If your news feed has been even remotely similar to mine over the past week (or months for that matter), then it hasn’t been hard to find lots of examples of leaders being hypocrites. Leaders whose actions defy common sense and the values/image that we want our leaders to uphold. And this week’s dose of leadership hypocrisy stems from something …
Dear Team, Stay With Me!
Over the past months, people with seemingly nothing in common bonded together in grassroots efforts across the country over an out-of-control pandemic that is perpetually “rounding the turn”. One thing’s for sure: This has united the masses in ways not seen since the civil-rights movement and there is no turning back. I am the head of HR for a very …
“I Am Not Uncertain” – Why Some Hidden Phrases Illustrate Your Culture To Perfection
“I am not uncertain.” The phrase is a workplace culture feature from the Showtime series Billions. I’m rewatching the series with Mrs. Dunn, and it might be better the second time around. “I am not uncertain” is what employees of the hedge fund Axe Capital featured in Billions say to their boss, Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), when they’ve got potentially …
Is All Feedback Good Feedback?
Five things you need to ask yourself before you give an employee feedback Every HR conference and article has been filled with content on the importance of “creating a feedback culture.” We are taught that very little can improve the employee/employer relationship more than timely and honest performance feedback. I think there is a lot of truth in this. We …
Assessing Trust in Your Work Relationships
How do you assess the strength of the working relationships you have with your colleagues, your subordinates, and your boss? When I assess the strength of my relationships, it all comes down to trust. The trust I have in others and the trust they have in me. If high trust exists in our relationship, then I will seek out opportunities …
Facts of (Work) Life: “Manager Pass-Through”
I wrote about the manager pass-through in 2011. It’s an important fact of life in every organization, so I’m writing about it again today. Here’s the trick: Imagine you could film every manager in your organization trying to defend a strategy, action, change, etc. taken by the company to their team. Would they own it or point to a higher power …
Creating Value When You’re the Newbie
I’ve recently been on the college recruitment circuit for my company, speaking with hundreds of students at several universities, many of whom are seeking internships or their first “real job” once they’ve earned their degree and are ready to conquer the world. And it surprises me that while these students have impressive interpersonal skills, great academic credentials and applicable part-time …
Teamwork Tips for Competitive Types (Like Me)
I’m competitive. I always have been. Sometimes individually and other times as part of a team, but I thrive in competitive environments. Some of my passion for competitiveness likely came from my upbringing. But there is also something in my DNA, for sure. Born or bred, I’m more competitive than most. As you might imagine, because of my competitiveness sports has always …
Microlearning’s Macro Mistakes
Microlearning is one of the newest (cough, cough) hot topics in professional talent development. You will hear about it over and over again spouted by professional trainers as a way to make themselves sound knowledgeable and hip. Frankly, you have likely been hearing it for years. People talk about it at conferences, write articles, and use the jargon to sell …
Focus! Maybe An Accountability Partner Would Help
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. …