Lately, I’ve noticed folks using the term buyer facilitation. While I can make a good guess that the term is a version of Buying Facilitation®, it is being used in a ’sales’ context. So maybe, the term is to be used in ... More...
What CEO's say they want Human Resources leaders to do in their organizations, and perceptions about the HR function in many organizations are as far apart as Terre Haute and Timbuktu.
Several years ago the cover of "Fortune magazine depicted a... More...
Dear Joan:How do I deal with the Queen Bee Syndrome? I work in HR. My boss consistently places the blame rather than solve the problem. There are not any hard, written procedures on how to deal with various scenarios to provide direction on comple... More...
Dear Joan: I have been on the support person's side of the situation described in your recent column, "Manager has a Responsibility to Tell it Straight' Anything Less Shortchanges Employee. Could you please provide some ways for the support person t... More...
What makes the best in human resources the best? HR is a complex, multifaceted role that requires the ability to juggle priorities and excel at a number of tasksfrom the tedious to the strategic. It takes knowing what to concentrate on and what to... More...
I was at a speed networking event last month where each person had two minutes to give their elevator speech. The crowd ranged from new grads and MBAs to seasoned executives who were interested in moving up the ladder at their companies or in transit... More...
Are you a micromanager? Here are a few questions to ask yourself:1. Are you frustrated that your employees don't do their work as well as you would do it? 2. Do you frequently correct your employees' correspondence and redo their reports and present... More...
When it comes to public speaking, human resources specialists must technically speak well, but they must also have substance. They must look and sound like true leadersespecially if they're on the front lines whether describing their company's bene... More...
Are meetings just a waste of time? That's what researchers from Indiana University suggested in a recent study published on LiveScience.com. The researchers asked people to come up with ideas for new soft drinks, and found that groups came up wit... More...
When it comes to public speaking, human resources specialists must technically speak well, but they must also have substance. They must look and sound like true leaders—especially if they’re on the front lines whether describing their co... More...
In climbing the corporate ladder, one of the most powerful allies to have on your side is your Human Resources department. They have their finger on the pulse of the inner wiring of the organization, and if there is any staffer who can alert you to u... More...
All consultants loathe “gatekeepers,” who see their life’s work as protecting the boss from the sales rabble on the streets. But the very worst are those who use the “V” word: Venders
There are venders, of course.... More...
A reporter recently asked me in an interview about the proper role of HR in assisting in reviews of board directors. I told her that the proper roles included:
- Don’t even volunteer to do this, because there is no credibility and you are ta... More...
Arupa Tesolin believes that using intuition more in business can generate a lot of value with surprising little effort. "Intuition is easy," she says. "It's just our thinking that gets in the way. People today stand t... More...
I had lunch with a friend. He recently joined a start-up, after having achieved at an early age what most would deem great success in large, established companies (think GE). Yet despite a very healthy salary, P+L responsibility with a workforc... More...
While intuition is becoming recognized as a cognitive skill set, it's defined business linkages are still evolving. Three significant areas stand out where intuition can have a direct, relevant and potentially powerful leveraging... More...
Just what, exactly, is the new “hereafter”? Does anyone really know what the “next” level of economic stability will look like? Or what factors in human performance are likely to yield the most advantage fo... More...
At a recent Society of Government Meeting Planners (SGMP) luncheon I was confronted with some cold hard marketing reality. An experienced hospitality-hotel-conference planning consultant explained that today’s meeting planner or hotel sale... More...
Yup, the age-old question of… Is corridor, smoke room, and closed-door gossip good or bad for you. Many articles have explored this notion, and honestly, many articles have also stated that it is good to gossip every now and again, as it... More...
Dear Joan:
People talk about the paramount importance and the need to keep employees in the organization motivated. Some management gurus also keep saying a monetary allowance is not the only way to keep employees motivated. I understand there could... More...
Facilitating a group within your own organization poses particular challenges, especially if you're perceived as a decision-maker or as highly influential. The question here is 'how do I ensure that my group sees me as a neutral person engaged ... More...
I got my first real management job at the age of 24. I felt very important - after all, I was the youngest manager at the bank that had hired me. I had recently graduated with my MBA and had completed my new employer´s management tr... More...
Secretary (aka "Gal Friday"): Primarily responsible for answering the switchboard, typing on an electric typewriter, and making coffee.
Personnel Manager: Responsible for ordering office supplies, scheduling office parties,... More...
"Embrace change" is a useless platitude mouthed by managers or motivational speakers who have not thought through its full implications - or they are masochists who enjoy suffering. Changes that bring new opportunities or propel us forward ... More...
About three years ago, I had the link to a New York employment discrimination case. A young woman, who is a congenital amputee, desired to go into medicine. Her first step in preparing for her medical career was to become an EMT (emergency medical ... More...