As consumers, we expect service, don’t we? When service lessens or is taken away from us altogether, we struggle to comprehend it. As a recent example, I went to the pharmacy the other day and learned that I couldn’t pick up my prescription since the pharmacists were out to lunch. “Who takes lunch anymore?” IRead… Read more »
Even though the outlook’s been a bit sunnier lately, it’s still a tough job market out there. Recruiters and hiring managers are still getting dozens – if not hundreds – of qualified applications for each position. If yours has been getting lost in the shuffle, or you’re not getting any calls back after interviews, you may beRead… Read more »
The Office of Federal Student Aid put in place the first formalized risk management framework in the federal government, starting its efforts in 2004. What does it look like? How did they do it? One former federal leader, Todd Grams, observes that agencies that ignore risk are actually creating risk. Not surprisingly, there has beenRead… Read more »
Human resources can be complex, confusing and exasperating. Communications between leaders and their human resources department don’t have to be. Unfortunately, they are. It’s time to step out of the ring and start working together. When human resources professionals live and breathe human resources everyday, they forget what it’s like outside the bubble. It’s easyRead… Read more »
My mother always said I was a schmuck. “All of the women in our family are,” she says. “We work like animals, and what does it get us? Nothing.” We call this the “Coopersmith gene,” for my grandmother Muriel, may she rest in peace. Grandma had a heart attack in her early 40’s, shoveling snow offRead… Read more »
Thanks for coming back for part 3 of this series. If you have not already, please check out: Change the Way You Hire Part 1: Am I Qualified Change the Way You Hire Part 2: Years of Experience is Overrated Recruiting talent is a critical factor in avoiding mediocrity. You cannot just expect talented peopleRead… Read more »
I landed my first supervisory job at the age of 29 (considerably young, in HUD years). While the 3 years of experience definitely resulted in more gray hairs (and more frequent trips to the stylist for highlights), I learned a lot along the way. Confidence – I remember one of my very first meetings atRead… Read more »
Suppose you are an IT decision-maker (and who in IT doesn’t have to make decisions regularly?). For that matter, forget the “IT”. What drives your decision-making? Let’s assume that you would like to consistently make decisions so as to have the maximum positive (or least negative) impact on your own personal well-being. Does this soundRead… Read more »
You’ve probably been involved in a team building exercise at some point in your work life. Perhaps it was a human knot, an mandatory weekend outing or a few hours in the workplace “getting to know” your colleagues. I am always interested in what leaders subject employees to under the guise of teamwork. I’ve neverRead… Read more »