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September 2021

Leaders as Role Models – What the Research Tells Us

When Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner wrote their now-classic book “The Leadership Challenge”,  a foundational piece of their research focused on leaders as role models. In the authors’ article Model the Way, they write, “Exemplary leaders know that it’s their behavior that earns them respect. The real test is whether they do what they say; whether their words and deeds are consistent. Leaders set an example and build commitment through simple, daily acts that create progress and build momentum.” The Research on Leaders Who are Role Models These authors—and countless other experts—tell us that to be a great leader one must also be a positive role model. This seems rather intuitive, doesn’t it? We can all recall (perhaps, even all the way back to childhood) a person whose example led us down a beneficial path. But what does the research tell us about leaders as role models? Do their actions really matter?  Indeed they do. Here are some interesting (and surprising) ways in which a leader’s actions have far-reaching influence on those around them.  A Leader’s First Impression …

You Gotta Minute ??

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Over the past few weeks, I was able to speak to my HR peers at both the SHRM Annual Conference and the Georgia SHRM State Conference in person and the Pennsylvania SHRM State Conference virtually. It’s been a long time since I’ve had these opportunities and I relish it. Any chance I get to be with others who practice HR, I’m geeked !! Seriously. Very few things fill my bucket as much as this. I was able to spend more time in person at the SHRM Annual Conference and I was humbled to be able to speak at two Mega sessions. When I walked into the room, my jaw dropped. As I stood on the stage, I couldn’t see the back of the room. I couldn’t believe that I’d have the chance to ever speak in such a vast space. It’s hard to not be anxious wondering if the room will fill or not. I don’t take that for granted because I know that I’m usually one of many great options. …

How to Use Video for Remote Onboarding

Probably there was never a worse moment for companies to recruit new staff in the year 2020. If you refer to the latest video marketing statistics, you’ll find that video consumption skyrocketed by more than 96% in the wake of the pandemic. No sector is immune from the effects of COVID-19 and its growth across the world and has for the first time left large groups of people working remotely. However, companies still have to welcome new team members and assist them to get up to speed as soon as possible, leaving no other option than to Make and choose the best video intro maker with surrounding their business for new recruits. Previously, the same presentation may take time out of the administrator’s day. It may involve travel, accommodation, and food costs for staff, trainers, or anything else. The expenses are soft and hard depending on the kind and size of the company. But using video for onboarding employees enables greater institutional efficiency and more information – quicker. Here are 5 tips regarding how you can leverage videos for remote …

You Aren’t a Perfect Leader. But Your People Still Expect It.

I If you’ve ever held a leadership position, you’ve probably already figured this out: you are held to a higher standard. You are expected to be more. More authentic, more compassionate and most importantly, more ethical than the average working Joe or Jane in your office. Your daily actions are intensely scrutinized. Author S. Chris Edmonds, author of the book The Culture Engine, and Good Comes First (with co-author Mark Babbitt) jokingly tells his coaching clients, “Now that you’re a leader, you’ll never be able to run a yellow light in this town again.” There is No Such Thing as a Perfect Leader I agree with Chris on this point. Taking on a leadership role is a huge responsibility and the scrutiny is intense. Is it fair? No. But it’s the responsibility of leadership. If you’re to lead well, learning to be a positive role model is essential if you are to have a thriving, healthy culture for your department. (Or, for your business unit or organization, if you have a wider scope of responsibility.) Here’s the rub: …

The Huge Cost of Bad Hires — And How to Stop It

Consistent turnover can affect almost every part of an organization, especially payroll and the wasted onboarding costs but as substantial as these costs are, they only represent the tip of the iceberg. Hiring mistakes hurt morale, productivity, customer relationships and brand image. Once a company acquires a reputation for having heavy turnover, it will be seriously challenged to attract new talent, new customers and even suppliers. So why are companies making poor decisions when it comes to the hiring process? It may be that your company in too much of a rush to fill a position and your vetting process is simplified to save time. Your business may be assessing the wrong skills and a complete overhaul of your assessment tools is needed. A lack of behavioral interviewing, discovering how a candidate acts in a specific employment-related situation, is an issue because you won’t get a sense of how a hire will work for company until their first day.  Establishing a standardized, documented hiring process with skilled personnel will help you reduce the risk of making a bad hire. With …

Managing Your Chronic Disease and Your Job

Do you have a chronic disease? If so, you are not alone. The Centers for Disease Control define chronic diseases as those that limit the activities of daily living or require ongoing medical attention, and last at least a year or more. When defined that way, it’s not surprising that six in 10 American adults have at least one chronic condition, and four out of 10 live with two or more. If you want to learn more about how to manage your chronic disease at work, or if you work with people with chronic diseases and want to help, read on. Chronic diseases include conditions such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. These conditions are not only prevalent but are primary causes of disability and death. They also contribute significantly to the 3.8 trillion dollars that Americans spend on health care every year. Many chronic diseases are caused by lifestyle behaviors that could be changed or modified, including smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke; following a diet that contains a lot of saturated fat and salt and few vegetables …

Small Acts of Kindness Can Matter So Much

Kindness From a Stranger This is the first time I’ve shared this story. It’s not earth-shattering, traumatic, or dramatic, just a small act of kindness that meant a lot to me at a time when I REALLY needed an extra serving of kindness. Many years ago, during a time period when I was looking for a job and was really struggling (financially, mentally, and emotionally), my wife and I went to a fast casual restaurant chain that serves home-style meals. This one lets you choose the food items (entree, side items, etc.) you like and the person behind the counter places those items onto your plate. When I told the restaurant employee which food items I wanted, he did something that meant so much to me. He smiled and placed a little extra serving of the entree item on my plate and said, “It looks like you could use a little bit extra.” I’m not sure if …

6 Pro Tips for Sharing Employee Engagement Survey Results

Sharing employee engagement survey results isn’t always fun, especially if the results are negative, telling you a discouraging story that you didn’t want to hear. But, seemingly discouraging feedback can turn into a valuable opportunity for growth when you share the results with the people who need it. Providing employee engagement survey results with your team is key to producing actionable strategies to create a rewarding and engaging experience for employees year after year.   …

How To Gain Buy-In From Your Team

When my daughter was in elementary school I chaperoned a group of second-graders on a field trip to the ArtPrize exhibition in downtown Grand Rapids. Picture this: ten 8-year-olds, excitedly dashing around parks and gardens, in and out of exhibition buildings. They were so excited to experience the art displayed throughout our city. Naturally, their first impulse was to run. And touch. And cross streets without supervision. Their enthusiasm was beautiful. The chaos it created was exhausting. As their field trip leader, I was constantly balancing the twin needs of safety and exploration. When getting ready to enter a building or cross the street, I’d instruct, “Blue team, line up! Green team, line up!” and they would do so, but only until the next amazing new sculpture (“Look, a dragon made out of pop cans!”) presented itself. Getting people to line up— whether it’s a group of second-graders or a team of colleagues— can be challenging. Why Is Team Buy In Important? Team buy in is important to any change you want to make or idea you’d like …