08
Jun

Top 5 networking (face to face) tips

If you’re here, you are probably somewhat comfortable navigating through “social networking” online.  But for many people, it is difficult to enter a room where you know nobody, in the hopes of networking to further your business/career/etc. There are people who are experts at this, and I have watched and learned.  I also recently …
06
Jun

How to be a Superhero from TED Talks

I make a point of always smiling at people on the street, in the office, or wherever I may be.  I often have people commenting on this, and have actually wondered at times if it makes me come across as somewhat ‘simple’. But then I saw this TED Talk by Ron Gutman, and realized it’s actually my superpower 🙂 Watch the talk and check …
01
Jun

Get to know the people you don’t like

I ran across this quote from Abraham Lincoln, and it rang very true for me as a lesson I’ve learned over the years. “I don’t like that man.  I must get to know him better.”  For me, this speaks to the importance of understanding people with different perceptions and views from your own.  This leads to learning and outcomes …
30
May

Job interview tips – especially for Millennials

A few weeks ago, I blogged about the importance of not judging job applicants, especially Millennials / Gen Yers, by initial outward appearances or perceptions.  I still believe that is important.  However, that blog inspired some healthy discussion with colleagues and business leaders about how difficult it is to change perception, and inspired me …
25
May

Fun gets results!

“The most wasted day is one in which we have not laughed” – Anonymous Some may scoff at this quote and insert “produces widgets/sales/results” instead of “laughed”, but fun can actually have a very positive impact on your business.   Take a look at successful organizations such as Zappos, SouthWest Airlines, …
20
May

Strategic Human Resources is critical to business success

As I was reviewing recent “Answers” on Linked In, I came across one that inspired this post.  An HR pro had posted a question asking what others would recommend as focus areas when starting or reviving HR in an organization.  An Operations Manager had answered the question by saying “None”, and going on to clarify that it …
18
May

Recruiting? Watch your red flags, especially with Gen Y

This morning I was facilitating an introduction to recruitment and selection for restaurant managers, and there was one particular “a-ha” moment for the group that I thought I’d share. It was about the “red flags” or preconceived notions that managers traditionally based hiring decisions on during the selection process.  …
13
May

Lessons in corporate culture from the Royal Wedding

Joanne Royce, An HR colleague from the HRPA Halton recently posted a great blog about lessons from the Royal Wedding.  Here are my thoughts: There are lots of ways that companies could have taken advantage of the Royal Wedding to engage employees. I heard of companies having “Royal Hat” day, and serving afternoon tea. At my company, we …