During the industrial era, it was enough for leaders to have a succinct and linear way of thinking, display a strong sense of authority, and to exude at least a dash of charisma. In today's world, however, we need leaders with a far more complex set of skills and attributes, many of which relate directly to interpersonal relationships. Work relationships are less and less a top-down and hierarchical matter. Instead, they are ever-more dependent on a fluid, creative, and team-oriented mindset.

It is no secret that in the last decade, Portland's population has grown and the makeup of its workforce has changed drastically to include multiple protected classes. As a business manager, you must provide a healthy, safe, and respectful workplace for every employee. You must also continue to grow and improve in areas such as diversity, transgender employees, and workplace harassment. Workplace stress affects everyone within the company and can impact not only your team's morale but also their productivity. 

Having been with Portland Community College since 1999, Carolyn Waterfall has taught a wide variety of highly experiential and fun courses designed to enhance leadership, management and communication skills.

Updated May 24, 2022

Mediation has become a popular alternative to standard legal actions such as arbitration or lawsuits, especially in business. This is because litigation has many downsides: expenses, hostility, and the likely ending of relationships. Even if a dispute is against a friend or family member, the adversarial nature of litigation will replace any previous good feelings with hostile ones.

As a business owner or manager, one of your primary responsibilities is taking care of your employees. Motivated employees tend to be more productive, focused, and dedicated, which contributes significantly to helping your organization achieve and maintain its business goals. Different employees will respond better to some tactics over others, which is why it’s important to take a comprehensive approach to motivating and supporting your team. 

By Michelle Brubaker

“We’re way past big speech time” said Coach Norman Dale in the renowned 1986 sports film Hoosiers, based upon a small-town Indiana basketball team that made it to the state finals.

The coach, portrayed by actor Gene Hackman, knew that it wouldn’t be a motivational pep talk to a bunch of underdogs that led to victory. The championship would be the result of ongoing leadership bringing individuals together to achieve a common goal.