Focus! Maybe An Accountability Partner Would Help

Kathy Rapp Audacious Ideas, Career Advice, Change, Change Management, Coaching, Communication, Culture, Driving Productivity, Employee Coaching, Engagement and Satisfaction, HR, HR Tech, HR Technology, Innovation, Kathy Rapp, Learning, Learning and Development, Mental Health, Performance, Talent Management, Training and Development, wellness, Work Life Balance, Workplace Flexibilty 0 Comments

I am a big believer in the power of focusing. “Focus and finish” is a phrase you’ll hear me say to myself, my daughter – and perhaps occasionally to my husband. Most of us in the HR space know year-end and the fast start once January 1 rolls around = bust your a$$ while everyone else is taking time off. …

Kick-Start Your HR Creativity in 2020 with these Two Lessons

Kathy Rapp Career Paths, Change, Change Management, Coaching, Communication, Driving Productivity, Engagement and Satisfaction, HR, HR (& Life!) Advice, Innovation, Kathy Rapp, Leadership, Pop Culture, wellness, Work Life Balance

The Thin Red Line. Fight Club.  American Psyco.  These are films that solidified Jared Leto‘s success as an Oscar-winning actor. Then, as his star was rising, he basically stopped making movies. “I think it was about focus. I knew that I needed to commit everything to music at that point in my life,” said Leto. Fast Company interviewed Jared Leto and …

Hello 3-Day Weekends!

Kathy Rapp Audacious Ideas, Benefits, Change, Change Management, Compensation/Cash Money, Corporate America, Culture, Current Affairs, Diversity, Driving Productivity, Employee Engagement, employee experience, Engagement and Satisfaction, Good HR, HR, Onboarding, Performance

If you’ve been in the workforce for 20+ years, you probably grew up thinking working longer hours meant you were more productive, or helped you advance your career. I spent many years arriving at and leaving an office in darkness. Microsoft has put a bit of data behind the fact longer hours do not equate to higher productivity (or happiness). …

4 Critical Steps for Success as a New CHRO

Kathy Rapp Assessments, Career Advice, Change Management, Coaching, Communication, Corporate America, Culture, Driving Productivity, Executive Search, Good HR, HR

Starting anything new is a bit daunting. A new exercise program. A new school. Sporting a new hairstyle. The internal questions of “Am I ready for this? Will I make friends? Is the “Rachel” really back?” will bubble in the pit of your stomach. Starting a new gig, especially a leadership role, builds even more intense emotions. Starting a new …

10 Things HR Should Have Given Up by Now

Kathy Rapp Audacious Ideas, Change, Change Management, Coaching, Communication, Contingent Workforce, Corporate America, Culture, Driving Productivity, Employee Engagement, Engagement and Satisfaction, Good HR, Harassment, HR, Uncategorized

I attended an awards luncheon where the nominees were asked the question, “What would you have expected to have given up by now?” Answers involved a lot of childhood sweets, biting nails and imaginary dogs (that was not mine). Slap that question on the HR profession and I have a few ideas around the answers. Some are common sense and …

“Mr. Spicoli, What’s Your Reason for Your Truancy?”

Kathy Rapp Audacious Ideas, Change Management, Coaching, Communication, Corporate America, Culture, Driving Productivity, Employee Engagement, employee experience, Engagement and Satisfaction, Good HR, HR, Uncategorized

“Fast Times at Ridgemont High“. One of the all-time greatest flicks with almost as many life-affirming lines as “The Big Lebowski“. Sean Penn played the iconic Jeff Spicoli, who more than once was late for class, causing Mr. Hand great frustration. Mr. Hand: Mr. Spicoli, what’s your reason for your truancy? Jeff Spicoli: I just couldn’t make it on time. …

Hold the Mayo–How to Help the Sandwich Generation Work

Kathy Rapp Audacious Ideas, Benefits, Change, Change Management, Communication, Corporate Social Responsibility, Culture, Current Affairs, Driving Productivity, Employee Engagement, Engagement and Satisfaction, Generations, Good HR, HR

I have a young daughter who, like most, is a non-stop source of energy and fatigue for me and my husband. Between school, camps, athletics, UIL, Girl Scouts, CAD class, and the guitar gathering dust in the corner, there is a significant shortage of downtime. Add to the mix aging parents, geographic distance, two demanding jobs, and a 90lb rescue …

The Plane Isn’t Free Falling, But You Still Need to Put Your Oxygen Mask on First.

Kathy Rapp Books, Career Advice, Change, Change Management, Coaching, Communication, Corporate America, Culture, Employee Communications, Employee Engagement, Engagement and Satisfaction, Good HR, HR

The person who gave me my start in HR also gifted me with a book, “Managing Transitions” by William Bridges. At the time I was going through a professional change and my organization was in flux–the book was much appreciated. Fast forward almost 28 years (yes, I started my career at 12) and I still revisit that book whenever I …

Have You Hired Chris Stapleton or Florida Georgia Line?

Kathy Rapp Audacious Ideas, Candidate Pool, Change, Change Management, Communication, Culture, Current Affairs, Employment Branding and Culture, Executive Search, Good HR, Hiring Bias, Hiring Managers, HR

I live in Austin, home to many awesome live entertainment venues. In the past month I’ve been able to see many musicians and some wanna-be musicians for the first time. Going to see an artist for the first time is like the first few weeks with a new hire. You’re excited and probably nervous at the same time. What if …

Defense Wins Championships…and Talent

Kathy Rapp Candidate Pool, Change Management, Coaching, Culture, Current Affairs, Driving Productivity, Employee Coaching, Employee Development, Employee Engagement, Engagement and Satisfaction, Good HR, HR, Sports, Talent Acquisition, Talent Strategy, Training and Development

I’m a college basketball fan, so the NCAA Championship this week was fun to watch. OK. Maybe not the first 5 minutes when no one could hit the broad side of a barn–but the overall tournament and the championship game did not disappoint. Take Virginia and Texas Tech–two defensive-minded teams who made it to the championship game for the first …