One of my clients refers to itself as “always under construction”…that’s another way of saying you’re always in Beta… This has been their tagline for close to twenty years and they truly are always under construction in every way they approach business including HR and Talent… But what is Beta? Webster’s defines it as: a stage of development in which …
Becoming a Consultant: Where Do I Start?
Not a day goes by without someone asking me how they can quit their job and become a consultant, coach, speaker, or entrepreneur. “I’m thinking about going out on my own, Laurie. How do I get started?” – HR and Recruiting Peeps Do you dream about quitting your job and going out on your own? It’s not unusual. Some people …
What Are You Telling Employees When You Send Them Late Night Emails?
I learned long ago that you should always be ready to take good advice — no matter where it comes from. This month, it came from a guy named Michael Dermer who touts himself in his blog and newsletter as The Lonely Entrepreneur. His words of wisdom were short, sweet, and spot-on. He said: “Turn off at a respectable time, …
HR CAREER ADVICE: Never Let Your Boss Tell You How Other People Feel About You Without Forcing These 2 Questions…
Dateline: Somewhere in Corporate America. The Scene: A C-Level is telling the HR pro who reports to him what another C-level thinks about her performance (hint: it’s not glowing). The Mistake: The HR pro in question thinks that since the C-Level reporting the feedback is supportive of her (it’s the other guy with the problem, right?), and she doesn’t have …
The Career (and Life) Benefits of Going Global
I’ve had the really good fortune of traveling internationally for a good chunk of my career. It’s been a career filled with humbling and tremendous learning, derived from surviving the potent mix of immigration/border security lines, horrific plane meals, and profound cases of jet lag. In fact, I would go so far as to say that traveling internationally has played a …
5 Things To Do At The Office On Black Friday
A few years back I wrote a post over at The Project called the 5 Things To Do at Work the Day after Thanksgiving. It’s solid, a bit boring for my taste. Probably when I wrote it, like writing this post, I believed it wouldn’t be read by anyone, so let’s not put too much time into it! But, it’s …
It’s as Simple as Hugging a Goat
Petting zoos are a staple at small-town rodeos. Chicks, bunnies, ducks, pigs – and of course, baby goats. I’m beginning to believe goats are the new avocados. Stay with me, here. For the last few years, avocados have been the “it” food. Smashed, sliced, spread – every way you can top toast with avocado has been featured on menus at …
3 Leadership Lessons Before You Drop-Kick Your Garmin
I received a Garmin fitness tracker for Mother’s Day this year. This gift followed a Peloton bike for my wedding anniversary. And before you think my husband is not so discreetly saying there’s more of me to love than he would like – I asked for both fitness gadgets (ok, the bike is not really a gadget given it costs …
Develop Your HR Philosophy
I’m a natural cynic, which means that I don’t buy the hype around anything from pony rides to human resources conferences. If people are having fun, I’m skeptical. There’s a term for how I view the world. I’m a defensive pessimist. I try to figure out what can go wrong so I can prevent sorrow and chaos. Believe it or …
I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!
“Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley” is one of the reasons I continued to watch SNL in the 90’s. Al Franken invented and acted out Stuart in a way that made you laugh and cringe at the same time. I’m not an affirmation gal. The closest I get is coaching my daughter to tell me to “Buck up, Mommy!” whenever I …