Building deep relationships is top leadership skill. While many leaders work hard to create personal bonds with their team members it is natural for some relationships to become deeper than others. So how do you navigate the relationships to ensure that these relationships don’t lead to an unhealthy team environment?

This week Kim and Pepper share their thoughts on employee relationships. They discuss how they build the relationships, the pitfalls of favorites, and tips for ensuring boss/friend relationships don’t have negative effects on team members.

Do you have a special bond with one of your employees? How have you navigated the relationship? Share with us at [email protected]

Thanksgiving. It is that time of year where we purposely push the pause button to take a little extra time to reflect on what we are grateful for, the things that bring us joy, and how we will spend the extra time away from work. Finding a way to express the things you are most thankful for is an important part of the celebration.

This week Kim and Pepper skip the leadership conversations and take time to reflect on the things they are most thankful for, and what they are looking forward to during this special holiday.

What are you most thankful for this year and how will you celebrate with your family, friends, and colleagues? Share with us at [email protected]

It is nearly impossible to have everyone like you but as a leader it is a bit concerning when it is someone on your team. Sometimes it is just a personality clash between you and a specific employee, but as the numbers grow it may be time to reflect on the root of the issue.

This week Kim and Pepper discuss the reasons someone on the team may not like you, as well as their personal experiences in navigating this situation.

Have you been there? How did you work through it? Share your experiences with us at [email protected]

Feedback, here are the stats: Nearly 60% of us want it, more than 75% of us believe that it is valuable, yet less than 30% are receiving it on a regular basis. Say what??

A few well-spoken words coming from the right person at the right time can truly change the trajectory of your career.

This week Kim and Pepper discuss the best feedback they have ever received, how it helped their performance, and how they have used it to help others.

What is the best feedback you’ve been given and how did it help you? Share your story with us at [email protected]

“Surprise, you’re fired!”

Is it really a surprise? Or are there a few signs that you’re heading down the bumpy road of getting fired?

These warning signs can be subtle and build over time. The signs can also be very clear that you need to make a hard left with your current performance.

This week Kim and Pepper discuss the signs that will help you determine whether you’re overthinking and worrying needlessly or are truly on a path to getting fired.

We also share our tips for rebounding, if you really want to stay with the organization.

Have you ever been fired? What signs have you experienced? Share your story with us at [email protected]

A great relationship with your boss can make the most stressful workdays easier, while on the flipside, having a boss that doesn’t like you can make even the best days miserable. So what can you do about the latter? Should you stay and fight for a better relationship or pull the rip cord and eject?

This week Kim and Pepper share their experiences and ideas for what to do when you have boss doesn’t like you.

Have you ever been there? What did you do? Share your story with us at [email protected]

Many eager employees have their sights set on a promotion. The question is how do they get there? Organizations will typically choose one of two strategies for promoting their employees: seniority or performance. Which of these is best? And why?

This week Kim and Pepper discuss the pros, cons, and tips for choosing and communicating a promotion strategy.

What is your measuring stick promoting team members? Share with us at [email protected]

No title? No problem! Informal leaders have the ability to influence and impact the bottom line of an organization without a leadership title on the org chart. While they don’t control who reports to them, informal leaders can still influence those around them and prepare themselves for a smooth transition into leadership when the promotion opportunity arrives.

This week Kim and Pepper discuss the importance of informal leaders and provide practical tips for employees and supervisors to hone the skills necessary for informal leadership.

How do you develop informal leaders on your team? Share your thoughts with us at [email protected]

Crying, it is a natural result of various emotions. We spend nearly one third of our lifetime at work so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that nearly half of us have (or will) at some point shed a few tears while on the job. The question is, is it appropriate?

This week Kim and Pepper discuss their thoughts on letting the tears flow at work. If it is ok, when it can be overlooked, and a few tips for recovery.

What are your thoughts on waterworks in the workplace? Share them with us at [email protected]

What separates good leaders from extraordinary leaders is often their ability to perform in high pressure situations. Two leaders with very similar skills can perform drastically different when faced with high-pressure situations. The key difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is often between the ears.

This week Kim and Pepper continue their discussion about mental toughness and why it’s important and how leadership is impacted when leaders crumble under pressure. Missed part 1 of the discussion? Check out our August 18 episode: Simple Strategies to Stay Strong When the Hits Keep Coming.

What is your strategy for staying mentally tough? Share with us at [email protected]