Unless you’ve been in isolation from the outside world this past weekend you’ve no doubt heard the hub bub over the impromptu press conference held by Presidents Obama and Clinton last Friday. Far as I can tell Obama is being universally panned for this move with some going so far as to say he’s officially “jumped the shark” and his …
Recruiting Doesn’t End With a Hire.
I can’t remember what made me think of this story the other day but did I ever tell y’all about the time there was a rumor spreading at work about me having an affair with a coworker? This was a few jobs back.. but oh yeah… I’m scandalous. First and foremost, the rumor was untrue. (Did I have to really …
“Who” Does Not Matter if “Why” is Wrong
Third party recruiters might be familiar with the phrase “get a req; fill a req.” Get an opening to work on, fill it and repeat as necessary. Wash, rise, repeat. Shortsighted, perhaps, but I don’t think it’s a mindset limited to external recruiters—we all get locked into doing what we know. It’s safe to keep things the same, but it …
Balance of Power Means You Aren’t Allowed to Make Decisions That Stink…
Hey, don't write yourself off yetIt's only in your head you feel left out orlooked down on.Just try your best, try everything you can.And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away. Hi America! It's me. Jimmy Eat World used to call me "The Middle". I'm the collective group of folks that won't allow themselves to be polarized …
Team Chemistry – It Can Go to Hell Quickly, Even for the Best Teams…
Kids – mark my words. You're going to get old, look up and realize you were once part of a great team. You didn't know you were on a great team at the time because you were young and dumb. You thought it would always be like that. You were wrong. I know. I'm a ray of sunshine. Why are …
Manager, Director or VP of HR: Generalists Rule the World…
I’m an HR Generalist by trade, and I’ve always been proud of that fact. A good generalist can do it all, with style, grace and a street-smart attitude that’s almost impossible to replace. Of course, some people have periodically said that the generalist role is dead or in the process of dying, with Jack Kevorkian in the next room. I’ve always …
What Did You Call Me?
I’ve been on record for many years now saying that job titles don’t really matter all that much. It’s all about the work you’re doing, and we shouldn’t give a crap about what we’re called. And you know what? If you’re spending too much time worrying about your title, you’re probably missing out on all sorts of opportunities that don’t …
Certified for Life – Good Enough for Managers but Not Doctors
This might be old news to some of you, but Doctors used to be certified for life. Doctors could get their rather substantial education, take their boards and be certified to treat just about anything. But sometime in the 1990’s, that changed. Doctors must now retest every 6 to 10 years. I don’t know about you but I didn’t know …
Employee Advocacy Programs
I swear, I wasn’t brought to Fistful of Talent to be the Reality Show Ranter but sometimes I just can’t help myself, because these shows are a breeding ground for HR and Culture lessons. Today, however, unlike my rants on Kate Gosselin, Jersey Shore, or Cake Boss, I actually have a reality show to highlight that I think all of …
Recognizing Failure vs. Acts of Learning
There are sentences you read sometimes that just push you back in your chair. You know what I’m talking about. You see just the right combination of words that convey a thought so profound you not only marvel at the intelligence behind it but the beauty of the simplicity. Words that, even though scant in number, ignite a firestorm of …