TLNT

Weekly Wrap: Don Rumsfeld’s 8 Rules For Successful Meetings

by John Hollon on May 17, 2013, 12:20 PM | No comments yet

Here’s a question I have heard repeated for years — does anyone out there actually like meetings?

I ask because in the world of business we seem to spend a lot of time in meetings, yet just about everyone I know, and every survey I’ve ever seen, indicates that most people say they would rather endure a root canal than be forced to attend yet another meeting.

John Cleese, the great comedian of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, once did a corporate training video (several of them, actually) titled Meetings, Bloody Meetings, and Cleese, in his wickedly humorous way, did a great job capturing the many things that drive all of us crazy from all the meetings we’re forced to attend. Read more…

Talent Management

10 Tips For Reducing Employee Turnover

by Heather Huhman on May 17, 2013, 11:20 AM | No comments yet

Many people agree turnover is a growing issue, particularly as hiring picks up.

But what are most organizations doing about it, aside from implementing some short-term solutions when they discover it’s a problem?

Reducing employee turnover actually starts with the hiring process — but there are important management aspects to consider as well. Here’s what several experts had to say about the issue: Read more…

Recruiting and Staffing

The Recruiting Dilemma: Do You Look for Cultural Fit, or for Innovation?

by Jacque Vilet on May 17, 2013, 10:15 AM | 7 Comments

“The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.” — Charles Kettering

There’s been a lot written lately about “cultural fit.” In fact, you could say that cultural fit is the latest rage in talent acquisition.

In an article in the American Sociological Review, Northwestern Professor Lauren Rivera concludes that companies are making hiring decisions today “in a manner more closely resembling the choice of friends or romantic partners.” Read more…

HR Insights, Leadership

Survey Says Helping People, Not Profits, Is Primary Driver for HR

by John Zappe on May 17, 2013, 9:05 AM | 1 comment

HR is all about showing the executive team the value you bring.

I was chatting with some talent acquisition leaders at the recent ERE conference when I mentioned an innovative application being demo-ed by one of the vendors. It uses automated voice analysis to screen and help select customer service reps.

Almost instantly came OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs) and EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) objections, and near unanimous declarations of opposition to the tool. This is before anyone knew much about it.

What reminded me of this conversation was a report I came across a while ago. HR professionals chose their career, the report says, primarily because they “want to help people grow and develop.” Next, and way down the scale, was business growth and development as a career choice driver. Read more…

Classic TLNT

10 Hiring Secrets of Famous Coaches

by Eric Gaydos on May 17, 2013, 8:05 AM | No comments yet

Editor’s Note: Sometimes, readers ask about past TLNT articles they may have missed. That’s why on Fridays we republish a Classic TLNT post some of you have asked about.

Tried-and-true recruiting and interviewing tactics are great, as long as they keep on working.

But would you know, really, if they weren’t? How can we imagine the team we didn’t build, or gauge the hypothetical performance of the passed-over candidate who seemed too anxious? We can’t, and that’s why recruiting and hiring decisions are so important. Read more…

HR Insights, HR Management

Exit Interviews: The 2nd Most Worthless Activity HR Has to Handle

by Barbara Milhizer on May 17, 2013, 7:00 AM | 11 Comments

Let’s be clear, the most useless HR activity is Performance Management. Hands down.

But since I have been an enthusiastic beater of that horse already, a close second has to be the Exit Interview.

Let’s review all of the reasons for their sacred cow status:

Good, actionable data on why people are leaving;
Closure for employees;
Risk mitigation for the company;
Goodwill and future employee referrals;
Knighted as one of the “Best Practices” by people who know things. Read more…

HR News & Trends

Keynote by Hillary Clinton at SHRM Chicago Will Be Closed to Media

by John Hollon on May 16, 2013, 12:40 PM | 20 Comments

Just when I think I have seen just about everything happen when it comes to dealing with SHRM — the Society for Human Resource Management — something like this pops up and makes you wonder, “What could they be thinking?”

SHRM’s annual conference & exhibition, which is the single largest event in HR each year, will be held this year in Chicago June 16-19. Chicago native and former First Lady/Secretary of State/U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the opening general session on Sunday.

However, SHRM says that the media will NOT be permitted to cover Secretary Clinton’s SHRM speech. Read more…

HR Management

Is Office Radio Music to HR’s Ears?

by Joseph Fung on May 16, 2013, 12:20 PM | 1 comment

Open office layouts, like them or not, are here to stay.

While there are many benefits to having a shared collaborative environment (frequent communication, more effective use of space, etc.), it’s not all sunshine and roses.

For all their faults, walls, doors and cubicles are excellent sound barriers. They cut out distractions and work to keep your private conversations private. But not all noise is the same. Some sounds — like music — are meant to be shared.

Unfortunately for country music and hip-hop aficionados, not everyone has the same taste in music. When you’re in a closed environment, this doesn’t matter: you can blast Britney Spears all day, and no one will stop you. Read more…

Benefits, HR Management

How Far Can Employers Go In Mandating What Employees Eat?

by Fran Melmed on May 16, 2013, 11:25 AM | 1 comment

I’ve yet to talk with someone about employee wellness without hearing about how an employer allows — if not actually provides — donuts or cupcakes or something similar at meetings.

The underlying message is this: the employer can’t be very serious about wellness if they’re still offering such junk food regularly.

I don’t disagree, but how far is too far? The comments on a post about junk food-free workplaces suggests barring people from bringing in their own food is simply a bridge too far. Read more…

HR Technology

Is there a Fear of Failure for HR Technology?

by Todd Maycunich on May 16, 2013, 10:20 AM | 1 comment

Between January 1, 2010 and March 2012 there were 157 venture capital transactions, totaling $966 million, funding companies focused on solving HR and recruiting challenges.

That’s great news for the HR industry because it means access to new tools and technology designed to help source, recruit and retain new talent.

But here’s the bad news: Three out of four of these new businesses will never return investor capital — they’ll fail.

But what if the problem isn’t with their technology? What if the problem is our fear of failure? Read more…