" or "Here we go again." First seek to understand Thought leaders, including Greek philosopher Epictetus, humanist psychologist Carl Rogers and leadership guru Stephen Covey, all have been credited with the dictum of seeking to listen and understand before acting. In the same way, adaptive leadership starts with diagnosis — not with vision, charisma or decisive action. Therefore, the adaptive leader's first responsibility is to step back and ask: What kind of challenge am I facing? Heifetz advises that most problems are a mix of technical and adaptive challenges. Imagine, for example, you have an underperforming cross-functional team. Maybe there is a technical fix. Perhaps the process needs to be clarified, the expectations need to be reset, or the roles reassigned. But underneath, there also might be turf protection, identity threat, or lack of trust in leadership. The key is to name both layers. According to Heifetz, if you treat the problem like it's 90% technical when it's actually 70% adaptive, you'll waste time and erode trust. If you try to make it all about feelings and purpose when there's a real process issue, you'll come off as evasive or unclear. Understanding the real nature of the problem doesn't just help you act — it helps your team feel seen. Related: The Most Successful Founders Take Retreats — Here's Why You Should, Too What to do now Here are three practical steps to help you start leading more adaptively: 1. What kind of challenge is this? Before charging ahead with a solution, ask: Is this a technical problem, an adaptive challenge or a mix of both? If the problem requires someone to change behavior, mindset or identity, it's adaptive. If it requires a specific skill or authority to be applied, it's technical. If it requires both, it's a mix. Once you've clarified it for yourself, bring your team in on the conversation to create shared awareness and shift responsibility from leader-as-fixer to team-as-learners. 2. Build the framework together. Map out the problem and its solution with your team. You can do this by drawing a triangle, labeling the base "technical," the top "adaptive," and the middle "hybrid." Then list the challenges surrounding that problem on sticky notes and place each one where it belongs. For each challenge, ask: Who owns this challenge? What kind of learning is required? What kind of support is needed? This makes the invisible visible. 3. Invite the right people into the right work. Once you've fully mapped the challenges, resist the urge to carry it alone. Adaptive leadership means shared ownership. You're not assigning blame; you're enlisting co-learners. This isn't just good teamwork. It's how people grow. Further, they will be far more likely to support and ensure the success of solutions they have helped shape. While you don't need to democratize every decision, you should match the challenge with those who have the most insight and the most to gain by learning their way through it. Once you start distinguishing between technical and adaptive challenges, you'll never look at your to-do list the same way again. That small act of diagnosis might be the most powerful leadership move you make all week.

5 Hidden ChatGPT Secrets to Crush Your To-Do List
5 Hidden ChatGPT Secrets to Crush Your To-Do List

Geeky Gadgets

time5 hours ago

  • Geeky Gadgets

5 Hidden ChatGPT Secrets to Crush Your To-Do List

What if you could accomplish more in a single day than most people do in a week? Imagine delegating tedious tasks, synthesizing mountains of data, or even creating your own specialized AI assistant—all without breaking a sweat. It might sound like a futuristic dream, but with ChatGPT's hidden productivity features, it's entirely possible. While many see ChatGPT as just a conversational AI, its true potential lies in its lesser-known tools that can transform the way you work. Whether you're drowning in to-do lists or juggling multiple projects, these capabilities are designed to help you reclaim your time and energy. In this deep dive, Kevin Stratvert and team uncover five powerful yet often overlooked ChatGPT features that can supercharge your productivity. From automating complex workflows to seamlessly integrating with your favorite apps, these tools are more than just convenient—they're fantastic options for anyone looking to work smarter, not harder. You'll learn how to use advanced modes, tailor AI assistants to your needs, and even streamline multitasking with innovative desktop features. Ready to rethink what's possible in your daily routine? Let's explore how these hidden gems can transform the way you tackle your to-do list. Unlock ChatGPT Productivity Features 1. Automate Complex Tasks with ChatGPT Agent Mode ChatGPT's Agent Mode is a innovative feature for automating multi-step processes. This functionality allows you to delegate intricate tasks, such as scheduling appointments, conducting comprehensive research, or even preparing detailed presentations. By using tools like fast text browsers and live task tracking, Agent Mode ensures that you remain on top of your responsibilities without needing to micromanage every step. For example, you can instruct ChatGPT to gather information on a specific topic, summarize the findings, and draft a report—all while you focus on other priorities. This feature is particularly useful for professionals juggling multiple responsibilities. However, it is essential to prioritize data security by avoiding the sharing of sensitive or confidential information. 2. Summarize and Analyze Data with the Deep Research Tool The Deep Research Tool is designed to handle large volumes of information from diverse sources, offering reliable, citation-backed insights. This feature is invaluable for professionals who need to synthesize data quickly and efficiently. By integrating with platforms like Google Drive, Gmail, and HubSpot, it provides seamless access to both personal and external data, allowing you to work smarter. Customizable research plans allow you to tailor the AI's approach to meet your specific needs, whether you're preparing a market analysis, drafting a technical report, or exploring industry trends. The ability to generate concise, actionable summaries ensures that you can make informed decisions without spending hours sifting through unnecessary details. ChatGPT Features For Efficient Workflows Watch this video on YouTube. Here are more guides from our previous articles and guides related to ChatGPT that you may find helpful. 3. Streamline Access with Data Integration Connectors ChatGPT's data integration connectors enable seamless connectivity with external platforms such as Outlook, SharePoint, and QuickBooks. This feature allows you to perform faster searches, synchronize data effortlessly, and access proprietary information—all within the ChatGPT interface. For instance, you can retrieve financial reports from QuickBooks or locate critical emails in seconds, saving valuable time. Custom connectors offer additional flexibility, allowing tailored data analysis for unique business needs. This capability is particularly beneficial for professionals who rely on multiple data sources to inform their strategies and decisions. By centralizing access to critical information, you can streamline your workflow and focus on high-priority tasks. 4. Create Specialized AI Assistants with Custom GPTs The ability to create Custom GPTs enables users to design AI models tailored to their specific workflows. By defining roles, tasks, and output formats, you can build specialized assistants capable of handling repetitive or complex tasks. For example, a custom GPT can analyze datasets, generate actionable insights, or draft personalized customer communications, making it an invaluable tool for businesses and individuals alike. This feature is particularly useful for optimizing operations or managing intricate projects. However, it is crucial to double-check outputs for accuracy, especially when dealing with high-stakes tasks or sensitive information. By refining and customizing these AI assistants, you can significantly enhance your productivity and efficiency. 5. Enhance Multitasking with Desktop App Features The ChatGPT desktop app is equipped with features designed to improve multitasking and accessibility. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to quickly access the AI, making it easier to switch between tasks without losing focus. Context-aware assistance further enhances productivity by offering relevant suggestions tailored to your current activities, such as drafting documents or troubleshooting error messages. One standout feature, currently in beta, is ChatGPT Record, which transcribes and summarizes audio recordings. This tool is particularly useful for capturing meeting notes, brainstorming sessions, or interviews, making sure that you never miss critical information. By integrating these features into your workflow, you can stay organized and efficient, even during fast-paced discussions. Best Practices for Using ChatGPT Effectively To fully harness the potential of ChatGPT's advanced features, consider adopting the following best practices: Ensure data security by avoiding the sharing of sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, or proprietary data. by avoiding the sharing of sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, or proprietary data. Verify the accuracy of outputs , particularly when using custom GPTs or conducting research tasks. , particularly when using custom GPTs or conducting research tasks. Explore subscription plans to unlock premium features, including data integration connectors and transcription tools. Experiment with customizable workflows to tailor the AI's capabilities to your specific needs and objectives. Applications Across Industries The versatility of ChatGPT's advanced features makes it applicable across a wide range of industries and professional roles: Task automation for professionals managing multiple responsibilities, such as project managers or entrepreneurs. for professionals managing multiple responsibilities, such as project managers or entrepreneurs. Research and data analysis for academics, marketers, and business analysts seeking to synthesize complex information. for academics, marketers, and business analysts seeking to synthesize complex information. Customer relationship management through personalized communication tools and automated responses. through personalized communication tools and automated responses. Meeting transcription and summarization for teams and individuals aiming to capture and organize key insights. Whether you're a small business owner, a corporate professional, or an individual looking to optimize your workflow, ChatGPT's hidden capabilities provide the tools you need to stay ahead. By using these features, you can simplify your tasks, save time, and focus on what truly matters. Media Credit: Kevin Stratvert Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store