I did an interview for an open position at a client yesterday–during vacation, on the beach. That probably tells you where this post is going. Go ahead and fire up the comments about feeling sorry for me. About how my priorities are out of whack. About how I need to take care of myself. I’m not going to go all …
Your Next Expert in Performance Management? Hire an Economist!
From the world of unicorn employers (Google, Amazon, Facebook, etc.), our next great HR experiment has almost gone undetected. What is it!? The use of Economists to run employee performance management! A recent article talked about a new trend of tech companies (Amazon, Google, etc.) hiring hundreds of PhD Economists for all kinds of roles: For example, Amazon runs a program …
Bosses Behaving Badly: When Integrity Matters Most
How many of us have seen our leaders (C-Suite, bosses, the ivory tower, “the brass”) abandon their integrity when the going gets rough? Maybe they decided to cut salaries to shed costs without cutting their own, or they identified a sacrificial lamb to take the fall for what was their mistake. Perhaps they simply elected to flat out lie to …
Workplace Fairy Tales: Why There’s No Such Thing as “Unlimited” PTO
It drives me crazy when I hear people touting “unlimited” PTO. That’s because “unlimited” time off is really just one big fairy tale. I know, I know; that sounds harsh, because there are a number of companies that will defend “unlimited” PTO to the death, and on the surface, it sounds like a good idea. But what often gets lost …
To Support Mental Health, Let Employees Walk out the Door.
Do you know what really makes my heart hurt? The fact so many employees are still miserable at work. It’s not the fault of any one “thing,” but rather a systemic issue. In the US, both depression and loneliness epidemics are in full swing, which is exacerbated by many working environments. Somewhere in the intersection of technology, the demanding speed …
Here’s to the Crazy Ones: And Why You Don’t Deserve Them
I’ve been doing a lot of performance work for some client companies lately. As you might expect, I’m trying to push the companies to get out of the mindset that the performance review transaction is the reason for the process. Repeat after me: The reason you do any type of coaching or performance management is to migrate employees. If you’re …
Institutionalized: Working for the Corporate Version of Obi-Wan Kenobi/Bill Belichick
There’s a dirty little secret about great companies. Some of them are so great, the experience you pick up actually doesn’t transfer easily to other opportunities. Here’s how this phenomenon plays out: 1– You join a great company early in your career. 2–You are fortunate to work for a master, think the Obi-Wan Kenobi or Bill Belichick of your industry. …
The Movie “Clerks” Proves The Innovators Are The Ones With Great Careers
We’ve said it in this space before. Follow along from home or the office: –Great performers/talent see the world differently than others… –Exceeds performance should be reserved for the game changers… –Innovators do unexpected things others think are crazy… I know, you’ve heard it before. If you’re a top performer, it doesn’t matter what you do for a living – …
The Five New Year’s Resolutions of an HR Leader
2019 is just around the corner and HR leaders everywhere are making their New Year’s resolutions. I’m not talking about false promises to lay off gluten, flatten that spare tire around the midsection, call grandma in Sheboygan more often, eat more kale, blah blah blah. That’s all well and good, but how about making a collective resolution to your employees and …
No Vacations for You!
I received a job offer a while ago, and it was a good one. Part of the package included an awesome paid time off program. Unlimited. That’s right folks, Unlimited PTO. I can take as much time as I need, whenever I need it, vacations galore. If my wife and I decide to start a family, I can have unlimited …