When I was a young recruiter, one of my favorite interview questions was “Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.” It’s a tough question to answer as a candidate. In an interview, we have been trained to present the most positive version of ourselves in an interview and hide any potential flaws. The interview question puts the candidate in a tough scenario where they want to provide a truthful, informative answer without damaging the positive impression they’ve built throughout the interview. Of all the times I asked that question, the “mistakes” candidates shared with me never scared … Read More
The Golden Rules of Email
What would we do without email? Email allows us all to connect, coordinate, share, and document in an instant. It also opens a world of opportunity for misunderstanding and confusion. While email often helps us work more efficiently, it can also derail progress when the tone of an email is unclear. The recipient spends hours poring over every word trying to analyze the intent; meanwhile, the sender had no hidden agenda or intentional subtle wording. Every word we type in an email matters. Each word will be read, analyzed, discussed, and saved for future reference. Anyone can send an email. … Read More
Three Steps to Being Heard
If there’s anything an election year reminds us, it’s that disagreements are uncomfortable. When each side feels passionately about a topic, and neither is willing to hear facts, perspective, or concerns from the other side, the discussion reaches an impasse. Occasionally, when debate occurs between people in a healthy relationship, it’s possible to agree to disagree. But when the opponent is your boss, and the issue at hand can’t be ignored, a more thoughtful approach is necessary. Influencing senior leadership requires planning and careful consideration. Unless the company is built on a culture of radical transparency and honesty, a small … Read More
Oh, The Mistakes You’ll Make
Around graduation time, bookstores strategically place the well-known Dr. Seuss book Oh, The Places You’ll Go at the front entrance. They know this popular gift for new graduates reminds them that the path they’re about to take will be full of mistakes, twists, turns, and road blocks, but with hard work, a positive outlook, and resilience, they’ll move mountains. The book may have been written for children, but its message holds true for all ages. I think we need a similar book for new leaders called Oh, The Mistakes You’ll Make. No matter how many years of business experience you’ve … Read More
You Can’t Make Them Stay
Employers are always seeking out ways to predict human behavior. Which candidate will excel? Which comp plan will improve retention and drive the biggest results? Which employees will remain engaged? Which employees will burn out? Which employees are high risk? Which employees are planning to leave? An HR technology vendor recently pitched their latest employee retention product to me. They believe they can predict (with alarming certainty) which of your employees are a flight risk. The algorithm they use to arrive at this conclusion is complex and expansive, but one key factor is the most predictive of an employee’s plan … Read More
It’s Not About the Money
Research has consistently shown that the ability to create and communicate a vision is a top leadership skill that will drive success in the workplace. Naturally, it is concerning that those same studies also show a skill gap in that same area for emerging leaders. Why is vision suddenly more important than business acumen, financial acumen, and critical thinking? By 2025, Millennials will account for 75% of the workforce. As a generation, Millennials are like none other. Though they collectively hold $1 Trillion in student loan debt, and face roughly 13% unemployment, they will not accept just any job. And … Read More