It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes we need to slow down for productivity. In this 24/7 world, it feels like we always need to have something going. There are so many distractions around us that it’s easy to get pulled in different directions Applying focus to our day can help us accomplish tasks. Sometimes we need to step back, take a breath and concentrate on our priorities. If we get caught up trying to accomplish too many things at one time, either nothing get

When I tell someone that I work as a fractional HR Consultant, I’m often greeted with blank stares or eye rolls. What is a fractional HR Consultant and how can it help businesses? Anyone working with people knows there can be challenges and risks. So how do organizations maximize their use of employees and ensure staff are motivated and fulfilled? Fractional HR Consultants can step in and help determine potential miscues and risks by coming into the organization, auditing

We often encourage our staff to be creative, but how do we define creativity? While we encourage staff to speak up with new ideas and processes, are we actively discouraging some changes and sending mixed messages? Creativity can be new ideas and processes, certainly, but it can also be achieved in resolving problems, preparing budgets, and thinking differently. If we assign a task to someone and they go about working it contrary to what we expected, do we step in and stop

Frequently in organizations, managers make a rush to judgement, extolling bad attitudes, horrible decisions, and any number of problematic employee actions. In my early career, I would hear these stories and be immediately outraged, frustrated that employees would act in such unacceptable ways. Over time, however, I learned that perception is in the eye of the beholder, and often these “horrendous” acts, were simply misunderstandings or misinterpretations of events. While it

Do you have bullies at work? Is it possible you could be the bully or an enabler? There is a lot of drama in the world these days and it can seem more acceptable to be rude or to yell or to treat fellow employees poorly. But if that’s going on in your organization, you should rethink that type of culture. People tend to be less than their best when they’re frustrated, nervous or afraid. If you have someone in your organization with a short fuse, what damage are they causin

There are times in most of our lives where we need mental toughness to get through whatever roadblock we’re facing. Projects that are difficult for various reasons, physical exertion or illness that strains our bodies, or even difficult choices we make at times require us to find some mental resources that we may not even realize we have. In order to call upon that mental toughness, we need to hone the skill and determine how best to enhance it. Working with our staff to mo

We often think of entrepreneurs as individuals starting their own companies. But staff can be entrepreneurs in the organization they already work for! While being an entrepreneur typically involves assuming personal and financial risk, the key aspect in being an entrepreneur is in driving economic growth and innovation. We all want that within our organizations, and not all individuals want to assume the financial and personal risk involved in branching out alone. So what d

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we need to remember to address this in our workplace. As domestic violence is increasingly common, chances are someone within your organization is or has been affected. Providing resources and helping management understand ways to help can make a difference in someone’s life. Most companies have employee assistance programs; make sure that information is posted and that each manager has the information to provide staff. Relo

Is your staff financially aware? Have you ever talked about budgets and expenses? Do they understand your company or departmental...

What does it mean to consider your team’s purpose in the organization? Businesses are established for various reasons, offering products...

Many of us have at least dabbled in the use of Artificial Intelligence, but have you created or thought about a policy on the use of AI...

We’ve been living through a period of plentiful jobs for workers for the most part, but what does it mean as we start inching to a higher...

Job descriptions are vital in today’s business to help employees and managers ensure they’re on the same page. They lay out the primary...

Most managers are familiar with specific job descriptions, but what’s a general job description and why would a company need or want it?...

Unfortunately, these days protecting your company from spam must be top of mind. Have you provided your staff with the tools/reminders...

There’s been recent news regarding an HR executive caught in an uncomfortable position in a very social media way which made me think...

It used to be that office etiquette seemed inherently understood: you don’t microwave fish; you greet each other with a smile; you listen...

In working with employees, we look for specific skills sets in hiring, but what are soft skills and why do they matter? Soft skills are...

Some managers and/or staff may ask what exactly is HR and why do I need it in my organization? First, consider HR as Human...

In a world of divergent opinions often clashing and creating chaos, what can we do to encourage conflicting ideas at work in a way that...