Human Resources

Attention all leaders: New criteria for raising issues in the workplace, no solution necessary!

Cy Wakeman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:40:22 -0500

Each and every day I work with leaders to try to help them understand that much of what they have come to accept as “best practices” or “solid beliefs” in leadership philosophy are not only untrue, but keeping them from creating far greater results in their organizations.

Can Chicago's PrivateBancorp Hire Its Way Into the Top Tier?

Jeff Bailey — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 -0500

"Don't hang up. Just listen."

Wanted: Bold And Courageous Business Leaders

Greg Selker — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:01:47 -0500

We are standing on a precipice, teetering between growth and decline.

As the Economy Improves

Sharlyn Lauby — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:28:31 -0400

There’s been some discussion lately that, as employees start to see
signs of economic recovery, they’ll begin to dust off their resumes and
start searching for a new opportunity. If you want to read more about
this, check out the posts here and here.

Leaders, There Really Are Some Stupid Questions!

Cy Wakeman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:12:51 -0400

Over this past year of presenting the concepts of Reality Based Leadership at conferences nationwide, I have often heard leaders unconsciously, routinely spouting off cliches that not only remain untested but that are absolutely false. Worse yet, they are encouraging a huge waste of scarce team resources.

A favorite cliché of mine to bust right in front of their eyes is, “There are no stupid questions.”

“Contractor” Employee Misclassification is Costing Companies – Again

Nick Reddin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:53:31 -0400

As a cable-television installer in Massachusetts, Fritz Elienberg drove a van and wore a shirt emblazoned with “Comcast.” He installed equipment from Comcast Corp., and customers paid the cable provider for his work.

Mr. Elienberg wasn’t a Comcast employee, but a so-called independent contractor working for a separate company. This month, Mr. Elienberg sued both companies, for allegedly depriving him and other contractors of overtime pay and benefits by not considering them employees.

What I've Learned About Business from Mike Rowe

Sharlyn Lauby — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:37:43 -0400

One of my favorite shows is Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe
on the Discovery Chanel. Mr. Bartender has actually been employed in
a few of the jobs shown during the opening credits. When we met, his
job was doing whale autopsies, which (trust me) was a very dirty job.

Leadership Cliché Challenged and Busted – There is no “I” in TEAM replaced with There is definitely an “I” in WIN.

Cy Wakeman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:36:46 -0400

Have you ever noticed that many of the leadership clichés we live by are not living up to their reputation? Leaders flippantly throw around sound bites of so-called “wisdom,” picked up at conferences or from leadership books and use them without truly questioning whether or not they are true or even useful. Bit by bit, these clichés have reached the status of “conventional wisdom” – widespread beliefs that are not only untested but untrue – also causing havoc in the workplace.

Leaders, beware: the hottest new excuse for lack of results – “trust issues”

Cy Wakeman — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:21:22 -0400

Recent research has cited that employees who trust their senior management bring back 108% value to their shareholders. On the other hand, employees who do not trust their senior executives only bring 66% back to their shareholders.

My advice to leaders: Play favorites and get results!

Cy Wakeman — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:31:50 -0400

In our quest as leaders to be respectful of legitimate differences our employees have, it appears that we have become a very careful, hesitant, and nearly comatose group. A great number of “leaders” have begun to pretend that all employees are created equal and are delivering equal results and value to the organization – when the reality is actually quite different.

Does taking a sabbatical equal job sabotage?

Cy Wakeman — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:51:49 -0400

You probably heard of them in college – many of your favorite professors took a semester off to travel the world, do research or write a book. Now that you're in the real world, you could use a sabbatical, too – but is taking one a good move for your career? From an HR perspective, sabbaticals are a creative and kinder strategy to survey the workforce for those who are able and willing to volunteer for time off in order to avoid being forced to furlough unwilling workers.

Is a sabbatical right for you?

Diversity, Foundations and Corporate Giving

Tory Clarke — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:48:58 -0400

According to a 2009 study conducted by the Greenlining Institute ("Diversity on Foundation Boards of Directors", www.greenlining.org, April 2009) foundations - which often fund organizations that work with diverse populations - lack diversity themselves.

The report focuses on the nation’s top 46 foundations and their boards of directors, concluding that only one out of four board members is a person of color.

Setting Your Employees Up For Success

Reid Carr — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:32:42 -0400

Good managers continually evaluate the performance of their team and the people that comprise it. This can occur by simply observing interactivity among the staff or through more formal measures. However, one thing I find extremely influential in determining the causes for employee success or failure is in how well supervisors have provided a positive and supportive work environment to help them excel.

It's Time To Change Outdated Corporate Models, Marc Morgenstern Leadership Interview Part 2

Greg Selker — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:16:35 -0400

How Does GPA Stack Up in the Real World?

Cy Wakeman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:54:07 -0400

You might ask yourself, how important is my grade point average when searching for a job?

In some aspects – it is not to be overlooked. If the applicant has recently graduated, is seeking entrance into a top corporation, is in a highly competitive job market or in a highly technical field, then GPA (grade point average) remains extremely important even though it is not always the best predictor of future performance. For other opportunities, GPAs are being valued less, with the candidate’s potential for valuable future contributions weighted far greater.

Fighting Back Against the Office Bully

Cy Wakeman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:05:28 -0400

You remember in grade school when the bully left you in the dust on the playground without a lunch? You’d like to think that now that you’re an adult, all of that drama was left on the playground. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Those bullies on the playground are now working with you in the corporate world.

The SEC: What's Wrong And How To Fix It

Greg Selker — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:29:18 -0400

Marc Morgenstern is the Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Mesa Partners. He serves as a Senior Advisor and/or Board member for growth companies in industries as diverse as telecom, enterprise software, social broadcasting, specialized steel service centers, printing and imaging, and solutions for protection and renewal of residential and municipal infrastructure.

The Care & Feeding of Intrapreneurial Employees

Paul Glover — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:05:07 -0400

To thrive in the the WorkQuake(tm) of the Knowledge Economy, an organization must find, retain and develop Intraprenuerial Employees. Here's how:

Onboarding for Fun & Profit!

Paul Glover — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:02:37 -0400

Orientation ain't cutting it anymore in the time of the WorkQuake(tm)! Instead organizations need to pay more attention to not only who the hire but what they are doing to retain who they hire. An Onboarding Process will increase retention and productivity - and that's a very good thing.

The Value of Employee Engagement Surveys as Part of a Change Management Strategy

Marcia Xenitelis — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:06:30 -0400

One of the things that continues to surprise me is that when times are bad organizations still spend money on employee engagement surveys. A general look around the office or factory and tea room discussions would make it obvious to all that wanted to see it that employees are not so much engaged as they are worried about their jobs. This leads us to two major issues to consider during tough times, the first is how we inspire confidence and innovation in an organization that appears to be in freeze mode. The second is what you should measure as an indicator of employee engagement.

Where Are You on The “Balance” Seesaw?

Tom Waldron — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:00:32 -0400

On any given day as you walk down the streets of Manhattan — or any streets for that matter — you will probably see people engaging in conversations or texting on their cell phones, checking and responding to e-mail on their PDAs, etc. Even during what should be a breather for lunch to escape the work day, you see the same behavior. Think about it.

Clarence Otis Jr. Interview

Paul Glover — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:55:06 -0400

In the June 7th New York Times there was an interview with Clarence Otis Jr., CEO of Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden & Capital Grille - talk about diversity!)that I found intriguing because of his answers to 2 questions:

1 - Good piece of advice given: it's not about planning...it's about preparation & skill building - this gives the resilience everyone needs to recover from the inevitable mistakes they will make.

This is the essence of thriving in the WorkQuake(TM) of the Knowledge Economy!

A guide to dealing with resistant employees

Cy Wakeman — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:25:42 -0400

Where, oh where has my willing employee gone? And where did all of these irrelevant and resistant employees come from?

The No. 1 question I hear from managers and leaders is, “How do I deal with resistant employees?”

The Entreprenurial Organization

Paul Glover — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:50:44 -0400

It's not the strongest nor most intelligent of the species that survive; it is the one most adaptable to change" -- Charles Darwin

Last week's post generated discussion about what constitutes an Entrepreneurial Organization, Intrapreneurial Employees and Evangelist Customers. Here's my definition of THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ORGANIZATION

Diversity and the Healthcare Sector

Tory Clarke — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:31:27 -0400

Current demographics show that the healthcare sector in the US (hospitals, healthcare systems, academic healthcare centers, health plans, insurance providers, and federal organizations) is faced with a more diverse patient-base than ever before, and this demographic trend is set to continue.