My favorite movie line of all time and something every HR practitioner needs to do, “Sometimes you need to just say ‘what the ****’ and take some risks.” The quote comes from the movie Risky Business. Joel, the character played by Tom Cruise, is much like a teenage version of an HR pansy. Coasting through life on smarts, good looks …
Did I Hear Someone Say EEO?
I exited the elevator, right into… “Oh, there you are. Do you have some time later today? I’m totally unsupported. This is a hostile work environment I need to take a medical because of this place…I’m still waiting on my manager to get back to me on that. I’m a Jewish female over 40 with a disability, and I’m being …
How Much Did They Pay You to Give Up on Your Dreams?
“How much did they pay you to give up on your dreams?” – a memorable line by Ryan Bingham (played by George Clooney) in Up in the Air, the classic HR movie of outsourced termination services. His statement is made to Bob (played by J.K. Simmons) who gave up on his dream to be a chef for a traditional corporate gig. Bob …
Want to Foster a Risk-Taking Culture? If So, You Better Be Willing to Deal With a $2 Million Mistake
You’ve heard managers say it over and over — “we want our employees to feel they can take risks!” — yet you wonder how many companies really, truly believe it. My experience is that despite the rhetoric that they do, most don’t. Over many years working for a variety of organizations, I’ve found that people rarely get patted on the back for …
Doubling-Down on “Pretty Okay” Human Resources Leaders
Dave Ulrich has six competencies that define the modern human resources professional. Josh Bersin is out on the internet postulating a theory that he calls “Bold HR.” I have my version of how to define the future of our industry. It’s called, “Pretty Okay HR.” As in, “I just had a meeting with my HR Director. You know what? It was …
Strong Leaders Are Expected to Take Risks… A Defense of Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks
I really can write about more than just the Seattle Seahawks. I promise. Here’s proof. I knew I was due to write the week after the Superbowl. However, I had hoped to be writing about how to stay on top. About how to continue to keep employees/players motivated so you are always putting the best product out on the field. …