“My team did this.”
“My team accomplished that.”
Today, the team perspective is dominant. Not too long ago, the point of reference was usually the organization–”We at GE,” or “We at Monsanto.”  Today teams instead have become the social, economic, and psychological fulcrum of organizational life. Therefore, at all levels of the company–from the “c”-suite to the shop floor–how leaders engage a team is essential to success.
Read the rest of “Leading Teams: …

Yesterday, my beloved Red Sox pulled off a great comeback. Down 6-0 after 5 1/2 innings they stormed back for a walk-off 8-7 win. It was quite the victory, especially for a team that has underperformed much of the year. At the same time their arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, have been falling apart lately thanks to internal strife and uninspired play. Both teams are flush with cash, both teams have rabid fan bases, both …

Although it is politically correct to talk about teams and group efforts with gusto, if you take that rhetoric to the extreme, you end up denying individuals some of their basic needs at work. So, you need to make sure that you are giving individual group members some individual responsibility, which will enable each person to define their role, to tie their work to the broader agenda, and allow each individual to realize, and have …

As a leader/boss it’s not easy finding out what others really think of you.  Your options run the gamut from the semi-unethical (eavesdropping) to the completely and utterly illegal (wiretapping).  In order to stay relevant within your own organization you must be connected with everyone from top to bottom.  We here at the Bacharach Blog can’t sneak into your office and do your dirty work for you but what we can do is give you …

Things are tough all over. With unemployment hanging around 9.6%, you need every advantage you can get to keep the job you have or to get a new one.  In a recent issue of Woman’s Day magazine Kimberly Fusaro lays out the 10 Things the HR Department Won’t Tell You . The list includes things like how background checks have become more stringent for new job applicants all the way to something as …

The recent airing of General McChrystal’s grievances of the Obama administration’s handling of the war in Afghanistan through a public outlet has raised a series of important dilemmas for individuals hoping to enact reform within their organizations. How should I go about drawing attention to problems within my business?
One on hand keeping the matter “in the family” can spare higher ups having to deal with potentially embarrassing inquires and audits which will also undoubtedly keep …