Is competition in the workplace a good thing? Some argue that it drives self-improvement and creativity in its quest to deliver results. Others argue that a competitive environment is a slippery slope to rivalries, backstabbing and information hording. These are…
At its core, culture is the way that people feel about coming to work every day. It’s how we think about the work, the people and the environment. The behaviors and norms that follow are a result of those thoughts…
After last week’s blog, Hiring Advice From a Billion Dollar Company, I received several calls and comments mostly about core values. “Those values are so important in the hiring process” said one of my HR colleagues, but we’re not very good…
In previous blogs I discussed strategies to build trust and to build genuine teams. The third and final installment of this blog series is all about building your network. According to Harvard Business Review, this is among the most important…
Often times, emotional intelligence is dismissed as a soft skill fad that’s too soft and squishy to make a meaningful business impact. The fact is that emotional intelligence drives leadership, team effectiveness, performance, engagement, sales and ultimately your company’s bottom…
Several years ago I was part of a project team that was charged with transitioning a paper reliant company into one that could function the same or better without paper. The goal was to go “paperless” to increase efficiency and…
I am a huge fan of professional football. I faithfully follow my Minnesota Vikings through their ups and downs. On the rare occasions when they make it to Phoenix to battle the Cardinals, I do my best to support them…
Succession planning is a process for identifying and developing internal people with the potential to fill key leadership positions in the company. It increases the availability of experienced and capable employees that are prepared to assume these roles as they…
Several years ago I took a job for a well-known financial institution. While I knew the support and administration side of the industry well, this was a sales position. My new manager assured me that I would have extensive training and I…
There is a misconception that a written business plan is only necessary if you are seeking financing or investors. Not having a business plan is a bit like driving from Arizona to Florida without a map or GPS. Sure, you…
