Posted on July 14th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
Recently, I was speaking with a prospective client about leadership development. As we talked about their goals, they shared a frustration I’ve heard many times before: “We’ve done leadership training in the past, but we never really saw much improvement afterward.” The leaders enjoyed the program. The feedback was positive. People left with new tools, new ideas and good intentions. But a few months later, many of the same challenges remained. The difficult conversations still weren’t happening. Feedback was inconsistent…. Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Development, Leadership, Performance Management, Reinforcement
Posted on July 13th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
This Fourth of July feels a little different. As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we’ll undoubtedly see fireworks, parades, and flags flying across the country. We’ll reflect on our history, celebrate our freedoms, and remember those who helped shape the nation we know today. As I thought about this milestone, I found myself thinking less about the events of 1776 and more about the people behind them. The men and women who shaped America’s founding weren’t simply historical figures…. Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Leadership
Posted on June 16th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
I learned that the hard way. A project missed the mark. My first instinct was to have a harder conversation — to push on accountability, ownership, follow-through. But when I finally sat down with the person involved, the issue wasn’t attitude or effort. It was my expectations. They were incomplete. I had communicated what to do. But I had left out the things that actually create alignment: why the work mattered, what a strong result looked like, and when we… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Accountability, Leadership, Performance Management
Posted on May 28th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
Resistance to change is one of the most common and misunderstood leadership challenges. When it shows up, it can feel frustrating. It may interpret it as negativity, lack of buy-in, or even defiance. But in most cases, resistance isn’t about unwillingness. It’s about uncertainty. How leaders respond to that uncertainty determines whether trust is strengthened or quietly eroded. What Resistance Really Looks Like Resistance doesn’t always show up as open disagreement. More often, it looks like: Delayed follow-through Minimal engagement… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Change Management, Communication, Engagement, Performance Management
Posted on May 20th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
We often think of time management only as a personal productivity skill. Something we each need to “get better at.” In reality…Time Management is very much a leadership issue. Because how you manage your time and how you help your team manage theirs directly impacts: Execution Engagement Trust Stress levels And results Often, with leaders I coach, I hear their frustration around their team missing deadlines, showing limited accountability and working ineffectively together. As we dig deeper it becomes clear…… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Leadership, Time Management
Posted on March 16th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
Most leaders want to be trusted. They care about their people. They work hard. They try to do the right thing. And yet, trust on teams is often more fragile than leaders realize. That’s because trust isn’t built in a single moment or earned through a title. It’s shaped quietly, over time, through everyday behaviors, especially when things are busy, stressful, or uncomfortable. Here’s a distinction I see often in organizations. Leaders who are good at building trust: They generally… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Building Relationships, Culture, Engagement, Leadership, Retention, Team Member Experience, Teams, Trust
Posted on February 9th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
As the year winds down, many teams are pushing hard to finish projects, close out initiatives, and tie up loose ends. But when teams move nonstop from one thing to the next without pausing to regroup, the cost is burnout, frustration, and declining engagement. Teams don’t struggle because of the work itself, they struggle because they never get a chance to recover from the work. That’s why team renewal is essential, especially as you prepare for the year ahead. What… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Culture, Engagement, Leadership, Teams, Uncategorized
Posted on December 16th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
Years ago, someone I used to work for called me out of the blue. He wanted to build an HR department where one did not currently exist and asked if I’d consider joining as Director of Human Resources. I was honored … and a little surprised … to hear from him. But there was just one small problem: I had zero HR experience. My background was in restaurant operations and learning & development. I started to explain that … but… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Building Relationships, Coaching, Development, Engagement, Gratitude, Growth, Mentoring, Recognition
Posted on December 4th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
When we take a moment to notice and appreciate the people we work with, something powerful happens, energy shifts, connections deepen, and motivation grows. Gratitude has that kind of ripple effect. It reminds us that behind every result is effort, collaboration, and care. Whether it’s a colleague who steps in to help, a team that rallies to meet a deadline, or a leader who takes time to listen, gratitude is what turns everyday work into something meaningful. In the workplace,… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Building Relationships, Culture, Engagement, Feedback, Gratitude, Recognition
Posted on November 12th | By: Janet Hoffmann | Comments 0
Most leaders know feedback matters, but knowing how to give it effectively is where many stumble. A well-intentioned comment can motivate one person and completely deflate another. The difference often comes down to how the message is delivered. Done right, feedback builds clarity, confidence, and connection. Done poorly, it erodes trust and engagement. In fact, a 2024 Gallup report found that only 26% of employees strongly agree that the feedback they get helps them do better work, yet 80% of… Continue Reading »
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Posted Under: Coaching, Communication, Development, Feedback, Growth, Leadership, Performance Management
