| Hiring a CEO from inside the company is a safer bet over the long term than bringing in an outsider, according to research by Anthea Zhang of Rice University and Nandini Rajagopalan of USC. But the insider's performance advantage doesn't show up for a few years, because it takes a while for a leader's initiatives to have an impact, the researchers found in their study of 193 industrial CEOs. |
| Source: Rice University (PDF) |
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Daily Stat: Insiders Make Better CEOs
Management Tip of the Day: How to Prepare for a Tough Performance Review
Anticipating a difficult review can be nerve-racking. However, you can minimize the stress by preparing to receive the feedback and setting a positive tone for moving forward. Here are three tips to get ready for that tough conversation:
- Know what you've done well. List your accomplishments and what skills and capabilities helped you achieve them. Be ready to share these with your boss so she knows what you are proud of.
- Acknowledge areas of weakness. We've all got them and you're better off recognizing yours. Don't be defensive or fight the obvious, but acknowledge your weaknesses and identify ways to improve them.
- Demonstrate your willingness to improve. Don't just sit back and listen. Show your boss what you are doing to make things better going forward.
The Daily Stat: Jobless Ex-Managers Turn to Entrepreneurship
| With the U.S. job market still stagnant, many out-of-work ex-managers and execs have quit the labor pool to start their own businesses, says outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The percentage of unemployed workers starting companies rose to 8.6% in 2009, a four-year high, with the biggest increases among people 55 and older, according a survey of 3,000 job seekers. |
| Source: Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. |
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Management Tip of the Day: 3 Tips to Avoid Wasting Time Online
If you are like most internet users, you've probably chastised yourself for wasting time on the web. Research has shown that our brains enjoy being distracted and that the internet feeds that distraction happily. To avoid wasting time online, try these three things:
- Stay healthy. Getting rest and eating right makes your brain less prone to distraction.
- Avoid known time wasters. If you've wasted too much time already on a blog or forum, don't go there again. Or, set limits on your time there.
- Work smart. Working long hours can tire your brain and make you more likely to seek out distraction. If you have to put in a long day, schedule breaks in advance and know what you will do with that time.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Management Tip of the Day: How to Deliver Bad News to a Group
Disappointing news is never easy to deliver. Whether you are announcing that you haven't made your numbers or that there will be no bonuses this year, here are three tips for delivering bad news in a way that minimizes stress and negative impact on productivity:
- Do it as soon as possible. Bad news travels fast. Don't sit on information — get out there and share it as soon as it's feasible.
- Give context. Don't try to soften the information but do contextualize the news in the bigger picture. Explain the response to the situation and ask for the group's help.
- Prepare for questions. Any engaged group of employees will want to know more. Try to anticipate the most burning questions and prepare answers that are candid and respectful of peoples' anxieties.
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