Showing Post from: Essays
Growing Old Disgracefully
A few days ago, someone a few years younger than I blamed ageism for his unemployment. I responded quite strongly, “Well, of course, you’re not getting a job because you are carrying around that energy.” Resignation is giving up and it is usually driven by the notion we are not […]
The Great Sales Disconnect – Why some people don’t even sell themselves
There is a huge disconnect between what constitutes old and new sales techniques. Drawing healthy and effective attention to ourselves is one of the most crucial skills of thriving in the modern world. It is more of a skill library than one single ability and it includes being able […]
Is Generational Differences a Racket?
Every decade or so, a new marketing phenomenon hits the talent development field. I promote any idea that produces learning and growth. However, generational differences, in my mind, is becoming foolishness. In many cases, it supports rather than dismantles bias. It is often manipulative and confusing. Yesterday, a very […]
Why Active Learners Own Our Future
We used to derive our security from a job. Today we find our security from growth. If that’s true (and it is), consider what a vast change in consciousness and outlook this represents for most of us. In finishing my book The Workplace Engagement Solution (Career Press), I have […]
When Human Resources Ought to Keep Their Bags Packed
Pretty scary title? Well, this story can have an even more uncomfortable outcome. There is a pattern that goes on all of the time between CEOs and the Chief Human Resource Officers. I’ve encountered the pattern in my work with a sizable number of chief human resource executives as individual […]
Why Some Chief Human Resource Officers Will Make Great CEOs
Virtually every business publication and relevant academic research paper indicate that attracting, developing and motivating talent is the single most important element in successful business today. One of the most common failures with CEOs not reaching the objectives of their business plan is in their refusal to take charge of […]
The Single Best Take-Away From the Best Places to Work
In 2015, Fortune Magazine’s “The 100 Best Places to Work” issue awarded many of the usual world-class employers like Google, Marriott and others. But they did something new. They studied the firms that had been on that list for over five years straight and they found only one characteristic in […]
The Shockingly Untapped Resource of Social Networking
How many people assume the world’s most innovative companies invent most of their technology in house? Far more innovation is found by individuals going out into the world and finding breakthroughs which they bring back. Thomas Edison did not invent the lightbulb. He networked and found the incandescent bulb that […]
The Shocking Truth About “Disunited” Airlines
In 2015, a sizeable group of past and current United Airlines employees signed a petition filed by change.org demanding the resignation of United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek. It called Smisek out for cutting costs at the expense of services and taking steps that damage retirees – all actions the group […]
Courage Set Him Free
He is in his mid-forties, a passionate father of three beautiful girls and the sole breadwinner of a family he is utterly devoted to. When we met, Jackson Lynch was the chief human resource officer for a Fortune 1000 paper company in Washington. He had masterfully orchestrated and managed talent during […]