I have this 19 year old son who likes to quip that when his old man was a teenager surfing in Florida, there was no sand on the beach. Only rocks. Erosion hadnt created sand yet. So when I talk about what life was like when I entered the professional workplace, lets just say it wasnt yesterday. When I entered the workforce in the early 80s, we were toward the end of the Baby Boomer generation. That meant that there were a whole LOT of older baby boomers already in the workforce for 15 or so years, and a bunch of people even older. And even... Read More

Maybe its because Im the dad of a High School athlete, but I find this time of year exciting. Coaches are getting teams to end of summer practices, camps, and workouts all geared to help athletes start off the fall athletic season at the top of their game. Coaches know that the best teams arent made from pure skills alone. Team dynamics, the mental game, coachability all play a huge role in making the best team. Before you hit the bleachers to cheer on your favorite teams, consider these strategies to help the team you work with succeed: ... Read More

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times It can seem that way when you hire a new employee. Many employers have hired someone who was fine in the interview, not realizing the gem she is until after she starts. Its great when were pleasantly surprised. Many employers have also hired someone who interviewed great, only to find out that when the new employee starts, hes apparently switched bodies with someone else. Its not great when you dont get what you thought you would. How do you determine who will be the next rock star, and then... Read More

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 88,778 charges were filed in 2014. 31,863 of those alleged illegal harassment in the Private Sector; 15, 226 were within the Federal Government. Add in other Public Sector employees (state and local governments, school boards, universities), retaliation claims, and some other charges and you get to the grand total. Scary, isnt it? Of course, there are about 150,000,000 employees in the U.S., meaning a whole lot of them never file with the EEOC. Or file a lawsuit. ... Read More

This week all kind of people are talking about our Founding Fathers; what they said, what they meant, what they codified, what they didnt. Americans of every age, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, political party, and any combo or mix thereof, will all join one another watching civic demonstrations of patriotism. Well eat, parade, watch fireworks, talk politics, and eat some more. The bold souls may cross state lines to get contraband. I meant fireworks; not weed. This week almost everyone is patriotic; we look like we are in... Read More

Thats what Philip Crosby called the traditional forms of Quality Improvement in his day. As a best-selling author and Quality Guru, Phil approached quality from a whole different perspective from Acceptable Quality Levels, and an attitude of Thats Close Enough. He spoke of Zero Defects and an attitude of Do It Right the First Time. He also taught that a common language and education, employee education, and culture change were the way to make lasting change. Thats the environment I learned to do HR in. HR people werent talking like that... Read More

Schools out, the weathers great, the mountains beckon, and employees want time off. For many employees, time off is one of the most important benefits an employer can offer. Companies that provide attractive time off benefits have a distinct advantage in recruiting and retaining todays workforce. Following are 5 things to look at right now regarding your paid time off policies. 1. What are you rewarding ? Every new generation entering the workforce wants more time off than they get. Maybe thats because younger workers start at the... Read More

Culture is like an organizations identity; its who they are. On an individual basis, knowing your identity; knowing who you are will determine your destiny. The same is true for organizations. If you think about it, your organizational culture is as much a part of your brand as your logo. You have to protect the culture just as you would your logo if there was a trademark infringement. Unfortunately, many organizations dont. Earlier today, a business strategist and consultant asked me if I knew what was happening at a particular company... Read More

ouve heard it said that, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I guess that means that the one being copied should feel flattered about having their original ideas copied. But what does it suggest about the flatterer? When it comes to your organizations culture, imitation can make you sincerely wrong. Employers love a good best practice. When an organization creates an enviable employment brand and culture, others read about it, pay good money for books and seminars about it, and then try to replicate it hoping to get the same... Read More

I love chocolate. Really love chocolate. I can do without other sweets, but theres just something about chocolate that screams to me. Layla would eat chocolate if I let her. All of it. But I let her have zero because Layla is my yellow lab. What works for me is toxic to her. Some organizations can appear toxic to some people. Some people can appear toxic to some organizations. What can seem healthy to one person can suck the life out of another. Think about it Wall Street has a dog-eat-dog environment that some might find to be toxic. And... Read More