Feedback can be a tricky thing. More often than not it has a negative connotation and for leaders or anyone who gives feedback, it can be uncomfortable, awkward, and intimidating. Moreover, there are those instances when feedback goes awry, with recipients either receiving it poorly, or wherein the corrective intent isn’t absorbed in a way that leads to improvement. While giving feedback effectively may not come naturally to many of us, fortunately, there is a framework for giving it without falling into the counterproductive traps that we often do, like giving feedback in a roundabout way or generalizing and getting…

Who doesn’t love a good party, right? They’re a great way to allow teams to blow off steam or celebrate an accomplishment, like a particularly good quarter or the launch of a new product. More than that, though, they help us relax and build camaraderie between team members who get to know each other on a more personal level. Moreover, parties often mix different teams, building bonds across different areas of an organization – a great way to help stave off siloing . Here are some ways to make sure you’re getting some team building out of your parties.

Grain silos are designed with one thing in mind – protecting the resources within from outside attack by pests, varmints, and other unsavory creatures. In organizations with a strongly siloed culture, the thought process can be quite similar. Siloed organizations have severe divides between different internal departments, something which prevents the free-flow of information that is critical to a business’s success. With the increasing complexity of businesses, this deeply rooted problem can be difficult to avoid. A side effect of organizational structure, siloing can result in numerous deleterious effects, such as redundant work, employee frustration and dissatisfaction, and overall friction…