Blog

Is Your Boss Wrong About You?

Performance reviews are supposed to be an objective evaluation of an employee’s performance, based on measurable criteria. But how often does that happen? And how often does a job lend itself to actual objective metrics?

Samual Culbert, a professor in the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, is the author of “Get Rid of the Performance Review! How Companies Can Stop Intimidating, Start Managing-and Focus on What Really Matters.”

He asserts that performance reviews are subjective and based on how comfortable your boss ...

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7
MAR

Employee Turnover: A Positive or Negative Metric?

Employee turnover is often a metric organizations view as having a negative impact on the organization.
But in a recent article in HR Magazine, Shari Lau discusses the potential impact of employee turnover in various situations, and how often it can have a positive impact on the organization.

If a poor performing employee quits, there is no risk of a wrongful discharge claim. But it can also be an opportunity for positive change for the organization.

In this scenario, the organization can:

1. Promote a current employee
2. Hire someone ...

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25
JAN

Four Tips for Motivating Employees in Uncertain Times

Motivating employees properly is always important. But it is particularly important in an uncertain economic environment where people fear losing their jobs and have less loyalty to the organization.

1. Provide Pay for Performance: Provide incentive pay for top talent to motivate them to perform in their roles.

2. Offer Non–Monetary Rewards: Employees have different needs and values and so it is best to ask employees what kinds of non-monetary rewards are the most meaningful for them. Some may value telecommuting, unpaid time ...

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14
OCT

Undone-Positive Thinking, Finding Your Passion and The American Dream

There are two books out recently that talk about how the ubiquitous promotion of positive thinking and the pursuit of the American Dream have undermined America. In Bright-Sided – How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America, Barbara Ehrenreich begins by describing how after diagnosed with cancer, she was repeatedly bombarded with the message that having cancer was a gift. Grieving her loss of health became politically unacceptable in this environment espousing that with positive thought you can co-create your reality.

It is this same ...

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22
SEP

Leadership Challenges for Middle Managers

In a recent issue of a publication from the Center for Creative Leadership, they speak of the complexities of working in a middle management position.

These challenges fall into three categories:

1.Getting the top and the bottom of the hierarchy to work together. Top management sets the strategy, but unless that strategy is clearly communicated, it is difficult to get the bottom of the organization to work in tandem with the top. In addition to effectively communicating the strategy, the bottom of the organization needs ...

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23
AUG

Evaluating Organizational Culture

Organization culture is defined as “a common perception held by the organization’s members’; a system of shared meaning.” A dominant culture expresses the core values that are shared by a majority of the organization’s members. In a strong culture the core values are intensely held and widely shared.

You need to choose an employer whose culture is compatible with your values and one in which you’ll feel comfortable. Here is a list of things that you can do to assess an ...

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17
AUG

Coping and Recovering from Burnout

Coping Strategies

If you think you are suffering from burnout, create a plan to nurse yourself back to health. The following lists contain steps you can take to get rest and relief from the constant stress that results in burnout.

At work:
• Take it slower, take breaks from work. Leave work a little earlier.
• Don’t strive for perfection, but for “good enough.”
• Use support services effectively and delegate when possible.
• Try to keep to a regular schedule, and ...

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27
JUL

Most Employers Not Addressing Workplace Stress

A recent report by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Business Group on Health finds that employers are not taking measures to relieve the stress that employees are experiencing from long hours, a lack of work/life balance and fear of job loss. Health and productivity management programs, however, are keeping health care costs and absenteeism down.

The survey included 352 employers with 1,000 or more employees during the summer of 2009.

Specific findings include:

Companies with the most effective health and productivity management programs had medical ...

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26
JUL

Five Workforce Management (WFM) Questions for Every Organization*

#1 Financial
Are current Time and Labor Management processes and systems designed to control spending and deliver ROI?

• WFM technology should drive cost reduction

• Plug any leakage

• WFM practices should help drive revenue

#2 Strategic
Are our WFM systems used daily to deepen follow-through on C Level
strategic goals at all levels?

• WFM rules and actions should be aligned to goals

• Use design reviews

• Measure the expected outcomes

• Map a course for evolution & mission success

#3 Operational
Has the process of labor ...

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12
JUL

Are You Burned-Out?

What is burnout? And how do you know if you’re suffering from it?

Burnout is defined as the various physical, emotional and mental reactions caused by repeated stress.

“In order to burn out, a person needs to have been on fire at one time.”

Ayala Pines

Effects of Stress

The negative affects of stress are documented by research studies. Prolonged, unrelenting stress can produce psychological and physiological consequences including:
Anxiety
Depression
Hypertension
Impaired Immune System Functioning
Increased risk of coronary heart disease and cancer

Who is ...

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30
JUN