Why Training Rarely Solves The Problem- I’m OK. You’re OK. Let’s Fix the System

By Michelle Malay Carter on March 29, 2010 

Management’s Magic Bullet – Training Training is a fabulous thing – if people need to build knowledge and skills. But how often are issues at work really caused by someone’s lack of knowledge or skill? What does training NOT address? What the accountabilties of my role are, AND what the accountabilities of others’ roles are. […]

Filed Under Accountability, Managerial Leadership, Requisite Organization, Talent Management, Work Levels | 7 Comments

Engaging Employees Through Operationalizing Good Power, Starving Bad Power, and Disallowing No Power

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 21, 2009 

I was struck by a message on Good Power Versus Bad Power?at my house of worship last week.? It occurred to me that this is what PeopleFit endeavors to do within Managerial Hierarchies. Throwing The Baby Out with the Bathwater – Egalitarianism We are kidding ourselves to believe?managerial hierarchies can be?egalitarian.? Power must be exercised.? […]

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement, Executive Leadership, Managerial Leadership, Organization Design, Requisite Organization, Talent Management, Work Levels | 3 Comments

If You Want Accountability, You Must Grant Authority

By Michelle Malay Carter on July 6, 2009 

For What Are Employees Accountable? Employees are accountable for bringing their best to bear to their tasks and for giving their manager their best advice.?? Note:?They should not be accountable for their output, but rather their effectiveness in light of the circumstances.? Their output is part of the equation but cannot be the only point […]

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement | 3 Comments

What Employees Want for Christmas – The Gift of Clarity

By Michelle Malay Carter on December 22, 2008 

-A clear picture of their role, and clear assignments. -A role matched to their current cognitive capability level. -Accountability matched with requisite authority. -A manager who adds value to their thinking.? (aka has cognitive capacity one level higher than the employee) -Explicitly defined role relationships with others?as arranged by their manager.? Employees?shouldn’t be left to […]

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement, Managerial Leadership, Requisite Organization, Talent Management, Work Levels | 5 Comments

CEO Leadership – Key Points to Understand

By Michelle Malay Carter on November 23, 2008 

Elliott Jaques wrote Social Power and the CEO: Leadership and Trust in a Sustainable Free Enterprise System?in 2002.? It’s worth reading.? If you don’t care to read the whole book, an excellent summary was published by Business Book Review. A reprint of the review was published in Organization Design, Levels of Work & Human Capability […]

Filed Under Accountability, Corporate Values, Executive Leadership, Managerial Leadership, Organization Design, Requisite Organization, Work Levels | 2 Comments

If a Tree Falls in the Woods, How Will It Affect Its Performance Appraisal?

By Michelle Malay Carter on April 8, 2008 

If a man speaks in the woods and there’s no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong? Being a woman, I found this humorous, I would credit the author but do not know who she is. On an organizational level, the question becomes: If a staff member gives advice to a line manager, […]

Filed Under Accountability, Employee Engagement, Managerial Leadership, Organization Design, Requisite Organization, Strategy | Comments Off on If a Tree Falls in the Woods, How Will It Affect Its Performance Appraisal?