Alloy Solutions Leadership Blog

Here’s a scenario: In a monthly department meeting, one of your direct reports is presenting a new project that will be rolled out to the company in the coming weeks. As the presentation rolls along, you start to notice a surprising number of “ums,” “uhs” and “you knows” peppering the address. One of your peers gives you a look. They’re hearing it too.

So, leader, what are you going to do about it? Consider a few options:

1. Make a mental note to bring it up in your next 1:1
2. File it away for the upcoming performance review
3. Hope it doesn’t happen again so you never have to bring it up

If option C has caught your attention, you might be among the 21% of leaders who admit to avoiding difficult feedback conversations - or the 44% who say feedback is stressful.

Delivering timely feedback is one of the most important skills a manager can develop - and one of the hardest. I've taught leadership skills for nearly a decade, and regardless of industry, geography, or level of experience, t...

A Shift in Thinking: Focusing on Mental Fitness, by Jamie Hansen

Spring is here, and May is upon us! I’ve believed for a long time that this month gives December a run for its money in terms of manic demands and hectic family schedules. Thankfully, the days are growing longer, the air warmer, and the grass and trees greener, while the entries on the calendar are experiencing their own kind of exponential growth.

You may be aware that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and bonus points if you’re also aware that it’s Global Employee Health and Fitness Month. These two topics are near and dear to my heart and their intersection has been on my mind of late. 

To delve a little deeper, Mental Health Awareness Month has been recognized for over 20 years by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) to provide education and reduce stigmas around mental illness and to highlight the effectiveness of treatment and celebrate recovery from mental illness. This is a...