Behind Closed Doors

Back to Monday

Ginger strode into Sam’s office, ready for her one-on-one. “How’s it going, Ginger?” Sam greeted her.

Building Self-awareness

Hierarchy amplifies the impact of words and behavior. One senior manager we know couldn’t understand why people were afraid of him. “I’m not a scary person,” he shouted, thumping the table with each word.

Managers need to be aware of their own emotional state and how their words and behavior affect other people.

It’s perfectly normal to become frustrated or upset with issues at work. It’s not okay to yell, scream, swear, rant, rave, or threaten (despite some high-profile examples of this behavior). Even facial expressions can have unintended consequences. A manager who grimaces when she hears a task ...