Problem-Solving | The Organized Executive's Blog
8 Habits of Effective Critical Thinkers
10 ways to become a better critical thinker at work and in life. Continue reading →
Posted in Problem-Solving	| Tagged decision making, self-improvement	| 2 Comments
Solve problems in an hour or less
Posted on May 30, 2013 by Columbia Books, LLC	
Keep problem-solving meetings brief by enforcing strict time limits on discussions. Divide meetings into these three 20-minute segments: Define.When possible, specify the problem in advance. Then use the first 20 minutes of the meeting to identify potential root causes and … Continue reading →
Posted in Problem-Solving, Productivity	| Tagged Brainstorm, Business, Problem solving	| 1 Comment
Posted on December 26, 2012 by Columbia Books, LLC	
Today’s decision makers are up against a long list of pitfalls and obstacles that prevent them from making sound decisions. Fortunately, once you know what you’re up against, you can take the proper steps to correct it. Here are the top five decision-making pitfalls that get in the way of organizational success: Continue reading →
Posted in Leadership, Problem-Solving, Uncategorized	| Tagged assumptions, decision making, leadership	| 2 Comments
Guidelines for streamlining processes
Overworked employees who are handling larger workloads are experiencing higher stress, and could be on the verge of burnout, so now is the time to question just how efficient your organization is. Continue reading →
Posted in Leadership, Management, Problem-Solving	| Tagged organization, process improvement, productivity, Time management	| Leave a comment
Be the boss, not a therapist
Posted on November 13, 2012 by Amy Beth Miller	
Looking back at my least productive days as a manager, it always came down to people problems. The promising employee who wasn’t performing. The toxic employee who had the rest of the team in a tizzy. The employee who sat and vented about the stress of work, instead of actually doing the work … Continue reading →
Posted in Management, Problem-Solving, Stress, Training	| Tagged employee training, management, relationships, stress	| Leave a comment
Tap into new hires’ insight
Posted on June 5, 2012 by Columbia Books, LLC	
A new employee who’s young might have useful knowledge about social media, the latest technology or the newest trends popular among your youngest customers. A new employee who’s been in the working world for a while might have wisdom about your competitors’ strategies, alternative methods for common tasks or more efficient programs. You certainly want to make the most of that knowledge and wisdom, if it’s there. But don’t forget to seek out the insight that all your new employees will have: insight into the hiring process … Continue reading →
Posted in Communication, Leadership, Problem-Solving, Small changes with big results, Tools	| Tagged communication, new employees, new hires, process improvement, self-improvement	| 2 Comments
The missing role from your meetings
Posted on May 29, 2012 by Amy Beth Miller	
I was surprised to see a page in my fourth-grader’s school folder describing roles that are common in effective meetings. Titled “Cooperative Group Role Cards,” the page was created by the International Reading Association and National Council of Teachers of … Continue reading →
Posted in Leadership, Problem-Solving, Time Management	| Tagged errands, meetings, process improvement, productivity, Time management	| 2 Comments
10 questions to improve your productivity
To do the right things, first you must identify what those actions are. Productivity coach Bruce Lee recommends regularly asking yourself these questions: How well does my use of time match my priorities? What am I doing that doesn’t really … Continue reading →
Posted in Problem-Solving, Time Management, Training	| Tagged goals, process improvement, productivity, questions, routines	| Leave a comment