Piece it Together
There’s always something to talk about, so pull up a chair and let’s Piece It Together. Through articles written by our consultants, we share with you our take on the latest news, trends, and changes in HR, leadership and the workplace.
Read our latest posts or peruse our past articles. Please let us know if you have any comments or want more information on how we can help your organization.
Emotional Intelligence – EQ: The Missing Piece
Looking for your missing piece? Just as Shel Silverstein’s incomplete circle searched for something to help it roll smoother, faster and more confidently, I suggest you consider adding emotional intelligence training to your leadership development program – – in particular, using the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) assessment tool. It could be exactly what you’ve been searching for! […]
Using Appreciative Inquiry to Enhance Organizational Strengths
In the June 2013 edition of HR Magazine published by SHRM there was an interesting article on Positive Momentum that focuses on the Appreciative Inquiry process. Although fascinating reading, I was uncertain how this change management process could best be incorporated into many workplace cultures. I realized that I was doing exactly what the article advises against and looking at the problems rather than looking the process. […]
Motivating Staff During the Summer Months
As I was talking to my daughter this week and encouraging her to focus on the road ahead for her senior year of high school and preparing for college, I found it difficult to energize and motivate her. I started thinking about how difficult it is for organizations to keep their employees engaged during the summer months due to distractions such as vacation, casual Friday’s and attitudes that are joined with this concept.
The definition of motivation boils down to the general desire or willingness of someone to do something. I keep reminding myself of this with my teenage daughter, but it’s not any different for employees in an organization. […]
The Importance of Thank You in the Workplace
One of the first things we teach our children when they are young is the value of saying thank you. I remind my young boys to say thank you when someone helps them, gives them something they need or compliments them. The list of reasons to say thank you is boundless. If saying thank you is something that we are taught at such a young age, why is it something that we seem to forget as adults in the workplace? […]
Six Degrees of a Job Description
While conducting a recent HR audit, I was reminded of how job descriptions seem to touch and influence many of a company’s successful practices and policies – and indirectly, the bottom line. […]
Leadership Development – Starting at the Beginning
HR Advisors Group has been focusing on leadership development and the importance of organizations making investments in this area. I attended the American Waterworks Association’s (AWWA) Annual Conference last week in Denver, Colorado and participated in a series of topics on “Workforce Strategies that Really Work.” One of the speakers talked about developing a Leadership Program for “front-line” supervisors for water utility companies in Colorado. I was impressed by this program because not only did it focus on front-line supervisors, but being a technical field, it emphasized soft skills training which is something that often gets overlooked when evaluating the bottom line. We talk about Leadership Development in […]
Succession Planning and Leadership Development – A Symbiotic Relationship
Michelle Bennett is the People Manager, Americas, for GHD, Inc., www.ghd.com a global engineering, architecture and environmental consulting company. Ms. Bennett provides oversight and HR responsibility for the 1,100 GHD employees located in multiple offices throughout Canada, Chile and the United States.
When’s the Right Time for HR Director Hires?
On May 17th, I presented at the Society for Design Administration Symposium in Williamsburg, Virginia. The topic was on HR Assessments and Audits. One of the questions posed by an attendee was “when do we need an HR Director for our organization?” It was a great question and the answer really is, “it depends.” As firms grow, they face the decision of what and how much HR they need internally. So, is your firm ready for an HR Director? Here are some guidelines to help you make that decision and a checklist of qualities you should consider. […]