Skillscape | Human Resources Development Consulting India | HR Assessments | HR Productivity and Efficiency

Four Questions That Challenge Your Ethical Decisions - By Timothy F Bednarz

Many people are faced with a dilemma in that they want to practice conscientious and moral behavior, but are challenged to do so when difficult ethical problems and issues arise. In order to effectively deal with them, managers and their people need superior decision making tools that assist them in making the right choices.
Too many people are under the impression that ...... read more

7 Surefire Tips to Double Brain Power - By Trevor Johnson

To double your brain power, you must adopt the concept of wanting to gain more knowledge and the willingness to become a better thinker. Most of us have the notion that we only have an "average" mental power, yet that can be tweaked if you will only pursue the goal of growing your potential.... read more

Managing a Difficult Conversation - By Sandie Shaw

When preparing for a difficult conversation, it's normal to feel nervous. At times like this our hearts might beat faster and our palms may start to feel clammy. It is easy to be distracted by anxious feelings which in turn can hinder our ability to stay calm and communicate clearly what is on our mind. At worst...... read more

Drawing Lessons is a Skill: Worth Developing - DP Sabharwal

During childhood, most of us were privileged to hear stories from various people; parents, grand-parents, teachers and the like. All stories, funny, interesting or otherwise used to have one thing common at the end: a lesson or a moral. I too went through this interesting phase of life and my share, I am sure has been much bigger than any one can claim!
I remember...... read more

How to Boost Brain Power - By Trevor Johnson

It's generally thought that we only use a fraction of our brain power. Which - if it's true - means that even the brightest of us have plenty of room for improvement. As a general rule, our bodies respond well to exercise and that includes our brains. So what can you do to boost your brain power?... read more

How to Improve Your Innovative Skills - By Paul Baker

Start by deliberate innovation practices
Don't wait for innovation to strike you as you go about your daily life. Innovation is a skill that needs you to practice it all the time. If you read these tips and make yourself a promise that when you wake up tomorrow you will try and do all of them, you will have started being innovative.... read more

How To Build Self Confidence - 5 Easy Tips - By Tim Lumsden

To build self confidence you must be true to yourself. No one can give you self confidence. Confidence is an internal gratification, of which only you can award. Here are five ways you can build self confidence by being true and honest with yourself.
It's Not What You Do, it's How You Do It!
When approaching everything in life, especially when learning how to ...... read more

The Top 3 Musts To Achieving Success In Anything - By Ed Allen

I am a strong believer in success coming from proper information and execution. Many people struggle with the idea of success for the lack of ONE thing. The very thing that keeps so many people from succeeding is incredibly simple and when I tell you what it is, you will find it simple to the point of almost being silly. However, I find that the most profound things in life are actually the most simple things that we can adhere to and DO.... read more

Energy Management - The Easier and Efficient Way - DP Sabharwal

It is a universal fact that "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed." However, it can be wasted, and is being wasted. This wastage has been going on and on, and has in-fact risen to such high levels that quite often, the World over, concern has been expressed to have Energy Management.
It is a pity that most of the time we talk of Energy Management, we talk of the external energy only...... read more

Negotiators Need To Learn How To Deal With Experts - By Dr Jim Anderson

So let's think about your next negotiating session. There you are and everything is going along quite nicely. You are making your points and the other side doesn't seem to be objecting to them too much. All of a sudden another person arrives and joins the other side of the table. They are introduced as an expert and they then proceed to tear big holes ...... read more

How to Improve Productivity in a Factory - By Matthew L Wellington

Labour productivity, or just productivity, is the calculation of output per employee. It is incredibly important for any business, especially for a factory. You can calculate productivity by dividing output per period (units) by number of employees at work. So, for example, if a factory makes 5,000 units per month, and they have a labour force of ...... read more

Leaders Can't Afford Self Doubt - By Richard Brody

Henry Ford is often credited with saying that one can think he can, or he can think he can't, and either way, he'll be correct. The first self- help seminar I ever attended sticks out in mind still, almost forty years later, because the presenter gave out a large medallion, with numerous motivational- type sayings. The center ...... read more

The Secrets Of Good Posture - By Nathan E Leavitt

It is important to maintain good posture to avoid health problems. This includes having good posture when sitting, standing or sleeping. When sitting, it is important to sit upright with the back straight and shoulders back. You should avoid sitting on the front edge of the chair. You should sit back against a lumbar support to help maintain the curve in the low back.
You should also sit with your...... read more

Lead From the Heart - By Scott Whitelaw

I am an Army Brat! I was raised in a military family and spent my childhood observing how effective my father was in leading men and women to be the best they could be. While Dad prepared himself and the troops for the dark side of war, my mother served my father and her country by being a full time military wife and Mother. I saw my mother as a Love Leader. She led from the heart, preparing...... read more

One Day, One Hour, One Minute at a Time - By Deanne P Wells

One day at a time- this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering." ~ Ida Scott Taylor
Before you know it, our life on earth will be ...... read more

Leadership 101: Lead Me - Help Me To Become More Than I Realize I Can Be - By Bryan K Williams

Everyday there are many employees who go to work, and are looking for one thing. No, the one thing I am referring to has nothing to do with compensation. The "one thing" is more intrinsic in nature. These employees are looking to be inspired. Tony Zseigh, CEO of Zappos.com, made a very interesting statement that really resonated with me. He said...... read more

5 Characteristics of Exceptional Managers and Leaders - By Igshaan Soules

What makes good managers and leaders exceptional? Good managers and leaders have the ability to set a clear direction, create alignment and nurture an unwavering commitment to a productive and positive work environment. But, what will ...... read more

The Pros and Cons of Using a 360 Degree Feedback System - By Jonathan Rich

The 360 degree feedback system is an employee performance feedback process used by some organizations. Its main purpose is to provide employees with an option to receive peer feedback from those that work with the employee on a daily basis and have constant interactions...... read more

The Biggest Mistake Speakers Make - By Brenda C Smith

One of the biggest mistakes that speakers make while delivering their presentation is the pace of speaking. Your speech rate needs to be adjusted to suit an oral presentation to an audience that is listening, not reading your information.
The audience must have time to hear and picture...... read more

Women And Time Management - By Aisha Sherina

And time management plays an important role especially in female entrepreneurs to balance household and their career. A lot of women find it difficult to reach their goal as they spend most of their time with family and kids. The key to success is not in spending time, but in investing it...... read more

Fitness Sabotage: Why You Do It and How to Stop It - By Robert Choat

So you just bought the next great thing in fitness, right? And now you're going to go out get fit. Because, isn't that's what all the commercials tell you what will happen? When you don't get the results you're looking for, then you'll blame it on the device or product or service. I see that happening time and again with so many people...... read more

Ten Ways to Turbo-Charge Your Career - By Ruth Tearle

Why is it that some people get promotions and pay raises with ease, whilst others wait in vain for someone to recognize them? We often feel that it is unfair when other people get promoted past us, or others get salary increases just by asking for them. But when we summon the courage to ask for a promotion, we are told that ...... read more

Dealing With Unexpected Job Loss - By Martinez Betheliza

If you've ever been fired or laid off with no warning, you can relate to the shock, fear and sudden desire to jump across the desk, aiming for the boss's throat. While any of these emotions are natural, there are only two that won't land you in jail. Rejection is one of those devastating emotions that can kick us hard...... read more

What Is Your Mentoring Style? - By Janice Chaka

According to a recent study by LinkedIn, 82% of female professionals agreed that mentoring is important. A mentor-mentee relationship can help both parties develop their careers and learn from one another, and-for the mentee especially-it may be the turning point in their career. However, nearly 1 out of 5 women have admitted...... read more

The Importance of Having the Right Uniform - By Ralph J. Greene

In any office or work environment, a uniform or a certain type of attire is considered proper. For those who are working in the medical or nursing field, their uniforms are items that are comfortable and suitable for them to provide the best possible care to their patients.... read more

Wise Are Those Who Learn From the Mistakes of Others - By DP Sabharwal

How true! But the million dollar question is who likes the truth these days? And secondly, who likes to learn from others in any case? More so about their mistakes!
Well, the plain and simple truth is; hardly anyone. In today's materialistic and cut-throat world where one wants to be on top of others, almost everyone...... read more

Me Vs. We - By Pete W. Zafra

Are you a "Me" or a "We" person? Most people would say they are "We" people, but the answer is more action than talk-related. It's quite uncomfortable to be truthful if we're a "Me" person, but like the saying goes: "Actions speak louder than words".
In Network Marketing, it is extremely critical to be a "We" person if we want to experience any kind of success. "Me" people tend to alienate...... read more

Surround Yourself with People Smarter Than Yourself - By Tracey Fieber

A wise boss once told a group of managers, "Prepare your staff to take over your job." In a shaky economy, where people try to prove themselves indispensable, this was astonishing advice. His point was that you should always be looking toward your next job, so you need to develop the leadership potential of your staff. You ought to surround yourself with smarter people than you ...... read more

Thinking Out of The Box : Think About It - DP Sabharwal

‘Do you remember the story of the thirsty crow?' asked a colleague during the coffee-break at a contact programme our team was conducting on soft skills for freshly inducted engineers and MBA trainees in a large scale manufacturing industry.
When I answered in the affirmative, he shot the next question, ‘What do you think of the crow: was he simply hard working who kept on relentlessly in gathering stones and pushing them down the narrow neck of the pitcher or was it his ‘out of the box' thinking ...... read more

Implementing Business Ethics - By Tim Bryce

We hear a lot these days about the deterioration of ethics in business, e.g., graft, corruption, cheating, favoritism, skimming money, etc. This has resulted in a public relations nightmare for business. If consumers do not trust a company, its a matter of time before it goes out of business. This is supported by recent studies that give evidence there is a correlation between business performance and ethical practices ...... read more

Define Your Position: Values, Ethics and Leadership - By Paul Hoffman

Some call it wearing one's heart on the sleeve; others call it wearing their emotions. If the discussion is of values and ethics, leaders must wear them openly, constantly encouraging, mentoring, and coaching others to operate within values-based and ethical standards the leader expresses. Values and ethics exist in a philosophical arena and often mistaken as the same. Values explain that who you are is what you were when. Ethics demonstrates ...... read more

The Silent Killer : Stress - By Bruce Fulford

It is no secret that we live in the most stressful time of history. It is the opinion of a growing number of health care professionals that stress has become a global health epidemic. Even in conversation we throw the word 'stress' around more and more every day. You only need to stand in line at a busy post office to feel ...... read more

5 Ways to Increase Your Energy While At Work - By Larry D Kramer

Not having enough energy can impact your overall health as well as your performance on the job. Lack of energy can lead to stress, unhappiness, and lack of motivation. Below are 5 Ways to increase your energy while at work...... read more

8 Easy Steps To Motivate Employees - By Sudakshina Bhattacharya

I've borrowed a quote from someone to set the context.
"In thinking about motivation from a management perspective, It's very important to appreciate this point: You can't motivate people, you can only influence what they are motivated to do."
While motivation is intrinsic to an individual, motivation levels can be increased or enhanced by managers / leaders...... read more

The 6 Reasons 84 percent of Employees Can't (or Won't) Do the Job You've Hired Them to Do - By Grant D. Robinson

Studies have shown that 84% of new hires will "disappoint" their employers in the first year on the job. That's six out of seven employees.
When you consider that the Department of Labor estimates the minimum cost of a "mis-hire" is $11,713, the wrong people are surely the greatest liability to your productivity, profitability and continued success. And that figure of $11K only tells half of the story...... read more

The secret of the Fountain of Youth - By Debra Stangl

There seems to be more and more older people these days with a special perspective on the quality of life. For these unique people, it truly seems as if they have found the unattainable fountain of youth. For these few people who are lucky enough to find youth in age, we cannot help but admire them for their enthusiasm and spunk.
You have probably wondered...... read more

5 Ways to Save Money on Employee Training - By Tim M Margolis

In a slow economy, it's often the training budget that gets slashed before anything else. For some reason, we often think that training is optional, especially for employees who are doing an adequate job. But employees still need to learn new skills and increase their proficiency in their jobs. Here are five ways you can reduce the amount of money spent one employee training...... read more

Put Action Behind Your Decision - By David Neagle

Making a major decision in your life is a big deal. Many times, it will come after long hours wrestling with options and quieting yourself to hear the voice of the Spirit and where It is guiding you.
Now, when you do make your decision...make it 100%. Do not hold onto any doubts or think about what could have been if you had chosen another path. You will find ...... read more

Playing Field is the Same, It is How You Play the Ball - By DP Sabharwal

Hi Dear, bad news. One more Hindustani gone.'
‘Who is this fortunate guy to get over the rigmaroles of this torturous life?' was the response I got when I informed a friend of mine about the untimely demise of a friend of ours.
To get ahead with the rest of the story I have to take you back to the year 1969 when we were on the verge of passing out from the engineering college. As happens on such occasions, one tends to become sentimental. So were six of us from the mechanical ..... read more

Anger - Control It Before It Control You - By Tan Danny

We have all felt anger, and know what it is about. Anger is normal, and is often a healthy human emotion. But it becomes a problem when it gets out of control and becomes destructive. This often leads to issues at work, problems in our personal relationships, and in the overall quality of our life. It is this consequence that makes us feel that we are the mercy of this unpredictable and uncontrollable emotion...... read more

2 Ways to Improve Memory Naturally - By Eva Gratwick

Some people think it is normal to forget things and activities. What they do not know is the fact that they might be suffering from a serious condition that may result to loss of the ability to recall. For that reason, it is wise to try various ways to improve memory as soon as a person realizes that the mind is not as efficient as it used to be. There are courses for this problem, though a person can benefit from natural ways to improve memory. In this case, it's ...... read more

In Praise of Mentoring Programs - By Tim Bryce

Mentoring has been a part of the corporate world for many years. When a young person came on board, someone would be assigned to him/her to offer advice. Not just anyone could be a mentor either, they had to demonstrate knowledge and skills for a specific line of work. Most enjoyed being a mentor as they saw it as a sort of "Big Brother/Sister." From a corporate perspective, it was hoped the senior person would ...... read more

Easy Tips On How To Read Faster - By Wright Harris

With the world around us brimming with knowledge and information piling up each day, unless we learn how to read faster, we are certain to be left behind. There are countless reading materials but we do not have the time to read through all of them. By mastering some techniques for it, we may actually be able to read faster and ...... read more

Drive Employee Engagement to Improve Your Company's Bottom Line - By Janet Boulter

Are your employees engaged in your corporate vision, mission, strategy and goals? Or are your employees just showing up, putting in their time, getting their work done and spending their free time dreaming of going to work for one of your competitors? Today it is imperative that company leaders are committed to providing formal engagement opportunities with all of their employees. Employee turnover has a huge, negative impact ...... read more

Emotional Intelligence - A Trait That Makes You Stand Out! - By Shyamala Sankaranrayanan

Leaders are born and not made; this notion is generally accepted by one and all. Human resource management poses a real challenge to corporate organizations, where human minds and skills have to be honed for the purpose of transcending the worker performance to remarkable levels. This is possible only when an organization has a leader who can architect the process of relationship management and skill development. Transformational leaders with aggressive attitude...... read more

How To Become Great At Public Speaking - By Deon Du Plessis

Have you ever seen a great public speaker? The ability to really draw an audience in and to make them hear what you say, invoke an emotional response from them and to move them is something that very few speaker master. For most people the idea of getting up in front of other people is just plain scary and may be one of their greatest fears in life. The simple fact remains that if you can talk ...... read more

How To Train The Mind - By Eilken Sionap

Have you ever wished you could remember things more easily? Have you ever envied people who could remember the most trivial of facts? You have! Well I am going to show you how to train the mind to start working more efficiently. By the end of this article you will be able to recall at will a commonly asked question (especially in quizzes!) and be well on your way to acquiring the resources to help you improve further...

Throughout history there have been instances of famous people whose powers of recall were simply amazing. For instance George Washington was able to name every soldier in his command. Winston Churchill used to recite the lines of... read more

Procrastination -- How Is It Costing You? - By Margie Warrell

I've always liked to think of myself as a 'do it now' sort of person. But I've realized that actually I sometimes use 'busy-ness' as an excuse not to do the things I know I really should. Not the little things (like cleaning out my kitchen drawers), but the bigger things... like putting together proposals, writing my next book, or launching a courage coaching workshop -- stuff that will require more time, more commitment, and involve a bigger risk of failure...... read more

The Three Powerful Tips That Can Change Your Life Forever - By Shawn Lim

Do you want to improve the quality of your life and live the successful life that you always desire? If you answer yes, continue to read on because you are about to discover the 3 powerful tips that can help you in your journey.
Most people are not successful and they fail to achieve their dreams simply because they do not know about these tips. As long as you ...... read more

Improve Recruitment Decisions through DISC Psychometrics - By Ashok Grover

Have you come across the statement "We hire people for their technical skills... and fire them for behavioral faults?" How strange indeed! While recruiting people, we normally focus only on his / her technical expertise and experience... to realize later that all that technical expertise can not be put to much use because of attitudinal problems with the incumbent.
Undoubtedly, it is not an easy task to asess...... read more

7 Great Tips to Help With Self Improvement - By Barb Bicknell Barb Bicknell

Did you ever imagine your life would be different and more rewarding than it actually is? Would you like to learn some techniques to improve that?
There are 7 easy ways to work on yourself, make them into habits, and implement them if you want results. Good habits are the basis for any successful person.
1. Wake up early - This first tip may seem very simple and obvious ...... read more

More To Life Than Medicine - By Susan Kersley

When you are so busy it's easy to believe that nothing else matters. There is so much to do, just keeping up with the routine work seems to take every hour in the day.
It's very important, however to remember that there is more to life than Medicine. There is a world out there with exciting things going on too.
What can you do to engage with life beyond Medicine? Follow these tips and discover there is a life beyond Medicine...... read more

How to Create Employee Engagement With That One Bad Apple - By Wally Hauck

If the list of specific desired behaviors is created, clearly communicated, and emphatically defined as an expectation, confronting the "bad apple" becomes easier. The purpose of the confrontation is not to create upset or make the person wrong. It is to uncover which type of "bad apple" they are. Are they the "unaware" or the "aware and uncaring" apple? The "unaware bad apple" wants to become aware. The "aware and uncaring" does not...... read more

5 Things Your Powerpoint Presentation Should Never Do - By Debbie Fay

Tell the story without you; If your PowerPoint presentation can stand on its own, it's a white paper or a handout NOT a visual aid. Your slides (or any other visual) should help you tell your story, and preferably in a way that words alone cannot. Ideally it should illustrate a concept that you are talking about. Think kindergarten; think Show and Tell. Your PowerPoint presentation is the "show" part. YOU are the "tell" er...... read more

Uncover Your Core Values - Here's How I Did It - By Jeff Dumas

I've been dancing around values for quite a while now. After lots of failed attempts at uncovering my core values I've finally found a way that I think will work for most people. It has sure helped me.
I got several lists of values from the internet and printed them out. You can find some lists to print out just by Googling stuff like "Core Human Values", and ...... read more

The Dynamics of Motivation and What Makes Employees Put in Their Best - By Maya Pillai

All organizations big or small require people to be a success. It is not the infrastructure or leadership alone enough to achieve great results. Keeping people happy is the best way to retain employees and ensure good productivity. We take a look at some of the factors that will help motivate the employees of your organization. Incorporating these factors into the working environment of ...... read more

Trouble Having a Discussion? How to Improve Your Conversation Skills - By Luke Bryant

If you have problems starting or even continuing a conversation, don't worry you're not the only one. Many people find themselves with that awkward silence, stuck on anything to say. Here are some handy tips to get you started:
* Find some topics of general interest. Whilst the theme should be appropriate to the situation, don't bog yourself down with this rule too much. Just avoid discussing things which may upset or irritate the person. Some suitable topics include ...... read more

The Five Areas of Personal Growth - By T Patrick Phelps

Imagine a business that had five departments: Sales, Marketing, Distribution, HR, and Admin. )Very typical set up for a small to medium sized business.) What do you think would happen if the CEO/President decided that increasing sales was the most important focus for the company, then put all focus on the Sales department, while practically ignoring all the other departments? I'm sure you would agree...... read more

Company Picnic Game Ideas - Top 6 Favorites - By John Yoder

Searching for a few company picnic game ideas for this years gathering? I've booked company picnics for a while, and after doing it for so long, I've gotten a sense of what games people really enjoyed and what games aren't worth your money.
Fortunately, there are a lot of really great, fun game ideas for you and your employees and their families to engage in...... read more

Something on the Hot Burner - By DP Sabharwal

‘Papa, last night an uncle called me. He said he was a colleague of yours. He wanted a favor from me. I thought I should check-up with you,' said my son over the phone. My son is a civil servant, who is quite often and frequently loaded with requests from all possible directions, his as well as my friends, relatives and other acquaintances. He normally listens to such requests and entertains all those which are genuine, are within his area of control and do not require seeking favors from his colleagues. It is only when...... read more

Amazing Power of Affirmations - By Ashok Grover

Young girls were quite excited when the chief guest told them that he had a recipe for increasing height and was quite willing to share it with them. It was something like dream comes true for the college students to have such a nice gift on the occasion of their College Annual Day celebrations.
So, they waited with a breath abated. And see what this gentleman had to share, "You start thinking and imagining that you are getting taller, especially in the night when...... read more

Improve Employee Engagement - 3 Easy Steps - By Conrad Cooper

It doesn't take carrots or sticks to improve employee engagement. If you want to improve employee engagement at your company or business then you are going to have to do the three things that your employees want, and none of them have to do with money.
Your Employees Want To Achieve
If you place a bunch of flees in a bowl and set it on the table, within a few seconds all the fleas would jump out. If you take that same bowl of fleas but this time...... read more

3 Personality Traits Most Successful Entrepreneurs Possess - By Tj Philpott

When looking at many successful entrepreneurs most people see someone who seemingly through luck and/or good fortune was able to capitalize on a great idea. What most people do not see is what it takes for these people to position themselves for business success and it is often neither luck or fortune. In many cases the successes these people enjoy result from thinking outside the box in terms of acceptable standards, beliefs or behavior. Their ability to develop ...... read more

How to Look Years Younger : The Essential Diet and Lifestyle Tips You Need to Know! - By Burke Gavigan

Most of us spend tremendously on anti ageing products, or sometimes even opt for cosmetic surgeries in order to look younger than our age, but what we tend to forget is that these are just temporary solutions to the problem.
Ageing is a natural biological process that all of us go through, we may be able to hide it to an extent but can't stop it completely. Instead what we can do is provide our body with nourishing food supplements by altering our diet to an extent, so that an overall healthy...... read more

To Do or Not to Do Employee Reviews - By Andrea Herran

Performance Reviews, Developmental Assessments, or whatever else you call it. That is the question.
This is always an interesting topic and there is so much debate about what makes a good performance review, how to get the most out of the conversation with the employee and what to do with the review when done.
If managers and leaders were better at communicating their expectations and ...... read more

Procrastination Cure - By Christian Charles

Let's take a moment to learn about how you can begin to automatically do all the important things that you must do on a daily basis. Doing the things that you need to get done will immediately release stress and improve your energy, having an overall positive effect on your health. It also provides you with more life energy to be present with the important people in your personal life as well as giving you a stronger ability to connect with influential professional people ...... read more

5 Basic Tips To Manage Stress - By Adrian Hall

It can be an agent for change. It can aid you in maintaining focus on the task in hand. In some cases it can even save your life.
The danger comes when this stress builds up over time, resulting in major risks and, in extreme cases, may sometimes be fatal.
These are a few of the tips you may find useful in managing your stress...... read more

To Terminate or Motivate? - By Jill Pappenheimer

You come in to your office each day to an employee who lacks motivation and does the minimal amount of work to "get by". He or she may leave early or come in late, all too often. Maybe they spend too much time surfing the web. You may have avoided terminating this person because you don't want to expose yourself to the "risks" of termination or deal with the time it takes to ...... read more

Employee Time Management - Top 3 Tips - By Sonam Lama

If you are an employee at a competitive and busy office, you will undoubtedly want to perform to the best of your abilities in order to succeed, however the problem of working within a busy environment presents its share of challenges and the number of responsibilities you have to manage can prove overwhelming.
When you lose the ability to maintain control of your workday, your performance runs the risk of suffering which can put a damper on your prospects within the company and the potential ...... read more

Controlling Anger - By Broyde Mcdonald

It is easy to tell how much a person is really in control of himself, just look at the way he displays his anger. Anger is one in the list of emotions that when on display shows how much a person is really in control of himself. A second thing about controlling anger is it is also one of the ways that shapes how the world around you will determine how it is going to respond to you in return.
Uncontrolled anger when it is really hot is dangerous. In the majority of cases where it is used it often tends also to lead to even more anger...... read more

What Questions Should You Ask at Exit Interviews? - By Elle Matthews

Exit interviews are beneficial for a couple of reasons: (1) you can circumvent potential lawsuits by giving employees an opportunity to vent before they walk out the company door (2) you gain information that you can leverage to create programs / incentives that will benefit remaining and future employees.
Below is a list of exit interview questions and the reasons you should ask each...... read more

Goal Setting 101 - By Rachel Moore

You determine what is important to you. Goal setting allows you to make future plans, overcome new challenges, and recognize achievements. It builds self-confidence and motivates you to take responsibility of your future and destiny.
There are five types of goals:
1. Realistic
2. Specific
3. Challenging ...... read more

How to Achieve 'Anytime Fitness' - By Tonny Tjiong

Modern life demands that all individuals should stay fit in order to keep up with the wild pace. Fitness refers to a person's capacity to adapt favorably and take stress brought about by changing conditions. In this kind of situation, if you're physically fit, then your mind or body will not be disturbed in any way. As you can see, fitness is not only about physical strength but of mental stability as well.
In many ways, fitness is synonymous to ...... read more

Recruitment Solutions - Helping You Find the Right People - By Johnny E Smith

During the period that you have an open position the person doing the recruiting may as well hang up their regular hat. The fact is that even if you have a person in another job doing your recruiting when there are open positions, the person's regular job is bound to suffer.
Finding the best and right candidate for your business takes a lot of time and work. Targeted recruitment efforts are required. Very rarely do great candidates just fall into your lap...... read more

Coming Together Is a Beginning - Keeping Together Is Progress - Working Together Is Success - By Chris Selby

It is well over 150 years since Henry Ford shared these wise words yet it still resonates in business today, or at least it should.
Successful businesses in the modern era regardless of sector, be it manufacturing or services, engineering or retail all share a single reality, a common denominator; They all require people. Employees, workers, or staff, regardless of what they are called the reality is the same - business will not, indeed cannot, succeed without...... read more

Hurt: Why People Hurt Us - By Rekha Malhotra

Have you ever given a thought who are the ones who normally hurt us and why do we easily get hurt?
It's often noticed that people who are close to us tend to hurt us more than strangers, and I am sure that most of us must have experienced this. When we get hurt we start expecting that one who has hurt us will feel regretful or will try to change during the course of time or realize what we are going through, but unfortunately this never happens...... read more

How to Ask for a Pay Rise

This article addresses a very common but tricky issue...... read more

Only One Of Five Hundred Will Make It and You Can Be the One - By Tobin Crenshaw

Out of five hundred people, only one will follow through to the end. That was the message Robert Allen shared at a conference on financial freedom. During the conference Allen shared fifty tools his audience could use to become financially stable.
Allen was summarizing years of teaching and statistics. Of the 500 present, Allen shared that 450 would leave the conference and the information they gained would just end up sitting on the shelf.
Of the remaining 50, 40 would quit soon after they began their new journey...... read more

Making a Career Change: Money vs. Title and Authority - By Than Nguyen

As Vice President of an IT recruiting company, I have helped many clients staff technical positions ranging from individual contributor to SVP and CIO. One of the more interesting (and typically complicated) questions asked is: "How do I weigh the importance between job title, responsibility and authority, and money when making a job change?"
Since there is not a simple right or wrong answer our response is normally; "It depends"...... read more

Fill Up Your Free Time With Creative Things To Do - By Stewart Wrighter

You might spend your free time in decorating or fixing your house. Sometimes you may clean the garage, or do some plumbing. At other times, you might want to decorate your home with House of Troy lights, or you would simply work with electric fixtures, and fix some piano lights on your piano. However, you might realize that you want a little more out of your free time.
Filling up your free time with creative tasks is a great idea. Apart from getting rid of the clutter from your wardrobe or cleaning your room, there is...... read more

What Do You Want To Do With Your Life? - By Kenneth TW Kwan

I see dead people every day in my life. They are dead and they still walk among us. I am not joking and really mean it.
The living dead that I am referring to are people who just exist in today's society with no aim or purpose in their lives. They are living, but yet dead at the same time (ironic isn't it?). When you ask them what makes them excited or passionate, a large number of people have forgotten about it. They cite reasons that ...... read more

Ten Tips for More Effective Meetings - By Michael H Smith

It's been 28 years since Michael Doyle and David Straus wrote their groundbreaking book, How To Make Meetings Work (1976). Are you like many of my clients who gripe about numbing, deadening meetings? As one publication put it, "days, weeks, months, years of our lives are slipping away in stuffy, overcrowded conference rooms". Little appears to be accomplished and no one seems to be able to do anything about it.
Doyle and Straus claimed that there were 11 million meetings in the US every day in 1976. Doyle says that there are 25 million today and most of them... read more

Training or Development : The Choice is Clear - By Wg Cdr (Retd) DP Sabharwal

Training as is usually known refers to the methods used to give employees the basic skills they need to perform their jobs. In simple words, it means showing a machinist how to operate his new machine, a new salesperson how to sell her firm's product, a new desk-top operator how to use a particular program like photo-shop, or a new supervisor how to interview and appraise employees. In simple words, it is all related to...... read more

Basic Management Skills of Good Leaders - Ann Halloran

What are the basic management skills of a good manager or leader? Management and leadership go hand in hand you really cannot have one without the other, but what are the basic skills you need to bring out your leadership qualities? There are many styles of management and each has its pros and cons, but here are a few skills you will need regardless of the style of manager you want to be...... read more

Effective Employee Training Methods - By Ann Halloran

Good employee training methods can often mean the difference between a business being in the black and in the red. Companies around the world are learning that they can increase revenues, productivity and employee retention by using proper training. There are specific things you will need to do if you are in charge of creating effective employee training methods.
Assessment
The very first step in this process is assessment. Before you can train your employees, you need to know where that training...... read more

Are You Checking Your Email Again-3 Tips For Time Management - By Crystal Jonas

"Time Management and Emails: How to Manage Your Time and Priorities"
Time management is challenging enough, but emails add even more pressure to get more work done quickly As a corporate consultant who delivers time management seminars from Hawaii to New York and Alaska to Florida, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive from people looking to get more done in less time, is this: "How do I manage my time when it seems I have too much work?"
Looking to work smarter not harder?...... read more

Workplace Mentoring Programs - Seven Fatal Flaws and How to Avoid Them - By Ann Rolfe

Is Your Mentoring Program Living up to Expectations?
Can you point to results of mentoring that impact on your organization's bottom line? Are the majority of mentoring relationships producing the desired outcomes? Will your program be allocated additional resources in the next round of funding because it is a high-value business strategy?
If not, the mentoring program's longevity may be limited. A successful mentoring program that doesn't achieve it's full potential is a concern. But a failed mentoring program...... read more

Confidence Building For Introverts - By Elizabeth A Hayes

Introverts are often plagued by lack of self confidence due to their shy nature and inability to bond socially. It is interesting to note that people associate self confidence with how the world treats them when self confidence is about believing in oneself. Understanding this distinction will prove vital in boosting confidence.
There are several activities which introverts can engage in to feel good about themselves, like reading, writing and engaging in adventure. Love...... read more

Personal Development Plans - Guide Yourself To Success - By Vishal C Patel

In today's hugely competitive working environment, it is no longer acceptable for employees to confine their careers to the typical 9-5 daily grind. These days, workers are expected to own, develop and realize a Personal Development Plan (PDP). But what is a PDP and how can it be used to achieve success?
The aim of a PDP is to enhance the career and prospects of an employee by setting out clear, actionable and achievable goals over any given period of time, usually ...... read more

On Job Training - How Only 11 Words Can Be The Difference Between Success And Failure - By Leon Noone

Summary
On job training occurs almost all of the time in one way or another in almost all workplaces. It affects new and current employees. It's one of those things that is so common at work that we assume that it's working well. This isn't necessarily the case. Success depends on just eleven words.
The Measure Of Training Success
Training success can really only be measured in one way. Can the "trainee" demonstrate...... read more

How to act as an equal with the Interviewer - By Prabal Aggarwal

Is Pre Graduation or Pre PG Marks Relevant??
I still remember the campus interviews I appeared in 2003 during my Engineering & then during campus interviews of MBA during 2008.
On the very first step, I was surprised that the companies had a cut off percentage for the candidates, ...... read more

Prolong Your Youthful Looks Naturally - By Mark A Cunningham

Many people consider ageing as one of the most distressing aspects of their life. Although nothing can be done to avoid the inevitable, you can, however take advantage of some simple rules to prolong your youthful appearance.
Smiling and frowning are unavoidable, you've probably heard that reducing your facial expressions can help reduce wrinkles and ageing, however there is no real ...... read more

5 Useful Tips to Stop Procrastinating - By June Low

I am feeling tired now, I shall do this...Tomorrow". Do such words sound familiar to you? Such words are strongly associated with one of the most common (bad) habit that exists in many of us - Procrastination.
Unfortunately for some of us, Procrastination is not merely a bad habit, it has become our way of life. There are many "busy" men and women...... read more

The Art of Mind Storming - By George Eckenrode

Mind Storming is just like brainstorming but you do it yourself for yourself. Mind Storming is the art of using, managing, and maintaining your brain and mind for a particular and specific agenda. The Mind is the spiritual side of us, and some call it 'soul.' Your subconscious is your primary source of power, both mental and physical and consequently the most amazing yet complex ...... read more

Accept No Limitations - By Val Wilcox

There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge Napoleon Hill
Are you ready to step into the realm of accepting no limitations on your life? Are you ready to live in possibilities? Are you ready to examine your life's journey?
The more I delve into personal development, the more I realize that the concepts spoken of today are timeless. The areas that we explore today ...... read more

4 Tips How to Give Better Speeches - By Michael C Miller

Public speaking has been the fear of many people. You may not be a seasoned speaker but you eventually need to speak at a conference at one point! You may face an audience you don't even know most of the time and your only aid is yourself and your manuscript, if you have any. Sometimes, your power point presentation can help you. But these things are useless...... read more

Speaking the 'Language' of Employers - How to Get Heard - By Lisa Jordan

One of the primary roles of a workforce development provider is building strong relationships with employers. Fundamental to this role is language; you must be able to communicate with your employers using terminology they understand and appreciate.
Language does not just represent concepts and ideas; it represents an attitude and way of doing things. Notice that when you shift to an accepted... read more

Low Cost Employee Benefits - By Sarah Cornish

Employers are increasingly looking for 'extras' to keep staff motivated and on-board. Employees want more than just money; they want work-life balance, a good atmosphere, nice surroundings and company perks. And they know they can get these things so employers have to compete if they're to attract the best talent.
Employee benefits do not have to be very expensive, though, and can provide an excellent return on investment (ROI)...... read more

Find Out What's Stopping You - By Len Williamson

If you want a promotion or the next big assignment to show your worth then why not have it? What is getting in your way? The best possible answer you can have to this is that it is you that is stopping you. It is a great answer because you have the most control over changing you. If it is you getting in the way then you can get you out of the way. Is it that easy?..... read more

Human Resources Vs "UN" Human Resources - By Ed Martinez

The momentary insensitivity of an HR professional can set in motion a disastrous and a potentially harmful chain of events for any business today. Taking a closer look at what can happen when employees seek advice from their employer's HR department and instead are treated as if they are a nuisance, can reveal that some "Un" human resource professionals have managed to settle in positions for which they have...... read more

Personal Or Organisational Development - Which Matters More? - By Mark Eyre

Much has been made in the past 15 years of the importance of Organisation Development. In that time, we have seen a plethora of 'OD specialists', along with endless debates about the role of OD within the Human Resources (HR) function. A whole terminology that wasn't there before is now present. Anyone heard of systemic change? Systems thinking? The idea is that, if we want change in organisations, be it cultural, structural, or just a change in direction, then...... read more

More Employees Quitting Than Being Laid-Off - 4 Ways to Keep Your Best Employees - By Laura Sheffield

"In February, the number of employees voluntarily quitting surpassed the number being fired or discharged for the first time since October 2008, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.-- "More Workers Start to Quit", The Wall Street Journal
During the recession, most workers didn't want to take a new job and risk becoming the new hire that would be let-go first if the company had lay-offs. With the economy bouncing back...... read more

How to Deliver Presentations Perfectly - By Zane L Marquez

Sometimes, when you stand in public for presentation, all things you have prepared can be lost instantly. To overcome this problem, there are three-step strategies that you can try.
First, be aware that your feet stand on the ground. This act can provide peace of securities for the presenter. Second, breathe and make sure that you are aware of ...... read more

Why Outsourcing Can Save You Money - By Jacob W Daniel

Outsourcing is becoming a more common way of streamlining a business and making it run more efficiently, as well as making considerable cost savings. The term 'outsourcing' refers to subcontracting areas of a business to an external provider. Most popular with multinational corporations or large national companies, outsourcing involves drawing up a contract for services from the external party, who are under obligation to fulfil specific projects or duties...... read more

The Differences of a Pessimist and an Optimist - By Alex Ryan

It is common knowledge that there are two different types of people in this world. There are those who like to think the best of any given situation, namely the optimists. Then there are those who always find the worst out of every situation, namely the pessimists. It is entirely our own choice as to which person we are.
I know that whenever I come up against a challenge...... read more

We Judge When We Think We Are Right - By Robert C. Jameson

When we look out into the world we see people and events. If what we see makes us feel good, then all is fine. When what we see disturbs us, then we feel the person or the event is wrong. In order to see the wrongness, we have to separate our self from the event or the person. In order to see the wrongness, we have to be holding onto a position of rightness..... read more

How to Stay Healthy at Your Working Time - By Lunna Melvron

You can spend the whole day at your chair in front of your computer to work. The wrong posture to sitting will make your body gain a lot of pain and affect your posture permanently. Your chair should support your body properly as it prevents you from getting back pain. A good chair should hold your body so the back could be straight and provide...... read more

6 Ways to Live a More Healthy Lifestyle - By James Mako

In the modern world we are under increasing pressure to look good whether it be the clothes we wear or our body weight. Each day we are exposed to relentless adverts that appear on the TV and advertisements in magazines promoting an image to how we should look. Many of these images of supermodels are...... read more

How to Select a Trainer For Your Company - Jacquelyn Lynn

One of the biggest challenges of choosing an outside trainer is identifying the true professionals with proven track records who can help you reach your goals. Though there are many effective trainers out there--some with large companies, others who work as solo operators--you may need to sift through some so-called consultants who are self-employed because they can't find a job. Before you bring in an outside trainer, consider this advice:
- Determine exactly what you need...... read more

How Colors Can Affect You and Your Mood - By Jenny Dixie

Everyone loves color. But what most people don't think about is how it effects out mood and how we are feeling. Many businesses are taking this into consideration these days and are very carefully planning which colors and which combinations to use in order to achieve certain feelings. This is very important to remember...... read more

Top 10 Tips for Delegation - By Susan Shapiro

Most of my clients realize that lack of delegation is killing them. They want time to build relationships, think, plan, work on strategic projects, yet can't dig out from their huge workload. The answer is to delegate. Once you get better at delegating, small tasks stop falling through the cracks and things start getting done more efficiently.
Here are the top 10 tips for successful delegation
1. Describe the outcome you desire...... read more

Writing a Business Plan? 5 Mistakes to Avoid - By Jim DeLapa

The idea of writing a business plan seems daunting to many. In reality, if you start with a solid framework, or a business plan outline, you will find that it goes much faster than you thought possible. Better still, you'll learn a lot about your own business as you go through the process. This article focuses on common mistakes to avoid. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you'll create a better business plan that helps your business to succeed and one that resonates with bankers and investors.
Mistake #1...... read more

I Can Do It! - By Andrea Novakowski

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." ~Anne Bradstreet
Imagine a soft, cool breeze blowing through your window and gently, gently touching your face. The gauzy curtain flutters. You hear the birds chirping outside. As you breathe in this air, you feel the cool, crispness overtake you...... read more

Meetings : The professional alternative to doing work - By Ralph Goldsmith

Meetings: The professional alternative to doing work OR Avoid making a decision, have a meeting instead.
I admit it. I have a love / hate relationship with meetings. Most of the time I love hating them, but sometimes, on the rare occasion, I go to a meeting that I love and I love it because it is worthwhile and productive. I don't feel like I have wasted my time.
There are some tools that can be used to make meetings more productive, more enjoyable for all concerned, and just generally more worthwhile...... read more

The Importance of Teamwork - By Patricia Woloch

Whether in the workplace or on the football field, or even amongst members of a community, effective teamwork can produce incredible results. However, working successfully as a team is not as easy as it may seem. Effective teamwork certainly does not just happen automatically; it takes a great deal of hard work and compromise. There are a number of factors that must be in place to cohere together as a team and work seamlessly...... read more

Top Time Management Tips For Time Tight Women - By Julie Phillips

Is "me time" a dim and distant memory, as you wade through your day tackling tasks but achieving very little? Are you feeling the effects of poorly managed time - late for dental appointment, missing an important work deadline or completely forgetting about Junior needing an outfit for the school play? Take five minutes to read through these top time management tips for time-tight women and learn how to manage your day and reclaim some time for yourself...... read more

Top 10 Ways to Manifest Your Dreams - By Zoe Routh

Dreaming without intent is just wishful thinking. If you really want what you desire to manifest in the material world you need to take action. Here are top 10 things you can do to attract all you desire now.

1. Identify your desires. Most of us know already what it is we don't want. We don't want to be poor, sick, or unhappy. Unfortunately many people cannot...... read more

3 Ways to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence - By Pramila

Emotional Intelligence describes the ability, capacity, skill or self-perceived ability, to identify, assess and manage the emotions of one's self, of others and groups.[1] Emotional Intelligence skills have found its importance in the present state of globalized economies, hierarchical organizations and demanding relationships. This article describes 3 methods that you can adopt to improve your emotional intelligence, namely...... read more

How Important are Employee Surveys? - By Andrea Watkins

In today's competitive world it's necessary for companies to do whatever they can to keep their employees happy and motivated. Many of them facilitate the use of surveys in an attempt to find out information on staff morale, create internal policies, and plan the company's future.

If conducted with the necessary forethought, surveys can send out an important message to existing employees, namely that their input and concerns are valued and taken into consideration...... read more

Catch Them Doing Something Right - By Wg Cdr DP Sabharwal

Long back I had seen a cartoon which is still vividly imprinted on my mind. It was concerning Denise the Menace. Sitting in a corner, with a tear in his eye, he mused: "how come I do not have a special place to sit when I do something NICE to get noticed."
We all yearn for recognition and a pat on the back for good work done. Everyone in particular the sub-ordinates, wants an occasional praise and words of appreciation, in fact more so because most of the time, they are hearing words of negation and criticism such as do not do it this way, who asked you to do that, why have you spoiled the work, you should have been wise enough not to do so etc etc. Under such circumstances it is all...... read more

Improving Employee Productivity With Performance-Based Pay - By Mike M Collins

Between 2007 and 2008, in the midst of what former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan called "by far" the worst financial crisis in the U.S. history, American CEOs were not exactly destitute.
In fact, according to a survey of 2,700 public companies by independent research firm the Corporate Library, as the stock market plummeted by 37 percent and 2.6 million Americans became unemployed, median annual compensation for CEOs declined barely by a miniscule 0.08 percent. But wait, that's not all: Three quarters of the surveyed CEOs actually received a raise, proving that executive compensation is recession-proof!...... read more

Your Action Plan - The Principle of 1 Percent - By Joshua Noerr

In Japan they have a word for which we do not have a good equivalent. The word is kaizen. Loosely translated, it means constant improvement. They speak of the kaizen of their business, the kaizen of their trade deficit, the kaizen of their skills; in other words, anything they feel is important enough in which to be involved, is important enough to constantly improve. We do not have a simple word to encapsulate everything that kaizen means, but we do have actions.
I want to introduce you to something I call "The Principle of 1 Percent."...... read more

How to Increase the Reading Speed - By Swati Nitin Gupta

Reading for some is a hobby, for some mandatory. However, whether reading for pleasure or professionally everybody wants to increase the reading speed. Even though an average reader reads for an hour daily his or her speed is slow because of reasons like:
Reader may reread the paragraph when he or she don't understand the meaning
Reader waste too much time on words like a, an, the, since avoid them as they don't add value to the sentence
Reader reads loudly or audibly
Reader lacks concentration as there are too ...... read more

Using Mind Mapping in Creative Thinking Exercises - By Paul Urban

There are some important elements one needs to know if you want to improve your creative thinking.
According to psychological research, these elements include using colors, shapes, unique elements, and dimensions.
More studies show that mind maps are the best tools in promoting creative thinking. It promotes skills commonly associated with creativity, especially imagination, flexibility and association of ideas.
What are mind maps? Mind Maps are visual diagram with lines and bubbles that represent ideas and the relationships between them.... read more

Silence As An Interviewing Technique - By Bob Handwerk

Hiring executives are rightly proud of the companies they represent. So proud that they spend considerable time and effort telling the story of their company during the early phases of interviewing employment candidates. Company history, product development, glistening facilities, employee teamwork are examples of high visibility topics highlighted by executives.
These topics are seen as a crucial part of the interview. After observing organizational monologues, I often ask the executive "what have you learned about the candidate that is critical to making a hiring decision" or "describe and compare the candidate's values with those of your company".... read more

How To Become Star Performer - By Iyer Subramanian

You don’t get through the door of your organization unless you’re smart. Your smartness appears to fade away slowly and steadily as the days and months pass by resulting in mediocrity. You are given a great designation at the time of joining but giving justice in terms of results & achievements ultimately becomes your choice. You can either make your designation extremely powerful by consistently taking right actions or insignificant by maintaining status quo. Thus, in no way the organization has to be blamed. Just as the country is known by its people, an organization is known by its employees on their pay roll.
YOU DON’T FIND STAR PERFORMERS; YOU DEVELOP THEM.
The difference between a moderate performer and a star performer seldom lies in their innate abilities...... read more

Six Key Steps to Improving Your Hiring Process - By John Meggiolaro

The hiring of a new employee is not only time consuming, but quite costly should the wrong individual be selected. For many businesses, a systematic approach to the process of hiring usually ends with the creation of a job description or set of job duties. From there, the process can and often does go in any number of directions depending on the nature and level of the job, internal hiring practices and the preferences of those assigned responsibility to make it happen.... read more

Top Ten Assertiveness Techniques - By John Blosse

While it may be true that some people are naturally more assertive than others, this doesn't mean that assertiveness skills can't be learned. Here are ten top assertiveness techniques that if practiced often will lead you towards becoming more assertive.
1. Distance and personal space
No one likes someone else invading their...... read more

The Art of Public Speaking : Build Connection With Your Audience - By Simon Garmah

Have you ever wondered what is the skeleton key the advanced public speakers possess and as a result stick out from the crowd? Do you really want to know?
First things first, a novice tends to make sure that every single aspect of his presentation goes as he has already planned and seeks to follow it strictly, so that everything goes according to the plan. His foremost concern is his performance as well as the way the audience look at him, whereas an advanced speaker has a tendency to shift his focus more and more...... read more

Hire Attitude - Train Skill - By Roger M. Ingbretsen

Attitude is defined as ones' feelings or mood - Positive or negative - toward things, circumstances or people. No matter how you may choose to define attitude, it is one of your "most priceless" or disabling possessions.
You, and only you, are in charge of your attitude! You must realize that your attitude is your choice to make, and that you alone can decide how to deal with events in your life. Your attitude will determine how you position yourself in life and what you get or don't get out of life...... read more

Creating A Productive Organization - By Aakash

Learning the Human Psychology and implementing it for a result driven organization is seen lacking in HR professionals nowadays. Just recruiting people is not the job done it's just the beginning for the creation of an organization. An HR shall consider all the employees as his responsibility and should act as a bridge between the company's policies, Mission, Vision and Values. If both of the topics can be studied lots of interlinked challenges can be met including attrition, employee dissatisfaction, productivity issues etc.... read more

Prioritize Your Time With The Power of 80 / 20 - By Erik Luhrs

As a Professional Organizer, I work under the presumption that each client and each client’s issues are unique. Thus, every project I undertake is basically a “start from scratch” process. And just like the best cooking, starting from scratch always yields the best results.
Nonetheless, there are some standard rules, diagnostics and processes that I use and/or suggest to almost all of my clients. One of my favorites is based on the theme of 80/20.
There are three variations on the theme of 80/20...... read more

7 Jokes About Employees You Wish You Didn't Hire - By Michael Mercer

Every manager hired some employees they wish they never hired. To make light of - and also put light on - hiring losers, I now give you a special gift:
a. Jokes about types of employees you wish you never hired
b. Solutions: Methods you can use - so you avoid hiring such creeps
Solutions include pre-employment tests, special interview tips and more to help you stop putting lousy employees on your company's payroll.

LAZY
Joke #1 = Some employees are so lazy . . . even if they have a work-from-home job, they still get to work late...... read more

Thinking Out of the Box : Why and How - By Ashok Grover

How often have you heard about "thinking out of the box"? May be, very often. And how often have you wondered what a box has to do with this? Possibly, never!
Well, perhaps this term "out of the box" is derived from a famous puzzle created by the early 20th century British mathematician Henry Ernest Dudeney. You might have come across this one, in which you are asked to connect nine dots in a three-by-three grid by drawing...... read more

Is Professional Networking Important? - By Prabal Aggarwal

I am writing this article, because I have recently observed my friends from premier B Schools like IIMS & ISB, and premier engineering colleges like IITs and very good career path in top positions of leading MNCs not able to get the opportunities, which they deserve. The point is that they don't know how to search for these options. In other words, they don't have good professional networking skills.
Now, professional networking or any type of networking can't be taught, it is inborn skill. But, yes you can sensitize the one and help the one to discover the skill within...... read more

Building a Customer Centric Culture - By Lynn Hunsaker

What Does it Mean to be Customer-centric?
To have the customer's best interests as the focus of your attention - not to be pre-occupied in your own interests at the customer's expense.
To do this, you need to: (1) Really know the customer in order to anticipate their best interests...... read more

Are You Stuck In One Of The Common Motivation Traps? - By Tim Connor

Everyone is motivated. However they aren't always motivated by the things that we would like them to be motivated by.
There have been countless studies and case histories done on the subject of motivation. Although there are many similarities as well as differences in their ultimate results there are several concepts that can be pulled from ...... read more

Five Powerful Techniques For Relaxation - By Steven Dylan

Stress takes a major toll on each of us. It cuts into the time we have to spend with our families, with the energy we are able to devote to our jobs, and with the way we ultimately feel about ourselves. It runs down our immune systems and even plays a role in unhealthy weight gain. It may not be possible to remove all of the stress from our activities, but it is possible to deal with it more effectively. By learning some simple relaxation techniques we have the power to minimize the negative effects...... read more

Beyond Replacement Planning : Towards Succession Planning - By Ashok Grover

John was quite active even at the age of 66 years. As a business head in a large conglomerate, he had three unit heads reporting to him. When Guru, the management consultant asked him what were the company's plans for his succession, John took no time explaining to him that out of the three unit heads, one was very new to the organization, another was purely an operations guy and yes...... read more

How to Control Your Anger - By Daniel Gibbs

Anger, a feeling experienced by every one of us, can manifest in many ways. Some will cry, or shout, or become silent. No matter how you show your anger, you may have tried to control your feelings, but failed. Here you have a few simple steps to get over your anger.
First, you have to take...... read more

5 Motivation Killers and How To Avoid Them - By Dr. Leif Smith

Motivation is an oft-discussed subject, particularly with regards to whether or not it is something that can be "taught." Some people believe that motivation is something that can be "caught" like a virus, whilst others (myself included) believe that motivation is something that has to have start from within, and for personal reasons.
What is seldom discussed with regards to motivation is those obstacles that ...... read more

What Is the Meaning & Importance of Corporate Strategy? - By Sudesh 1

Corporate strategy is supposed to be the means by which an organization achieves and sustains success. Yet, it rarely rises to that level, despite an abundance of corporate strategy theory and significant research from many organizations over the past few decades. The changes over the years are considered in the form of small, theoretical refinements, rather than large and significant steps required for...... read more

Nurturing Creativity in 2 Steps - By Dennis Bradford

Are you curious about why nurturing creativity is valuable?
After all, we inhabit the dynamic domain of becoming rather than the static domain of being. Since we confront incessant flux, we must respond to its challenges in original ways. Therefore, it would seem that we do not require creativity training for the simple reason that it is natural for us to be creative.... read more

Talent Retention – How You Can Leverage it to Elevate Your HR Career…- By Alan Collins

As I'm writing this there's lots of buzz in the sports world about LeBron James. In case you've never heard of LeBron, here's all you need to know: he's 25 years old, never went to college, is an Olympic gold medalist and arguably the best basketball player in the NBA.
There is great media speculation that when his contract is up that he ...... read more

Employee Motivation - The 5 Factors That Drive Performance - JP Maroney

Employee motivation is a mystery for many managers. But, it doesn't have to be. Instead, understanding how motivation impacts employee performance, and understanding how to use motivation to improve performance can be reduced to five master keys. Organizations desiring to improve employee motivation need...... read more

How to Get Candidates to Disclose Things They Would Prefer Not to Tell You During the Interview - By Peter L Mitchell

It is a sad fact that many people who attend interviews have information that they will withhold. This puts you, as the HR Manager, at a huge disadvantage because you cannot explore areas that are kept hidden from you. When you are interviewing you need to have strategies and tactics that will open up your candidate so that you can make an informed decision...... read more

Have Exit Interviews Lost to Stay Interviews ? - By Ashok Grover

In corporate world, job hopping is quite a normal phenomenon and employee exit interviews have been used and misused with equal expertise. Interestingly, the two main arguments against the use of this tool are opposite to each other - First, anyone who is leaving will not like to burn the bridges and will no say anything against anyone...... read more

In the Race for Numero Uno - By DP Sabharwal

Everyone wants to succeed in life. The desire for success is a basic human requirement which forces a person to put-in extra effort. The word ‘success' in fact, is a stimulant. It puts each one of us on a lofty pedestal. That in all probability is the reason that a majority of us are quite satisfied if we succeed in our endeavors. Most of us, most of the times, do not even think or realize that success is not the end of the road. There is something ahead of it too...... read more

Six Business Presentation Tips That Your Customers Will Love - By Naz Daud

In business, like in life, presentation is important. Your customers' perception of your sales staff, your back-office staff, and your brand help to mould how they perceive your business and their likelihood of doing business with you. Here are ten tips that you can follow which will entice your customers to sign on the dotted line.
Look Smart: As the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, people do and you can use this to your advantage. Make sure you're looking well groomed for the occasion. The consequences are far less severe if you...... read more

Seven Steps to Making Better Decisions - By R Mike Bennett

Heads or tails? Have you ever agonized over a decision and wound up wishing you could just flip a coin for a quick yes-or-no answer? Or do you catch yourself twiddling your thumbs and hoping no one will notice you're stalling? Some decisions have life-or-death consequences-and some are even more important than that.
Education, career and marriage choices can affect the course of our whole life...... read more

How Not to Implement a Balanced Score Card - By Ashok Grover

Balanced Score Card, initiated less than two decades ago, was hailed as one of the 75 most influential ideas of the twentieth century. Today, 70% of Fortune 1000 have implemented the same... and there are many turnaround and success stories floating around as a result of its successful implementation.
Yet, many untold stories speak volumes about failure as well...... read more

Business in Competitive Environment - Can HR Make a Difference? - By Ashok Grover

An oft-repeated, powerful statement by Henry Ford reads, "You can take my factories and burn up my buildings, but give me my people and I'll build the business right back again." Its relevance and realization has only increased over a period of time. Extending this logic further, the people with the responsibility of 'talent management' should be even more valuable because they take care of this most important asset of the organization.... read more

How Often Do You Sharpen the Axe? - By DP Sabharwal

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job to a timber merchant and he got it. His salary was really good and so were the working conditions. The woodcutter decided to work with full energy and zeal and prove his worth to the merchant.
His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to fell the trees.
First day he axed and brought 15 trees...... read more

The 7 Bases to Cover When Hiring New People - By Rob McKay

What is the most burning question you have When Hiring New Employees? Diane du Preez from South Africa challenged me with this interesting question last week : "What are the top ten obvious things I should look out for to let me know the candidate is not right for me?"
When I bounced this question off Brent here in our office he said, "Tell her to make sure they are...... read more

Empower People to Enhance Your Power - By Ashok Grover

Yes, my boss had full confidence in me. In my manufacturing plant at Hosur, I was facing labor problems and as Unit Head, I found that not only the union leaders were quite unreasonable; but were also trying to adopt all kind of unfair means when they realized that I meant business and was not ready to budge from my principled stand.
In the midst of all this, my executive director, who was based in Chennai...... read more

7 Relaxing Tips For Stress Relief - By Michelle H Smith

Horse & buggies and telegrams - those were the days before the information and technology era. Now we have SUVs, iPhones and so much more to keep us busy and productive. Modern technology has improved our existence right? Or has it?
In today's hectic world, stress levels are higher than ever before. People are dropping like flies from heart attacks and other stress related health problems. Now...... read more

Why Ethics Are Important in Business - By Megan Feiglstok

When working in the business world, it is a necessity to encompass moral ethics. Ethics is also especially important when working with financial information. It is very difficult to trust someone handling lots of money. Companies in the past have distorted their financial statements in order to look better to stockholders, without thinking of the consequences that may follow if they get caught. If a company does not promote good ethical behavior...... read more

We Reward Terror - By Ashok Grover

"Attitude determines altitude", some of my experiences in the corporate world questions this statement of wisdom. We in order to create world-class organization, employ several tools and instruments to identify and reward right attitude and behavior. At the same time knowingly and unknowingly, we also have been rewarding "Spiteful leadership". Live examples in my article reflect the same.... read more

Excuse or Reason : Does it Make Any difference - By Ashok Grover

I didn't know it was so urgent.
I was so much busy, couldn't find time for it.
I thought I had told you.
These things take time.
The customer was unreasonable...... read more

4 Keys to Effective Meetings - By Jane Schulte

Meetings are a vital part of the organization of work and flow of information. They are sometimes mocked as being dull, a waste of time and inconvenient. When asked to attend a meeting, determine if it is worth your time. If it involves the exchange of views and the communication of current status of related projects, then you should be generous with your time.... read more

Talent Intelligence - Apples and Oranges - By Chuck A Reynolds

The last year has been like a tsunami for the global economy. Ten years ago, who would have thought expected that GM would face bankruptcy or that IBM would stop making PCs? Without question, today's economy and rapid pace of change are creating many challenges that organizations must rise to. There is one thing that hasn't changed much, however - organizations don't achieve results...... read more

Negative Side of Competency Mapping - By Ashok Grover

Improving performance of employees and in turn that of his organization was an issue, which had been on the mind of the Chairman for so long. Therefore, when Guru, the management consultant, suggested competency mapping, he took no time to fall in agreement and gave an immediate go ahead for the same. It all sounded very positive and he appeared to have gotten an answer to put his company on the fast track of growth ...... read more

A High Performance Workforce - Key Principles - By Peter Leather

Research from the Corporate Leadership Council concludes that to build a high performance workforce - organizations need to think beyond the typical performance management system. A high performance culture is much more than filling in appraisal forms and following a performance management process. It is not a quick fix and it requires commitment to creating a sustainable approach to performance improvement. It is a culture...... read more

How to Remove Your Inner Negative Voice - By Julie Ann Williams

Are you always talking down or negatively to yourself?
Do you often find yourself after an argument with someone or after performing a particular task and you feel like you could have performed better, or perhaps reminiscing about something from the past that you are repeating the conversation to yourself inside your head, over and over again...... read more

Planning a Career : An Important Exercise - By DP Sabharwal

In life every one works. While a few like artists, work for pleasure. Many like housewives work as a matter of duty. But majority of us work for a livelihood. And in doing so, most of us tend to have a career and try to pursue it. Needless to say, everyone aspires to have a good career which basically means getting a job, preferably a decent one to start with and then smooth progression in the chosen career so as to rise to...... read more

5 Tips For Getting the Most Out of Onsite Training - By Caitlina Fuller

When a company decides to do onsite training for it's employees, it does so primarily out of a need to have them well equipped to do their jobs effectively. This kind of corporate training also allows the company to have the training customized to fit its current and future needs. Here are five tips to getting the most out of the training.
Tip#1. Be clear as to your company's needs. To get the most out of...... read more

Job Hopping - A Generational Understanding - By Rick Weaver

The Builder Generation never changed jobs. Baby Boomers only changed jobs when they had to. Then along came Generation X, affectionately referred to by human resources professionals as the "Job Hopping Generation", and everything has changed.
Today, job hopping does not have the stigma it once had -- in fact it is expected!... read more

Money Can Not Buy Everything, Certainly Not the Time - By Ashok Grover

Bobby, the newly joined President rang up the secretary of the Chairman and sought an appointment with the chairman for next day. He was asked to be there at 10 in the morning.... And here he was.
He found two more presidents and the marketing chief in the ante room. Wondering what was going on...... read more

After Goofing, What Next ? Five Golden Rules - By DP Sabharwal

"An Engine technician was installing an idling device on an engine when one bolt broke inside while he was tightening the bolt. In order to conceal this from others, he tried to drill out the broken bolt all by himself by holding the idling device in a bench vice. All he succeeded in achieving was to drill an eccentric hole thereby damaging the internal threads of the idling device. The whole assembly had to be sent to the repair agency."...... read more

How to Move into Management - By Kevin M Burns

Years ago, I sold copiers and faxes for a living. The company I worked for was a Canadian division of a worldwide copier company. Our sales training took place about every eighteen months and was facilitated by our US trainer. One two-day training session every eighteen months was far below the needs of the organization. The turnover rate of salepeople in this industry was high so training every year and a half was hugely...... read more

Leadership Versus Management -By Kevin M Burns

If everyone seems to know what leadership is when they see it, why do most organizations seem to bewail lack of leadership continuously, and why is there an apparent huge dearth of leadership at the top of most corporations these days?
Is it a) Accident of birth? Leaders are born not made?...... read more

14 Practical Tips for Increasing Mental Concentration - By Ashok Grover

The issue of lack of concentration is not limited to young children only. Many adults complain about it and look for advice on how to increase concentration. During coaching sessions, I have come across many such requests and here are some tips that I found to be ...... read more

6 Keys to Increase Profits Using Organizational Development - The Role of Human Resources - By L. John Mason

What is the role of Organizational Development, also known as Organizational Effectiveness, in Human Resources? Why is this so important to an organization? Will OD affect the profitability of your organization? There are 6 keys to help HR professionals increase your organization's profits.... read more

To the Top of a Ladder : A Rare Perspective - By DP Sabharwal

Going up in life is everyone's ambition, if not a goal. It is natural. It is desirable.
It appears to be easy, but it is not so!
Yes, it may not seem to be difficult, but in reality it is.
The going up needs steps, the kinds in a ladder.
Everyone knows how to climb the steps, yet everyone does not reach the top.
The reasons could be many, but the fact is one...... read more

Role of HR in Navigating the Economic Downturn - By Ashok Grover

Economic meltdown, widespread lay-offs, crashing stock markets, bankruptcy of super giant corporates.... What more was needed for the HR guy to immediately ban all fresh recruitment, cut down on every training activity and try to save his company though all possible cost-cutting measures!
Though this may be the most common and perhaps most obvious approach; but does that also mean to be the "most appropriate"? Certainly not! At best, it can be termed as the easiest, panic triggered knee-jerk reaction instead of ...... read more

Self Hypnosis - By Winston Saga

Hypnosis is not sleep but a heightened state of awareness similar to day dream. In 1775 Franz Mesmer developed healing by animal magnetism which was later renamed hypnosis. Hypnosis is a state of mind which has been experienced by everyone at one time or the other. In fact everyone goes into hypnosis everyday of their lives. The time you are day dreaming you are in a form of hypnosis. The ability to achieve hypnotic state are already within us. It is simply a question of unlocking the secret...... read more

Improving Your Memory - By Stan Hyman

There are many ways to improve your memory. Getting enough sleep, eating right, reducing stress and not abusing drugs or alcohol are important for obvious reasons. However many of the tips I offer in this article are memory assisting (mnemonic) methods that you can employ today.
Concentrate/Pay Attention: Sounds like a no-brainer but for Acquisition...... read more

Mind Matters - By Ashok Grover

The young lady was asked to wait after she met the Chairman with HR Chief and a Business Head. The HR Chief was quite positive and enthusiastic having found the right candidate.
Interestingly, the Chairman and the Business Head were also impressed with the candidate. The young lady was working in an organization known for its World - Class HR practices and wanted a change for personal reasons....... read more

Confidence and the Workplace Attitude - By Kevin M Burns

Have you noticed the lack of eye-contact from a clerk while being served in a retail establishment? Have you noticed some of the people you work with who are reluctant to be forthright with customers and clients either on the phone or in-person? Have you noticed a propensity in your own workplace of people who don't seem to speak up when it comes time to address an issue that needs to be talked about?...... read more

Re-invent Yourself : 7 Steps to Becoming a New You - By Oma Edoja

Do you like your life the way it is? Would you like to change some, or all of it? Well, here’s good news: You can re-invent yourself. I know, because I did!
You may have a whole lifetime to undo or re-invent, but if you are determined, and ready to put in the effort, anything is possible. You can have a new you!
Here are 7 steps to a new, improved, re-invented you!...... read more

----------------------------||| Redefining Horizons |||---------------------------

----------------------------||| Redefining Horizons |||---------------------------

Skillscape helps organizations enhance the value of their human resource capital.
Employees, with their knowledge, skills... read more

To receive FREE e-zine Redefining Horizons every alternate week.