Archive for 'Blog'

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

Using Metrics to Measure “Good Hire” Ratio

As the economy recovers, managing human resources will be central to a business environment as people go back to work. Of particular importance is the ability of the organization to attract, engage and retain the best talent available.

Many companies use metrics to measure “time to fill’ and “cost per hire.” But more organizations are now measuring “qualify of fill”. Some of the factors considered in this metric include:

• Employee retention

• Performance evaluations

• Employee promotions

• New hire surveys

Another quality calculation are using ...

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30
JUN

12 Questions to Measure Employee Engagement

Five years ago the Gallup Organization developed a 12-question survey that identifies strong feelings of employee engagement. Results from the survey show a strong correlation between high scores and superior job performance.*
1. Do you know what is expected of you at work?
2. Do you have the materials and equipment you need to do your work right?
3. At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have you ...

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9
JUN

HR Can Help Your Career

Employees often view HR departments as where to go to get a form or a question answered about benefits.
By HR can actually help you develop your career by:

Providing suggestions of how to make contacts with those in the organization who may help you advance your career
Supply ideas of alternate career paths when one road is blocked
Offer opportunities for coaching and mentoring
Be an avenue to showcase your accomplishments and how you have contributed to the organization
Mediate issues between you and your manager

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24
MAY