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Articles by Richard Highsmith

Browse published articles attributed to Richard Highsmith, with full-archive search.

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By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Six Warm Up Exercises Guaranteed to Create Energy

A friend of mine works for a fortune 500 company. He describes his team meetings as “death by powerpoint.” He laments the lack of energy in the meetings and the waste of thousands of dollars in lost productivity. Are you looking for a way to put energy in to your meetings? Here are five sure-fire ways to get participants engaged. These exercises can also be used periodically during longer meetings to break up the routine and allow participants to get up and move around.

Primary topic: Team Building

3,917 views5/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Acknowledge the importance of Teammates

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” - Dr. William James People need... not just want, but need... approval. This is a fundamental principle of human behavior. A three-year-old child demonstrates this principle of human behavior every time he utters the phrase, “Look what I can do,” even when coloring on the walls. The child is saying, “Please approve of me and my creativity, Mom or Dad.”

Primary topic: Team Building

1,877 views4/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Anxiety in Public Speaking

PUBLISHING GUIDELINES: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Anxiety in Public Speaking By: Richard M. Highsmith, M.S. “I can’t believe I agreed to do this speech. Look at all those people out there! My knees are shaking so much my pants are vibrating. My stomach feels like I just went over the top on a roller coaster. My heart is beating so fast and hard my tie is jumping. I just want to scream and run away!”

Primary topic: Team Building

2,364 views3/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Fear Destroys Employee Confidence

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”- Joseph Chilton Pearce Fear of the boss, or the boss’s system, destroys creativity. Fear creeps into the workplace in many ways: fear of making a mistake; fear of other peoples’ opinions; fear of embarrassment; fear of change. The more afraid employees are, the less creative they will be. It is a well-accepted scientific belief that we humans need to feel secure to focus on higher-level intellectual tasks.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,475 views4/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Ask Other Temmates Questions

Ask, and then listen. Really listen. Tap the creativity and differing perspectives of all employees. An effective leader has learned that good ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. It may be the employee with years of experience who combines innovation with “tried and true” to get the job done. Or the “bright idea” might come from the newbie employee who offers a fresh solution to a nagging problem.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,444 views4/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Stuck in the Middle with You

PUBLISHING GUIDELINES: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Stuck in the Middle with You By: Richard M. Highsmith, M.S. When I was first promoted from the rank and file, there was a popular song by Stealers Wheel entitled “Stuck in the Middle with You”. The lyrics resonated with me because I was struggling mightily with being a newly minted manager. Here is a verse that was particularly meaningful to me -

Primary topic: Team Building

1,738 views3/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

How to Squish Creativity Like a Bug

Most Senior Managers will acknowledge the importance of having the support, loyalty and ideas of their subordinates. A company of any size cannot sustain growth on the back of one person. Without a team effort the entrepreneurial spark can be extinguished in the rainstorm of turmoil created ...

Primary topic: Team Building

1,579 views3/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Personality Temperaments Effect Communication

Background: Personality temperaments theory was originally devised in medieval times for understanding human nature. People were looking for simple ways to understand themselves and others. It was believed that everyone had various characteristics, which made up their basic temperament. The initial four basic temperaments were Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy, and Phlegmatic. More recently personality traits have become popular in the business community through the DiSC Profile®.

Primary topic: Team Building

7,341 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Effective Problem Solving Requires Team Building

Truly complicated problems necessitate team solutions. If your team does not function well, its’ problem solving capability will be limited. To tackle intricately detailed problems a team must successfully answer these questions. I recommend answering the questions in sequence and posting the team responses on some visual media. I recommend spending approximately 5 minutes on each question. This keeps your meeting moving quickly and helps keep all team members involved.

Primary topic: Team Building

2,714 views1/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Top 5 Employee Motivation Activities

What are some actions team leaders can take to encourage their teammates? Every competent manager must ask himself or herself this question to maximize team performance. With my background in psychology and experience of owning two successful businesses I have learned the answer to this question.

Primary topic: Team Building

3,724 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Six Steps for Healthy Confrontation in Teams

Conflict resolution is intellectually simple. The most logical solution would be selected and implemented. However, the human factor of emotion can make solutions extraordinarily difficult. Outside the mythical planet of Vulcan where pure logic reigns supreme, conflict resolution requires openness, humility, and allegiance to team relationships. Here are six steps to enable your team to successfully tackle the task of confrontation.

Primary topic: Team Building

3,643 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

How Storytell Improves Team Building

When I first graduated from college, I was hired full time at a children’s home. I had been working there part time as a relief childcare worker. With my degree I was promoted to a management position, Assistant Superintendent, over my former co-workers. I saw my situation as advocate for the childcare workers. Unfortunately my boss, Larry, had a different vision of my role. He insisted I represent management’s position to the childcare workers.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,475 views1/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Advantages of Maco-Management

“When Alexander the Great visited Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for the famed teacher, Diogenes replied: 'Only stand out of my light.' Perhaps some day we shall know how to heighten creativity. Until then, one of the best things we can do for creative men and women is to stand out of their light.” John W. Gardner

Primary topic: Team Building

1,437 views1/5 (1)

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Can Team Building Increase ROI?

In their book, Corporate Culture and Performance, Kotter & Heskett offer some amazing statistical claims. First, let me share their book's conclusion. The statistical analysis in the book hypothesizes that organizational culture has a direct influence on economic performance - both positively and negatively across industries. Kotter & Heskett define corporate cultural styles as:

Primary topic: Team Building

2,803 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Three Steps for Leaders to Minimize Conflict

1. Be proactive instead of reactive. One morning when I got out of bed and turned toward the bathroom, I cut a tad too close to the bed. My toe caught the leg of the footboard. !#%*^%$#*!. Once the hollering and jumping around was over, I had a choice to make. I could feel very sorry for ...1. Be proactive instead of reactive.

Primary topic: Team Building

2,328 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Understanding Your Teammate's Point of View

How often have you found yourself in conflict with a teammate because you see something one way and he/she sees them another? Perspective is a powerful phenomenon. The ancient fable of several blind men describing an elephant illustrates this well. Each was touching the elephant in different places and consequently their perspectives were radically different. The blind man touching the ears believed the elephant to be flexible and almost flat. Touching the elephant's trunk lead one to certain knowledge that an elephant was like a snake.

Primary topic: Team Building

2,235 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Team Building Exercises For New Groups

When a group is created, the members must build trust among themselves. A facilitator can move this process along through a variety of team building exercises. The intention of the "games" is to get the new group members to loosen up, get to know each other and begin to create trusting relationships. Fun is key to the success of these exercises. Don't use the entire list. Pick a couple you are comfortable with and mix them in with a more formal indoctrination. Once each game is completed a facilitated discussion should be held about what was learned and how it applies to the workplace.

Primary topic: Team Building

2,026 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Team Building Tips from a Bad Boss

You probably aren't interested in destroying your team. But sometimes we engage in behavior that ultimately would have that outcome. So it might be helpful to look at ten behaviors that undermine a team's spirit and crush incentive. Hopefully when you are reading these tips you won't find too many of them that you engage in on a regular basis. Get your red pen out and mark through all of these you don't do. The low score wins the Best Team Player award!

Primary topic: Team Building

1,676 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Six Ways to Cultivate Relationships on a Team

A highly functional team is everybody’s ticket to success. Your team can make or break your career. Here are six ways to improve the relationships on your team.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,638 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Does Team Building Work?

A recent survey carried out in Britain by Vodafone UK and YouGov.com suggests team building doesn’t work. Surveyed workers indicated they feel some team building activities can be a “waste of time, and at worst, are toe-curlingly embarrassing.” The majority surveyed (66%) have participated in some form of team building and more than half (54%) don’t feel the experience helped them in working with their peers.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,626 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

The Growth of Charity Team Building

Humanity has a long history of helping those in need. Charity has been advocated by religion throughout human history. Businesses have contributed to their communities even though such expenditures may not derive any direct benefit. This giving of funds or other assets may gain the company some intangible benefit, such as public approval of its image, as a moral player in society. USA TODAY recently released the results of a survey conducted in partnership with The Chronicle of Philanthropy, which measures the pulse of corporate giving in America.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,607 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Selecting a Quality Team Building Company

I just googled “team building” and got 421 million hits in .13 seconds. Talk about overkill. Facing this daunting task, how do you go about finding the right type of event and the company that will deliver a high quality team building event? Here are some suggestions to help you make the right choices. That’s right… choices (plural)… because you actually have to make several decisions to insure the perfect event. Here are the three steps:

Primary topic: Team Building

1,589 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Popularity of Bicycle Team Building

Almost ten years ago an Event Planner in Dallas asked my colleague to generate a conference event with a philanthropic element. After a good bit of brainstorming on our team, the bicycle team building was created. The Dallas program was warmly received with some minor glitches. We rethought some of the elements and I conducted the second ever bicycle team building in Orlando for a large pharmaceutical company. The Senior Vice President emailed me to say, “Your bicycle program was the single best team building event I have ever attended. And let me tell you I’ve attended plenty.”

Primary topic: Team Building

1,557 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Five Ways to Grow Teams Through Individual Relationships

Personal career growth and team growth are inextricably tied together. Althea Gibson said, “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.” On the career field there are three types of players. 1. Receivers… take and never give. These team members focus on themselves and rarely go out of their way to do anything for others. They are only conce ed about what they can get from others and have little interest in others’ needs.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,551 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Is Your Workplace Environment Affecting How Employees Work with Each Other

The short answer to this question is YES! What to do about it requires breaking down the question. Let's begin with what constitutes "workplace environment." OSHA, local and state laws dictate that a law-abiding employer will have a safe, healthy workplace. Setting aside physical conce s leaves psychological and relationship issues as the remaining contributors to workplace environment.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,522 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Building Trust on Your Team

Trust is an essential part of team effectiveness. However the strength of trusting relationships varies significantly based on team dynamics. When teammates trust us, they truly take a risk. And with each successive time people put their trust in us and we don't let them down, we reduce that risk and build a relationship. If you desire to build your trustworthiness remember these three truths about trust.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,511 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Five Personal Steps to Improve Your Team's Performance

I know you've heard the expression, "There is no 'I' in team." Au contraire, I believe the "I" is implied and critical to the success of every team. Do you know a team member who is his/her own worst enemy? Group success depends on individuals working together with common goals of improvement and achievement. Here are five essential steps for embracing personal changes and enhancing your positive influence in your team.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,496 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Twelve Steps to Effectively Manage a Creative Meeting

There are many reasons for a leader to hold meeting, including but not limited to the dissemination of information, planning for an upcoming week, allowing opportunities for different divisions and/or groups within the organization to share ideas, or review of company policy. Occasionally a leader needs creative input from his/her team. It is this type of meeting being discussed in this article. To maximize the creativity of a group I recommend following these twelve steps:

Primary topic: Team Building

1,429 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Four Ideas to Avoid Overreacting to a Teammate

For ten years I worked with a manager (I will call him Dallas) who had one tool in his professional toolbox - a hammer. Every problem Dallas ever encountered was a nail. With his limited repertoire of leadership skills, you might wonder how I lasted ten years. Everyone who worked any length of time (including me) learned the time-honored techniques of "duck and cover." Ducking meant avoiding interaction as much as possible. If you had a question, Dallas was the last person you would call.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,416 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Five Forces That Shape Who You Become

1. Genetics. "You were not born a winner, and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself be." - Lou Holtz. When I was in graduate school the "nature" versus "nurture" debate was tilted strongly in the "nurture" direction. Most of my professors were behaviorists and believed genetics played a very small part in a person's personality. I was taught environment was THE deciding factor in development. Then my son was born. His temperament emerged the first month of his life. His willfulness was apparent before his first birthday.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,372 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Understanding Your Teammate's Point of View

How often have you found yourself in conflict with a teammate because you see something one way and he/she sees them another? Perspective is a powerful phenomenon. The ancient fable of several blind men describing an elephant illustrates this well. Each was touching the elephant in different places and consequently their perspectives were radically different. The blind man touching the ears believed the elephant to be flexible and almost flat. Touching the elephant's trunk lead one to certain knowledge that an elephant was like a snake.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,311 views

By Richard HighsmithRecently published1 topic

Four Steps to Resolve Conflict

1. Look for some type of common ground as soon as possible.

Primary topic: Team Building

1,263 views

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