How often do you challenge your assumptions? You know, those things that form the bedrock of your opinions, beliefs and decision making. Do you ever ask yourself if what you think you know, is really so? You should. My experience has been that many poor decisions and failed concepts can be traced back to believing some key fact or piece …
It’s Okay for You to Fail
It’s time to discuss improving employee engagement. Or is it employee experience? Who knows anymore? All I know is we continue to work our butts off to find that secret sauce that will ensure employees connect with the company and pledge their eternal soul to you in HR, the department they work in, and the organization as a whole–yet nothing …
Want Employee Engagement? Just Ask.
Employee engagement continues to be a challenge for organizations of all shapes and sizes. The road map to tackling this challenge is right in front of you if you are willing to involve your employees in the solution. But what should you be asking your people to get that answer? What they value, of course. Pretty simple, but nearly impossible …
Employees Won’t Notice If You Have Recognition, but They Will Leave If You Don’t.
Let’s start with a riddle: The poor have it. The rich need it. If you eat it you will die. What is it? I’ll answer it at the end of the post. Trust me, it will connect. While you’re thinking of the answer let’s have a quick chat. I’ve been noticing that the loud and monotonous drumbeat of reward and …
Ageism is Real – And It’s Your Fault
“But Paul, you’re different. You like that technology stuff.” That’s what I get when I bring up a new way to manage a process with a new project management tool. Or when I try to introduce a web-based collaboration platform. Or even when I suggest we use group collaboration in Office 365. Real truth? I don’t always like “that technology …
The Killer HR App – Your Face
Almost 20 years ago I read a book that made me want to see around corners and over the horizon. That book was called “Unleashing the Killer App.” Far from a perfect book – but for me at the time, with my background and exposure to technology – it was an eye-opening read. It really reinforced the need to constantly …
Why HR Should Pay Attention to Technology Design Trends
Technology is eating the world. Everything – and I don’t say this with any hyperbole – is technology. Even the human stuff we do every day (or should do every day) is a function of technology. I’m almost positive if HR (and business in general) didn’t have email, SMS, or slack we wouldn’t know how to get a hold of …
Wag The Dog in HR
As I think back on my career and recall the times I had the best work experiences—where I was connected and engaged the most—it almost always involved a crisis or a pressure-filled project. I can vividly remember working on a big Chrysler account or a huge GM Parts incentive program. We worked 24/7 for weeks. In one case, we slept …
Thanksgiving is Coming!
A few short weeks from now many of us will be sitting down with friends, the family we like (and may even love), engaging with new and old acquaintances, laughing, chatting, reveling, playing games and connecting on a truly human level. The rest of us will have Thanksgiving dinner at our own, or a relative’s house, arguing about politics, misremembering …
Can HR Ever Be Antifragile? Should It?
I’ve been fascinated with the idea of “antifragile” ever since I read about it in Nicholas Taleb’s book by the same name. His book is about how systems react to stress, attack, or change. Fragile systems are easily damaged when exposed to negative change. They operate best when things just stay as they are. A robust system is one that …