Blog

Black River PM Anniversary! In 2017, we started Black River Performance Management, believing that “work should fuel the human spirit, not drain it.” We feel fortunate to have reached this point. However, before we share more, let’s consider some data...

Article: Lion, Burch, & Bolinger. (2024). Athletic Identity and Discretionary Effort at Work. Organization Management Journal, 21(3). In June, colleagues from Idaho State University and I published a paper that studied former athletes in the workplace. The study was created...

Work hard, dedication, accountability, and respect are common answers to the question we ask at our workshops – what professional values do you possess? The irony is that in many instances, despite possessing similar values, people struggle with a) being...

Please let me explain… Today, I was asked, “How do we return to pre-COVID culture and practices?” My quick answer was, “We don’t, and we won’t…it is all slightly different now.” However, that doesn’t mean the magic (in reference to...

This past week, Black River had the opportunity to spend some time in Alaska working with two different clients. Angie led a multi-day board of directors retreat for one client at an off-site location. The retreat included team building, capacity...

It is incredible how a leader’s mere presence can impact team dynamics. During my travels these past few months, I visited several great places. The caliber of the facilities was top-notch, matching the impeccable service. However, there was one exception....

The following is an excerpt of the message I sent to my graduate Motivation class this week; I received positive feedback and a request to share it with others. So here you go! In my Contemporary Theories of Motivation course,...

A few times a year I get contacted specifically for conflict resolution/mediation services because a group reports that they have no other options but to bring in an outside party to mediate a situation. The following is my typical response...

As I wrap up my holiday blog season on the gift of feedback, I want to draw attention to a significant factor as it relates to our ability to accept feedback. However, prior to doing that, think back to a...

There is no doubt that some types of feedback can really rattle us. It can cut to the core, even though we know it was necessary. The following is a support solution Angie and I established for our household. Whether...

If climbing a mountain is more desirable than providing a person with difficult feedback, you are not alone. Feedback is one of the most valuable culture and behavior-supporting actions leaders, and co-workers can provide to one another. However, providing meaningful...

Providing clear and specific feedback is one of the most difficult tasks an employee encounters. Here we explore how to begin to minimize the stress and increase the impact of these difficult conversations.

Have you ever wondered why you might not be able to find the ideal candidates for your postings? Or, perhaps more accurately, you think you found the ideal candidate but over time they fizzle out? Setting aside the present churn...

The big question surrounding the present and future world of work is “what should we expect? If we consider a few, rather dismal current truths about life today, we might not be very optimistic for the future of work 10,...

A consultant I’ve known for a number of years reached out to me recently for my input on a new Performance Appraisal (PA) form he was creating for his clients.  We did the back-and-forth feedback exchange and wrapped it up...

One of the things I have found with myself as I take this interesting journey through life is that accurately understanding why I do what I do helps me make sense of both the good and poor decisions I make,...

When is the last time you gave a person directions? How was that experience? Did they clearly understand your instructions? What about a person not familiar with the area, the landscape, or the organization, for that matter? Directions and instructions...

The following is an excerpt from a larger piece, by myself, published by Human Resource Research. What do you think? As a former college athlete, I have found myself in a unique position. For many years, in my positions as...

There’s no wonder why the social-web is blowing up around the debate last night. It was completely unacceptable from every viewpoint-there was no humility, no love, and humanism was hardly a priority. However, it is clear that the debate didn’t...