My father insisted that if I didn’t get a college education I would suffer in life. I got the message. Dad also was quick to shake his head and mutter, “More college, more dumb,” when I did something he felt demonstrated a lack of common sense. He seemed to hold this duality of admiration for people with higher education (he was not able to attend college himself), and at the same time a bit of disdain for those same folks because they often had no “practical experience” or “common sense.”
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Education, hiring top talent, Management, Success Factors
By now we’re used to it. The self-righteous politician who loudly preaches the dire consequences for the country’s failure at family values and then is caught in extramarital affairs; and who none-the-less believe they should still hold their office. Or the politicians and government officials who scream about government waste while feeding themselves at the public trough. And of course, the “fat cat” bankers who (even though their jobs exist today only because the taxpayers bailed them out) believe they are somehow entitled to obscene bonuses. Power, it seems, does in fact corrupt. Worse, the perpetrators are so damned hypocritical and arrogant!
Read the rest of this entry
Culture, Ethical Corporation, Ethics, Growing Edges, Leadership, Management
I’m reminded, from time-to-time, of the inequality of expectations between employees and employers with respect to employment. Especially in the small to mid-sized businesses the owners are often frustrated with employees who do not seem to put effort into the business. They don’t have a sense of “ownership.” Well, that’s because they aren’t owners, and usually aren’t treated as owners.
Read the rest of this entry
Communications, Employees, Leadership, Loyalty, Management
Part One listed four of seven things companies can do to retain their top talent without spending a lot or giving increases in compensation.
The first four from Part One are:
1) Verbal Praise
2) Achievement Awards
3) Learning and Development
4) Fun and Recreation Events
Each of these can be done at the department or company level. Each demonstrates a culture that rewards people for outstanding effort, provides a positive culture, and a culture that signals respect for the employee.
The last three are:
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Culture, hiring top talent, Interviewing, interviewing mistakes, Interviewing tips, Retaining top talent
I remember working with colleagues in Japan and marveling at how smoothly their business meetings went. It’s well known by now that the reason for that was almost every issue is resolved outside the meeting environment. The meeting is simply to give public voice to the decisions already made. No drama. No conflict.
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Conflict, difficult discussions, Leadership, Management, teamwork
As a recruiter for almost thirty years, I have interviewed and spoken with thousands of candidates. More often than not, compensation isn’t the reason we are able to get them interested in a new opportunity. Most of the time compensation is a secondary concern. In fact, both myself and my partner, Barry Deutsch, have a long standing policy that if compensation is the issue, we will not work with them.
With our candidates, their primary concern is focused on non-monetary issues. Most of the time it evolves around their boss or the company. This is not to say compensation isn’t important to them, but it isn’t the primary motivator to listen to a recruiter.
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Culture, hiring mistakes, hiring top talent, Interviewing, Leadership, Management, Retaining top talent
“Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door.” Or something close to that, right? Well, sometimes, but definitely not always. What will win the day in the new economy we’re facing? What products or services will you innovate to offer? What nifty new thing will you offer at that next industry show?
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Sustainability
I’ve frequently heard it said that a major reason that small businesses aren’t hiring and growing is because of all the uncertainty out there. Uncertainties like healthcare costs, healthcare legislation, funding opportunities, taxes and state budgets along with new regulations. By golly, with all that stuff not settled, what’s a poor business owner to do?
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Leadership, Management
After taking a real beating this past two years, many leaders are now recognizing that things have changed. They aren’t just mouthing platitudes but actually believe that change has come and that we will not be going back to business as usual. That’s fine as far as it goes, but it is only the beginning. The real question is, “so what will you do in 2010 that is different than what you’ve done before?”
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Economics, Leadership, Management
There are some common themes that run through my posts on this blog. Among them is the concept that we should be customer and/or client focused as a company. I’ve often spoken to sales teams about as well as organized teams to break the mold of sales being product oriented and instead be more focused on what the customer wants. So I read with interest the article “Rethinking Marketing,” in the January/February Issue of the Harvard Business Review.
Read the rest of this entry
Communication, Management, Marketing, Social Networks
