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). …
Mandatory Manager Skill: Showing Confidence & Support When You’re Not Feeling It
Being a manager is full of things that are simple, yet hard. Perhaps no better example of this exists than showing confidence in team members who are struggling from a performance perspective. You’re not sure they’ll get over the hump, and one thing’s for sure – if you look like you don’t believe, they 100% won’t get over the hump …
Supporting Employees in Crisis – A Hidden Gem in Retention Strategy
Companies have long sought actions they could take to increase engagement and retention and keep good people. Among these strategies – above market compensation, stock options, long term incentives, work flexibility, work from home, lunch subsidies, comprehensive and fully-paid benefits packages and a really cool and hip workspace – all these help support retention efforts. But one overlooked strategy is …
Kohl’s/Amazon: Would You Do The Bidding For Someone Else’s Talent Brand If It Helped You Compete?
In case you missed it, Retail – at least of the normal variety – is on life support. We’re all to blame. That big sucking sound you hear? It’s the gravitational pull of Amazon, giving you two-day one-day delivery you didn’t even know you needed, but now expect. Amazon has a history of innovating, taking the long view of changing …
Addressing the Side Hustle
I recently listened to a podcast of one of my fellow FOT team member’s Let’s Fix Work podcasts (which are awesome Laurie, by the way) that was titled Why the Side Hustle is Failing You. The premise of the episode is that side hustle is something that’s been inappropriately glorified by Gary Vee and others, and that it actually can …
4 Critical Steps for Success as a New CHRO
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 …
Treating Employees Like Your Kids
Because I’m reaching the “vintage” where the most junior employees I work with are now the ages of my own kids, I’m now recognizing this management phenomenon in the workplace more than ever before. Do you treat your employees like your own kids? On the surface it sounds preposterous. But then again, I treat my own kids pretty well. I …
How To Manage Your CEO If They Think “They Are A Terrible Person”
CEO’s are only human. They have a tough job with high stress. Naturally, there are going to be times where their judgment will lapse, even to the point where they may do “terrible” things. But how do you, HR pro, manage that? A few days ago I read a fascinating article in Vanity Fair called “I’m a Terrible Person”: Behind …
Get KD’s New Book: THE 9 FACES OF HR
It’s true. I just launched a book and it is doing well. It’s called THE 9 FACES OF HR. If you like reading The HR Capitalist or Fistful of Talent, you’re going to like the book and you should check it out. Here’s the summary from Amazon for your consideration: “Popular blogger and CHRO Kris Dunn presents a hard, but compelling reality: every HR professional on …
10 Things HR Should Have Given Up by Now
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 …