I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the first year I’m giving our managers detailed training on how to conduct good performance reviews. In the past, I’ve sent them forms to use and a few words of encouragement, and not much else. In retrospect, this was a crazy plan, since most people haven’t done many […]
Read the full article →There’s a brilliant post up today at HR Thoughts about controlling your ego and not getting defensive when your decisions are challenged: “Let’s say that someone comes into your office and questions a policy, practice or procedure of yours. Or, you send an e-mail to communicate some not so great news and one of the […]
Read the full article →Seriously, disasters happen. People go AWOL, get seriously ill, leave without notice, get caught embezzling and are escorted out that day, etc. How screwed you will be when that happens depends largely on how well you plan ahead to minimize the impact of such disasters. In my office, we call it the “hit by a […]
Read the full article →A reader writes: I saw an ad on one of the online sites for a job I want to apply for. So I went to the firm’s address and found the job and there was a link to apply. The thing is that I don’t trust the apply online sites. Most of the time, even […]
Read the full article →The latest Carnival of HR is up at HRO Manager. Check it out. For the record, I’m a she rather than a he, but I’m not complaining. Update: My gender has been corrected in the Carnival, but I’m leaving this here since the posts in the comments section are fascinating.
Read the full article →It’s practically cliche at this point to point out that new managers don’t get enough training in the art of management, but I haven’t seen a lot delineating exactly what topics new managers should be trained in. Here’s what I have on my outline for training new managers: 1. What exactly is a manager responsible […]
Read the full article →A reader writes: I have worked for the last five years as a non-traditional, part-time student assistant at a campus job while working on my “four year” undergraduate degree. The very unofficial title I’ve earned over the years is “media guy”; I transfer nearly century old films and audio items to digital, more accessible mediums […]
Read the full article →A reader writes: So what happens after you explain and show the measurable amounts (just shy of $1 million savings in the current year) you have saved the company…..and you have it explained away as “you did your job” when a pay raise is discussed? As a leader I absolutely understand this statement, but as […]
Read the full article →In a post today, Penelope Trunk talks about the advantages of rejecting bad candidates on the spot — for instance, telling them at the end of the phone interview that they’re not among the strongest candidates and you’re going to be focusing on others. I will occasionally do this, but more often than not, even […]
Read the full article →Later this week I will write about how I train new managers, but first let’s answer this question: What are managers responsible for? It sounds simple, but all too often people can’t give a comprehensive answer. Yes, managers are responsible for “getting stuff done,” but let’s break it down. Managers are responsible for ensuring the […]
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