31
Dec

Transforming HR – My 2013 Wishlist – #1: Policy Police to Culture Creator

In 2005, Fast Company magazine’s article “Why We Hate HR“, described HR: The human-resources trade long ago proved itself, at best, a necessary evil — and at worst, a dark bureaucratic force that blindly enforces nonsensical rules, resists creativity, and impedes constructive change. Since that article was written, we have seen …
12
Jun

Your CEO, Your Grandmother, and a Customer See Your Post… Social Media in the Workplace

Sounds like the start of a really bad joke. The thing is, if you don’t think about those three people before posting something on social media, the joke could be on you. You’ve probably heard the famous Cisco case where a candidate was hired, then tweeted: Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against …
10
Apr

Guest Post: The Top Social Media Networks for Businesses

How do I attract more customers? As a business owner, chances are you have asked yourself this question many times.  A recent Citibank survey found that 40% of small business owners intend to use social media networks to market and expand their business in 2012.  It’s understandable if you are a little hesitant about getting started. To help calm …
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 …
11
Feb

Is your Receptionist turning away customers?

Is your receptionist helping or hindering your business? Lately, I have run into several that were doing a great job turning away my business. Here’s what happened and my thoughts on initial steps to improve the impression your critical front line employees like receptionists are giving your customers.   The Veterinarian Receptionist The …
11
Aug

Building Positive Company Culture

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a few mistakes I’ve seen when organizations are attempting to build company culture.  Now here are a few tips. Senior leadership must be aligned with the culture you’re building. A culture statement, launch, or communication shouldn’t be an HR project.  While HR plays a key role in asking the right …