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Dave Conrad discusses when to let an employee go

PostBulletinDave Conrad, assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his latest column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin about the ins and outs of firing an employee.

Conrad suggests a checklist, of sorts, to weigh the options when deciding whether or not to dismiss an employee.

“Because terminating someone is such a big decision, it helps to have an unemotional and objective way to measure the impact of the decision,” Conrad said.

To read the article, visit the Post-Bulletin news site.

Olivia Muyres ’15 named in Post-Bulletin’s local sports notebook

PostBulletinOlivia Muyres ’15 has been named National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire Division III All-North Region.

Earlier Muyres had been named first-team all-conference in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She was also named the league’s Player of the Year.

To read more about her achievements, visit the Post-Bulletin news site.

Dave Conrad: The best managers develop their employees

“Companies need responsive, innovative thinkers and problem-solvers,” wrote Dave Conrad, Augsburg College’s assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, in his latest column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin. A problem exists, though, that companies often do not invest in the training and development of their employees, which leads to an under-engaged workforce. Read Conrad’s column, “The best managers develop their employees” to learn why staff development is crucial for business success.

Dave Conrad: Employee trust good for business

PostBulletinDave Conrad, Augsburg College’s assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his latest Post-Bulletin column that employees’ trust of their managers is essential for a successful business.

Conrad said employees should feel a sense of camaraderie toward their managers — camaraderie that needs to be obtained over time.

“…managers can’t demand respect and loyalty; they have to earn it,” he said. “In the long run, it’s difficult — if not impossible — to be an exceptional manager without employee trust.”

To read Conrad’s column, visit the Post-Bulletin news site.

Olivia Muyres ’15 named Player of the Year

PostBulletinOlivia Muyres ’15 was named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Player of the Year.

Muyres, who helped Augsburg win its first MIAC championship, was featured in the Rochester Post-Bulletin for her accomplishments in the Nov. 22 NCAA Division III Tournament. Muyres scored the winning goal in overtime during the first game.

To read more about her achievements, visit the Post-Bulletin news site.

Dave Conrad: The most important leadership skills

PostBulletinA number of leadership skills are important, but which one is truly key? That’s hard to say, according to a new column by Dave Conrad in the Rochester Post-Bulletin. Conrad, Augsburg College’s assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, notes that leadership skills vary in relevance depending on individuals’ roles within the workforce. To learn why conceptual, relationship-building, and technical skills each play an important role, read “The most important leadership skills” on the Post-Bulletin website.

Dave Conrad: Learn what stress is trying to tell you

PostBulletinStress has been called the “health epidemic of the 21st century” by the World Health Organization, and Dave Conrad offers suggestions for dealing with stress in his latest column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin. Conrad, Augsburg College’s assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, notes that finding ways to alleviate stress can be as beneficial for employers as it is for employees. Read, “Learn what stress is trying to tell you” on the Post-Bulletin website.

Dave Conrad says to take criticism with a grain of salt

PostBulletinDave Conrad, Augsburg College’s assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his most recent Rochester Post-Bulletin column about the tendency to be over-defensive and why it’s sometimes hard to accept criticism, positive or negative, from others. “…we must be sensitive to our emotions and realize how our emotions affect our thinking,” Conrad said.

Read “Before you get defensive, take breath” for more tips on how to be more open to feedback.

Dave Conrad: Embrace constructive conflict

PostBulletinAugsburg College’s Dave Conrad, assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his most recent column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin about finding the right balance between the need to deal with conflict and the instinct to avoid it. Read “Embrace constructive conflict” for details on how effective debate can spur innovation in the workplace.

Dave Conrad: When you follow an incompetent leader

PostBulletinAugsburg College’s Dave Conrad, assistant director of the Rochester MBA program, wrote in his most recent column for the Rochester Post-Bulletin about the steps that allow a new leader to cope with a history of ineffective leadership in the workplace.  Read “When you follow an incompetent leader” for insight into how good leaders can communicate well and ease employees’ anxieties.