SHRM Blog

As the pandemic continues to trudge forward coupled with a rugged economy, the mathematical equation to meeting human needs requires changing the inputs. Organizations have assigned teams which are busy working to implement solutions around process issues, staffing and finding ways to increase efficiency within the confines of tight balance sheets. Organizations need more productivity with scarce resources, now.

As organizations wrestle with these challenges, teams appear to be working within the same frameworks as times of old. Hire more people, retain more people, use Lean Six Sigma...

In any group, in any industry, all we have to do is whisper the word, 'meeting', to elicit a groan, eye rolls and sighs. It’s no wonder. When I ask people what percentage of their time is wasted in meetings, the answer is always, always…at least 50% and often far higher.

It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out how much that costs our organizations in lost productivity, lost engagement, and morale. People truly hate these unproductive meetings for good reasons. It’s often because most meetings are poorly planned and...

The pandemic forced leaders to reconcile with the need for effective hybrid and remote team management strategies, including in performance evaluations. Research has shown the benefits of moving away from large-scale quarterly or annual performance reviews. Instead, systematic, frequent, and brief reviews focused on task performance, effective feedback and coaching, and guidance in wise decision-making, will replace it in organizations that want to survive and thrive in the post-COVID world. Leaders need to benchmark to best practices on performance evaluation for hybrid and remote team management in our new normal.

Performance...

Not everyone is quitting their job right now. For those staying put, the Great Resignation that is filling the news could be a great time to get ahead. But there’s one catch: your boss has to know the results of your work.

We have found that a surprising number of managers are having trouble tracking employees’ work, especially in the remote-work era. Even the most engaged manager divides their attention between other employees and responsibilities. But proving you’ve hit the mark may be critical toward reaching the goals of incentive plans, which can account...