In the workplace, asking for help can mean the difference between success and failure. This isn’t anecdotal—in fact, research has revealed a number of proven benefits, such as:
In the workplace, asking for help can mean the difference between success and failure. This isn’t anecdotal—in fact, research has revealed a number of proven benefits, such as:
This is the second in an essay series about making great, big, career leaps of faith without both fear and a safety net. In the first, I told personal stories of career pivots while sharing that people should not let fear limit their potential. I encouraged elective unemployment if the outcome meant living a better, richer, and fulfilled life.
My colleague Nick recently posted on social media that he received a text from a former lacrosse teammate, and they spoke about their last game together. What he gleaned from that conversation is how much he misses going to battle on the lacrosse field every day with his team.
But then he had a revelation.
He still does go to battle with teammates each day, only in a different way—in a business setting.
Of course, we had to start the year with a goals/resolution type post. Are you even a blogger if you don’t?
My name is Sean McIntosh. I joined the SHRM Government Affairs Member Advocacy Team last August after two years working as a Senate staffer on Capitol Hill. My passion for change goes back to my high school days as a volunteer at SHRM conferences, and then throughout my college career as president of George Mason University’s SHRM student chapter!
Don't let fear stop you from making meaningful career shifts.
Last week, I shared news of my voluntary resignation from my job. On the heels of this announcement, I was shocked by the number of people who came forward to express their utter astonishment at my decision to exit without something already lined up and went on to share their own stories of wanting a career change but being too afraid to do it.
Efforts to reduce workplace bias and inclusion have become widespread, yet the demographics of leadership positions at most organizations remain unchanged.
Empathy is a platform for relationship, not encouragement to wallow in slime pits.
Solid relationships strengthen people.
Strong people perform better than weak.
Reports are not data analytics. Reports are snapshots of data gathered into informational summaries. A good example of a report is a turnover report. Seeing turnover rates across locations, departments, etc., brings to our attention overall trends and may point to an issue in need of closer attention.
Retention and data. It’s a very linear relationship. The data is asked for, usually annually, by leadership so they can plan accordingly for gaps, re-training and scaling considerations. Human resources provides the data, often, and for too many HR departments, that’s it. We give the data and then exhale because our part is done. Truth be told, we might like that the tabulation of attrition is all we have to do. We don’t want more.
Picture this: Your newest employee has just wrapped up Day 1 on the job. He returns home to his family, who asks him, “Well, how was it?”.
Considering your current onboarding processes, how might this new employee respond? Was he impressed and excited? Or, did he feel confused or bored the entire day?
The desire for data analysis and application is high amongst HR professionals. At SHRM’s first People Analytics Conference, the conversation amongst attendees has to do with this. We know that data is vital; we know that data can direct the actions and intentions of an organization. Data is gold, we believe.
Teresa Vaughn tells the story of a truck driver whose life she unexpectedly changed for the better.
See more HR Storytellers.
I’m Andrew Aragon, the newest member of the SHRM government affairs team. I’ve lived in Washington, D.C. for nearly seven years and before joining the SHRM team, I was active on Capitol Hill working as a staffer in Congress, then at a political tech startup.
Humans have one unique ability that sets us apart from machines and animals: The ability to imagine and create. But has your workforce been given the opportunity to be human? Are you providing employees the space to achieve their full potential?
Or worse, is your workplace actually working against them?
We all kind of know this fact. Once you get more than 30 minutes away from your job, no matter how you actually come into work, it starts to feel like a chore. You begin to hate the commute. Doesn’t matter if you drive, take a train, walk, etc. 30 minutes, one-way, is our max!
It’s called Marchetti’s Constant:
Quick! Take 30 seconds to name your top five Renaissance painters.
How about the top three most famous paintings in the world?
Chances are good that you would name Leonardo da Vinci as a Master - and his Mona Lisa is arguably the most famous painting in the world.
Did you know that one of the greatest master painters spent more time on his rough draft than any of us do today?
Every business has problems they want to solve. It could be a small problem or a large one. The key to solving business problems is
Chances are, in your workplace today, there are empty seats you wish were filled with qualified and motivated employees. You are not alone.