Sexual harassment and sexual assault are hot topics, right now, but none of this will stay in the news much longer. It’s a cyclical event. Every few years, someone opens the door and reveals the true nature of a work environment. A few dudes are outed. Executive leaders and HR professionals promise vigilance. Then the…
I’m the first one to tell you what’s wrong. Let me tell you about what’s going right with HR blogging. People are telling more stories on their blogs. Nobody wants a lecture or a SHRM-SCP study guide. People want to know what makes a writer tick, and they want to experience the world through your…
Midway through my job as a relatively new recruiter at a consumer packaged goods company in Chicago, I was assigned a new boss. From the beginning, I didn’t like her. She never asked me how I was doing. She began and ended every meeting with pleasantries, but it was all business. So I asked her,…
About six months ago, I met a guy who changed my life. Sorta. He’s an executive and an entrepreneur who wants to improve his public speaking skills. I’m a woman who attended a professional development seminar to reboot my career. I introduced myself and shared my story. Then he told me about his background. It…
If you haven’t read the Jeff Bezos / Amazon investor letter circulating around the internet, it’s a good one. Take the sixty seconds you typically use to look at who’s been looking at your Instagram stories and have a peek. I love this letter because it’s clear and full of confidence without being too certain.…
Nothing can be more dreary than ‘coolness’… — Daily Kerouac (@DailyKerouac) March 15, 2017 Jack Kerouac wrote that nothing is more dreary than coolness, and while I’m not sure that’s a real quote, it sure feels right when you look at Piper Jaffray’s Taking Stock With Teens study. Teens want boring stuff like Nike, American…
Welcome to the Great Resignation. People are quitting their jobs in record numbers and HR professionals must deal with the fallout. Unfortunately, many HR professionals are unhappy with their own careers because they have a lot of autonomy but no power. Let me explain. When you work in HR, your day is largely yours. While…
I’m all about teaching you how to blog and speak. There’s a holistic method to make money on your blog, earn income from speaking, and generate revenue from your area of expertise. It takes a lot of work. It’s a full-time job. Here’s a general overview that knits it together. First, you need knowledge of…
Everybody has the capacity for leadership. I know that’s not a trendy thing to write, but there isn’t much art or science in leading people or an organization. Some people choose to lead, and some don’t. It’s a decision, not a triumphant act of courage. Those who say yes are often given an unfortunate path…
There’s some talk that the Republicans aren’t done with healthcare, and I don’t blame them for taking a stab at the Affordable Care Act. Right now, private premiums are daunting for many families. I have friends who left the freelance world for “real jobs,” and they did it solely for affordable healthcare. And whenever I…