(3-minute read) Happy 2023! As I was thinking about the new year, it became apparent that my reflection on the past year and forward-looking projection to a new year follows a set routine. Predictability and set routines work well for some exercises but not when changing your career direction. As humans, we like predictability and [...]
(1-minute read and lots of activities) Concatenation is my new favorite word. I learned this word last week at the "Hear Me Now" exhibition at the Met Museum. This extraordinary exhibition focuses on the work of 19th-century African American potters in Old Edgefield, South Carolina, and features the work of Dave Drake, an enslaved, literate, [...]
(3-minute read) A year ago, there were two available jobs for every candidate. Today, unemployment is at its lowest level, inflation remains high, and many tech-sector companies are laying off or have instituted hiring freezes. At the same time, other industries continue their struggle to find talent. The bottom line is that the labor market [...]
(2-minute read, plus activities) When thinking about our careers, most people focus on the wrong stuff. Day-to-day challenges, organizational irritants and shifting business climates tend to keep us 100% focused on short-term activities. Of course, this makes sense. We are paid to focus on the business. But in successfully managing your career, focusing all your [...]
(4-minute read) Organizational culture is a set of shared behaviors, beliefs and expectations that create a work environment where people are productive, creative and, ideally, happy. Building a thriving culture begins with attracting individuals who believe in and support an organization's cultural parameters. Recruiters and hiring managers assess candidates in two areas; the technical skills [...]
(2-minute read) We all need time off and we should take it. Time off is a service to yourself and your employer. Time off tempers burnout and allows us to look at our work with fresh eyes and an open, creative mind. When rested, it's easier to see the big picture clearly, showcase ideas and [...]
(2-minute read) If you're considering changing jobs before the end of the year, pay attention to the mixed indicators in the job market. What's Going On On one side, there was good news in the June jobs report, with 372k new jobs, primarily in education, health and professional services. On the other side, available [...]
(2-minute, 30 second read) The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimated that two openings exist for every unemployed job seeker. While competing fiercely for qualified candidates, employers are focused on two things- retaining current employees, and making the hiring process as efficient and positive as possible. Dr. Brad Chambers' recent Harvard Business Review article, [...]
(2-minute, 30second read) "Got a few minutes? Can I close the door?" For anyone who has heard those two sentences, you know someone is resigning. The question is, are you happy the employee is leaving, or not? We know that staff turnover is expensive. According to Gallup, replacing a team member costs between one-half to [...]
(2-minute read) The current cycle of resignations and onboarding continues. At the same time, employees are negotiating working arrangements from fully remote to hybrid to in-person. This leaves teams more fractionalized than ever and spending a lot of time thinking about; Who is going next? Who is coming onboard? Will the new folks operate remotely, [...]
