If you get things that you desire, there may be unforeseen and unpleasant consequences. Another way to say that, “Be careful what you wish for,” but Google reminded me that’s also the name of a cheesy Nick Jonas flick (redundant, I know.) Whatevs, the spirit of the comment is the same – anyone striving for advancement in their professional life is …
Management Fads Come and Go, But Here’s an Oldie You Should Get on Board With
Management fads come and go, but one thing never changes — the fact that that most management fads don’t seem to last. That’s why I was surprised when I saw this recent Wall Street Journal article touting “agile management” as the hot, new management trend. My doubt was fueled by the third paragraph of the Journal story that openly admitted …
Communicating Through Organizational Change
I recently delivered a presentation to my organization that will have a huge impact on the lives of our team members. I believe that the impact will be a very positive one. Regardless of this, change is change. Which is to say that change is hard. But why? Why is it so hard to have successful organizational change, and how …
Herding Cats…and Recruiters
Remember when you had a recruiting desk to manage? You had your requisitions, you had phone screens scheduled, interviews scheduled, you knew your hiring managers, and you developed a rhythm. Cashing checks and snapping necks. And then they went and promoted you. Now as the manager of other recruiters, you confirm what you probably suspected all along–recruiters are a wacky bunch …
Why I Am No Longer Saying “Culture”
About 15 years ago, I was sitting at an office dinner party, and the company president was giving an emotional speech about the importance of company culture. The speech was inspiring, revolutionary, and confusing. Confusing because I was unsure what he meant by culture. Did he mean the behaviors he would like to see in the organization? The camaraderie and …
The Hassle of Performance-Based Pay
Are performance-based pay structures worth all of the hassle? It feels like the amount of effort that goes into these pay structures might not be worth the squeeze. Typically performance-based pay requires the measurement of key performance indicators. That means that I’m paying someone to measure all of the “stuff.” That’s fine for me because as we know, you can’t …
How to be a Better LGBTQ+ Ally to Coworkers and Candidates
Being an ally is more than just partying at pride parades and wearing rainbow outfits. Sure, those are a great way to show your support–and have a good time–but being an ally means making your LGBTQ+ counterparts feel welcome no matter where they are. And the workplace is a great place to start. Creating an inclusive space at work is …
Do Activist Employees At Google Represent The Masses?
If you’re an HR leader, one important thing to get your head around is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its connection to the mission of your company and the market choices your company makes. Welcome to the new world. You can’t simply chase a profitable line of business that exists on the fringes without considering CSR. At no place is …
Employee Improvement Plans: Should They Always Be Viewed as a Death Sentence?
Did I miss the memo? When did the venerable Performance Improvement Plan — a managerial non sequitur that often has little to do with performance OR improvement — morph into the more concise but equally Orwellian “Corrective Action?” I bumped into this new terminology for what most managers lovingly refer to as a “PIP” a couple of weeks ago when …
Warming The Bench
A quick prelude to my discussion today: Enes Kantor, the former NY Knick center rode the bench almost all of this NBA season before being traded to the Portland Trailblazers, who had him play significant minutes during the playoffs. It’s a little hard to feel too sorry for him receiving $17 million in compensation to keep his seat warm until …