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Do you need to get your work done with Microsoft Word smoothly, easily, and quickly? If so, you’ve picked the right podcast. This podcast is designed to help beginning and intermediate users get up to speed quickly with Word 2010 and immediately become productive with it. Released every Tuesday at midnight Pacific.
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On the Words Work At Microsoft Podcast, we’ll be chatting about how Microsoft culture has evolved, starting with the way we talk. In each episode we’ll interview someone within the Microsoft writing community, giving you an inside look at how we approach our work. And, hopefully, offering up a heavy dose of trips and tricks along the way. www.wordsworkpodcast.com
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Being a people manager is kind of the best. But it's kind of the worst too, right? I mean between questions like, “how do I know what to talk about in a 1:1 meeting?” to “how do I give difficult feedback without being awkward?” to “how do I avoid becoming a micromanager?” – managing teams can be really overwhelming. Not anymore. The Managing Made Simple Podcast is your roadmap and compass to help you navigate life as a people manager. Chock full of fun stories from the trenches, concrete too ...
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Time management - we all know we have to be better at it, any yet... It's one thing when we notice it, but when we get too overloaded to the point where our teams noticed, we have to do something about it. In episode 127 of Managing Made Simple, I share simple strategies to save you time every single week so you can feel less overwhelmed and get ba…
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What is one thing you can do everyday on your team that motivates people and costs you zero money? Recognizing people! Yes, my friends, saying THANK YOU in a way that is genuine, specific, and actionable goes incredible lengths to drive higher retention and fuel better results. And yet, we often get busy and forget to do it. In episode 126 of Manag…
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Boundary setting with our teams is one of those things that no matter how good we get at it, it keeps rearing it's ugly head. Doesn't mean you're doing something wrong, and certainly doesn't mean it's too late for your team or your business. It's just an opportunity to make some small shifts to free up time and space for yourself, while empowering …
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When something isn't going the way you want it to on your team or in your business, it can be tempting to want to roll out a new policy to get people to fall in line. But policies signify compliance, and while we want people to meet expectations, compliance isn't necessarily the vibe we're wanting to communicate. In episode 124 of Managing Made Sim…
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Receiving feedback might just be harder than giving it... ok, it's totally harder. Especially as a leader. A lot of times our team members have gripes about things happening on our teams and in our businesses without having the full context - project strategy shifts, team changes, work assignments - making it easy to want to jump to the defense. Bu…
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"Can I give you some feedback?" I've said it before and I'll say it again - the six SCARIEST words someone can say to another person. Am I right? But feedback is critical information we need to be sharing with our teams on a regular basis so they can operate at their best. Feedback brings up all sorts of fears and misconceptions, that's why on epis…
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Today I'm launching a new type of episode, Wednesday Trendsday, where I will pop open Google News and break down a popular workplace trend. This week is all about "quiet vacationing"... um what?! Let's talk about what it is, why it's happening, and how to prevent it. -- WORK WITH LIA: Want a checklist of things you can do THIS week to become a bett…
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When a team member isn't meeting their full potential, it can be frustrating as a manager and leader. We know they're capable of more, we feel like we've set them up for success, but something isn't quite there. When this happens, instead of jumping ship and assuming it's a lost cause, there is something you can do. In episode 120 of Managing Made …
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In trying to build connection with our team and get them to do something, we often use two fateful words that shoot ourselves in the foot: I NEED. Something that is an expectation of a role on your team isn't a need, it's an expectation. It's part of that person's job. By saying "I need," you are asking them to be accountable to you, almost as if t…
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When it comes to running a high performing virtual team, the Bara Agency has it figured out. In this week's episode of Managing Made Simple, I'm joined by Justin Benson, the CEO of Bara Agency, where we talk about the importance of living your team values, how to create meaningful in-person moments even when fully remote, building a culture of acco…
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What do knowing how long work takes to get done, meetings ending on time, and work all being tracked in one place have in common? They ALL save you time and money and are part of healthy team operations. When I talk about team operations, people don't always understand what I mean off the bat - but it's the glue that holds all of the work that happ…
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There comes a time for every leader when we just can't do everything ourselves. We might come to this realization quickly, or it might take us a while to get there - but it always happens. We're not able to have the level of oversight we want to have with the work, connect as much with our team members, and scale ourselves in the way we know is pos…
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The funny thing about delegating is that it isn't just about handing over a bunch of work - it's about handing over the RIGHT set of work. In episode 115 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about how to figure out what that right set of work is, saving you time and making it so much easier to hand the task off. By asking this ONE question, you will sav…
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When we're running a business or managing a team, every minute of productivity counts. And in a moment where we're all having to do more with less, getting a handle on the areas costing you the most money is game changing for your business. In episode 114 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about three things that cost your business money every single …
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Ever been up at night stressing about a team member who isn’t delivering? Today on Managing Made Simple, we dive into how to tackle this situation so you can get back to your beauty rest. And it’s not to just jump to hiring a new team member! Begin by setting crystal-clear expectations, then lean into an open conversation to suss out the hiccups. O…
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Hiring new team members can feel like a gamble - and it's true, you can never really know if someone is the right fit until you start working with them. But we can get a hell of a lot closer to finding the right fit when we are intentional about the process. In this episode I talk about ONE thing you can do to dramatically improve the likelihood a …
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What do you get when you combine crystal clear expectations, fostering a culture where vulnerability is strength, and igniting the brilliance within each team member? A NASCAR pit crew that can jack up a car, change 4 tires, and refuel it in 8 seconds. On episode 111 of Managing Made Simple, I’m joined by Shaun Peet, NASCAR Pit Crew Coach & Chief C…
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Every day I hear the same concern from business owners and leaders - I want to give feedback and set expectations, but I don't want to come across as a micromanager. If you've shared this same concern, you're not alone. But today I'm going to let you in on a little secret: micromanaging is not about WHAT, it's about WHEN. In today's episode, I talk…
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What if I told you that it's likely that there's something you're doing that might be making it harder for your middle managers or team members to delegate? In this episode I share the MOST important thing managers can do to support their managers in delegating effectively - it's the thing you have to do first to set them up for success, then you c…
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Are conflicting motivations creating friction in your team? In this episode of Managing Made Simple, we delve into the keys to aligning your team's values and priorities, breaking down barriers between departments, and fostering collaboration. Learn how to transform "us versus them" mindsets into a cohesive, productive environment. Tune in and take…
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Today I'm answering a question I get at least once a week: how do I create a strong culture on my team? Culture can feel abstract, ethereal even. But there are specific things you can do on your team or in your business to foster and fuel a culture that will lead not only to higher retention, but better results. In this episode, I talk about things…
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I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear... Being a "well-liked" manager doesn't make you a GOOD manager. Many managers think that being someone who loves people, loves mentoring, and loves developing their team members makes them a good manager all by itself, and while that's a huge portion of the job...that's not enough. Luckily…
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This week on the pod, I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new book, The Unstoppable Team. In this episode, we dive into the inspiration behind the book and how it offers practical solutions for business owners, managers, and team leaders. Drawing from my experience working with business owners and leading team operations in big tech, I share …
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Do you have an emergency plan in place that your team can "break the glass" on when you are absent from the office? If not, then you need a coverage plan! If you aren't familiar, a coverage plan is something you put together to make sure that if you can't make it into work for any reason and for any amount of time, your team will be able to functio…
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If you've ever wondered, "why can't I get through to my team?" - the issue might not be you, and it might not be your team - there's just a disconnect in the message where things are getting lost in translation. But there are ways to bridge this gap so you can get back on the same page, AND people who specialize in just that. If you've been followi…
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"How do I make my team members respect me as a manager?" Spoiler alert...you can't. Respect isn't automatic, and it can't be forced. Your team isn't going to respect you just because you're "in charge"...but there are things you can do to earn that respect! We want to show our team members that we aren't out of reach or out of touch. We want to sho…
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What if I told you that one of the people costing you the most money in your business...is you? What are you doing to cost yourself all that cash? Are you not doing enough? Do you need to work harder? Do you need to be more involved with the team’s work? Actually, it’s exactly the opposite: you need to be less involved. Because when you’re too hand…
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I've got an exciting announcement... This episode marks the accomplishment of a truly mind-blowing milestone: today, we're celebrating 100 EPISODES of Managing Made Simple! WOOHOO! We're going to kick this celebration off by revisiting some of our "top plays" of the podcast, featuring advice on leadership from six of our favorite interviews from MM…
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Have you ever looked at all the projects your team is working on and realized that you have absolutely no clue how any of them are going...but you're afraid to reach out and ask for an update? You're not alone. Many managers struggle with the fear of becoming a micromanager, or being perceived as one, because they've had a micromanager themselves. …
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It's a new year. That means a new quarter, new goals, new ideas... And, for many people, it may mean a new job. When a team member leaves abruptly, it can throw us all for a loop. And as much as we want to support that team member in their transition and celebrate them flourishing in their career...we also have to immediately begin working on damag…
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One of the most difficult parts of managing a team is trying to implement a change to team operations. When you want to make a shift in how work gets done, no matter how beneficial it may be for the team, people are going to resist it. No one likes change. But if we can simplify the process of implementing changes and finally get our operations shi…
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There's one question I get from business owners and managers that absolutely breaks my heart: "Is it too late for my team?" First of all, the answer is NO—it is not too late for your team, no matter how hopeless or stuck you might feel, no matter how unmotivated they seem, no matter how unwilling they are to change. Even if you think you've tried e…
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Eager to set meaningful goals for the new year, but not quite sure where to start? In this episode of Managing Made Simple, I share a simple two-part framework for setting goals around what you want to ACHIEVE and how you want to FEEL by the end of the year, so you can accomplish whatever you set out to in your business or career without burning ou…
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There is a phrase that I have been hearing over the last few weeks that has left me a bit mind-boggled… “Process for process’s sake.” This phrase actually came up in a workshop I was leading for a corporate client around optimizing time. I heard teams saying, “I don’t want there to be process for process’s sake,” or, “It feels like this is just us …
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Let me see if this story sounds familiar... We hire great people. We pay them well. We inspire them to do great work... And yet, more often than not, they come in and do the bare minimum expected of them. This isn’t the same as neglecting their responsibilities—they’re accomplishing their tasks, kind of—but we often know that they have more potenti…
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Spoiler alert, my beloved business owner friends... If you're a business owner with people working under your supervision...guess what? You're a manager. Congratulations on your new (well, new-ISH) title! In all seriousness...this is actually something I see a lot of business owners run into. They don't realize that when they have a team, they're n…
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This week, I want to equip you with a tool you can use to simplify your team operations almost immediately: the Thriving Team Checklist! As managers, it's easy for small things (or big things that don't necessarily fall into the realm of our day-to-day responsibilities!) to slip through the cracks. This doesn't mean we're doing a poor job, or that …
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What better time to talk about the importance of gratitude than on Thanksgiving week (for those of us based in the US) - but the truth is, we should be appreciating our team members ALL of the time. In episode 90 of Managing Made Simple, I talk about what happens on our teams without a regular practice of recognition, appreciation, and gratitude, a…
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There is one simple, easy-to-implement tool you can use to reduce turnover, streamline workflows, and boost team morale... One-on-one meetings. If you didn't know that one-on-ones are a necessity for a thriving team, that's all right—not many do! But after an experience I had with a mentee, I came to realize just how crucial one-on-one meetings wit…
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There's one question that I know you've probably asked yourself at least once... "Why can't my team members just read my mind?" No, I haven't been reading YOUR mind - I've just been there! In fact, I'd hazard a guess that EVERY manager has been there at one time or another. We all sometimes wish that we could hire a clone of ourselves to work on ou…
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With 2024 rushing toward us at breakneck speed, it's time to start deciding what we're going to prioritize in our businesses to finish out the end of the year. As managers and business owners, we have a very unique skill: we can see dire importance in EVERY task we set in front of our teams, no matter how small. But this skill can also cause a bit …
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What if I told you that it only takes one simple mindset reframe to save you a heap of time, money, and stress? Reframing people's perspectives is my jam. I'm obsessed with reworking your view on certain things to reveal the opportunities that have always been there...you just couldn't see them. Today, I'm going to help you reframe your view around…
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When it comes to being a manager it can feel like there are so many things you have to get right. But when you cover off on the basics, you've laid such strong foundation to have a high functioning team. In this episode of Managing Made Simple, I'm joined by Jackie Koch, Founder/CEO of People Principles and HR expert, where dive into simple strateg…
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There's a reason that onboarding is the very first thing we talk about inside my Ops Playbook. When we don't onboard our employees thoughtfully - both new and new to their role - we can accidentally prevent them from achieving the kind of success and creating the kind of impact they're capable of while working on our team. There are two common beli…
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Having innovative and creative teams is something we all strive for, but we don't always know how to foster these qualities on our teams - especially when we're running from one deadline to the next. But when we think in terms of story, expectations, and learning, we're able to weave this into every fiber of our work. In this episode of Managing Ma…
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Here's what it feels like to be stuck in a rut as a manager or business owner: You feel like work follows you everywhere - even at home. You feel like you have too much work and not enough support. If you're a business owner, you might feel like you're not getting what you need from your team. You can't remember the last time you took any time for …
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When we hear the word “productivity,” we often think about getting more done, but that definition is incomplete. In this episode of Managing Made Simple, I’m joined by Tamara Myles, Author, Speaker, Instructor at UPenn where we discuss reframing our definition of “productivity” to include meaningful work, explore the link between meaning and wellbe…
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When we try to ignore the small issues in our team operations, they WILL grow into huge disasters...and at that point, it's going to be ten times harder to actually SOLVE them. Trust me, I get it. I get why people shy away from taking a close look at what could be changed in their operations. It can feel too complicated. It can be frustrating. It c…
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What is one of the biggest leadership lessons that applies both to managers in the corporate world and entrepreneur space? Investing in your people. When we lead with authenticity and demonstrate to our teams that we are invested in them and their growth, they not only will stay, but do better work. In this episode of Managing Made Simple, I'm join…
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We've all had those days when it feels like nothing is going right on your team. I mean "come on people!" But before you write off your team members and go down the path of thinking you need all new people, try a perspective shift. In this episode I share ways to reframe this stuck feeling into one of opportunity but taking responsibility for how y…
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