SHRM Blog

A New Kind of Stress

by Beth MirzaOn February 29, 2012 0 comments

The recession is taking its toll not only on businesses and unemployed Americans—it’s also affecting the employees still reporting to work, day in and day out. In fact, the stresses have grown so great that workers are starting crack under the pressure.

Employees are reporting thoughts of suicide, violence against co-workers and mental breakdowns at the highest rates seen in three years, according to Harris, Rothenberg International (HRI), a provider of employee assistance program (EAP) services.

As companies try to do more with fewer workers, employees are stretching themselves thin to meet the demands at the workplace,...

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The Age of Digital - Creating a Better Work-Life Balance and Higher Productivity

by Susan AvelloOn February 28, 2012 0 comments

We are entering a new digital era, an era in which people are connecting with content and with brands through multiple screens – through their PCs, TVs, smartphones, and tablets. 2011 marked an exciting year for the digital media industry and signaled an even more momentous year ahead with the rise of smartphones and tablets that have altered consumers’ digital media consumption – changing the way people access content, where they consume it and the frequency of their consumption.

Having a digital strategy requires insights into not only our current environment, but also into...

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HOOKING UP ON TWITTER (A CAUTIONARY TALE)

by Jonathan SegalOn February 27, 2012 0 comments

I begin this cautionary blog with a story.  After the story, you’ll understand why I began the blog as I have.

I wrote an article on holiday parties for Business Week. I discussed the risks, including too much alcohol consumption and sexual harassment.  Of course, the two often are connected.

Well, the article included a little sarcasm.  Perhaps a little more than a little.  So it was tweeted pretty heavily.

As you know, when people tweet, they can add their own message.  As I learned later, one tweeter included the words party, alcohol and sexual.  They...

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Executive Book Club: February 2012

by SHRM StaffOn February 24, 2012 0 comments

The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management is a must read for business leaders who prioritize the need to continue to drive future business performance to enable their companies’ upward mobility and secured sustainability.

Recent studies show that in the next few years companies could have only about half the leaders and skilled workers they need – and that these talent shortages will be particularly acute in critical sectors of employment like engineering, health care, energy, government, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense. As a business leader,...

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BYOD or Bust - Managing Devices for a Mobile Workforce

by SHRM StaffOn February 23, 2012 0 comments

Via smart phones, mobile sites, business applications and more, the consumerization of IT continues to impact the way employees use technology at work. Many organizations are shifting away from company-issued devices and adopting BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies, which allow employees to use the mobile technology they’re most familiar with. There's a lot of buzz around the benefits of BYOD in an increasingly mobile workforce, but little discussion around the policies needed to establish rules and guidelines for usage. 

BYOD policies, of course, have benefits and drawbacks. While the freedom to choose the device and platform you’re...

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Why Mission Statements Suck

by John BellOn February 23, 2012 0 comments

I’m not arguing against a clear definition of where a company is going and what sets it apart. My beef is with the way the particular corporation’s guiding principle is expressed; it is generally verbose, convoluted and incapable of resonating with employees or inspiring them. I’m not the first person to say this. Yet, companies large and small from start-ups to blue chippers continue to err in crafting compelling, single-minded mantras.

Exxon Mobil Corporation'smission is an example of a poor statement. "We are committed to being the world’s...

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Global Leaders Aren't Made in the Classroom

by Jennie WalkerOn February 22, 2012 0 comments

Last month, we chatted about what global leaders need to know—Intellectual Capital, Psychological Capital, and Social Capital--and where to start with their development—by leveraging development opportunities and tools already in your organization.  Once you’ve identified existing resources, what do you do with them? 

Our research at Najafi Global Mindset Institute shows that leaders with the highest Global Mindset abilities are not made in the classroom.  They develop through a series of layered learning and experiences over time.  Now, that’s not to say classroom or instructor-led training isn’t valuable.  In fact, a large part of Global Mindset is based...

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Who Owns Your Company Talent?

by Sharlyn LaubyOn February 21, 2012 0 comments

Culture eats strategy for breakfast. It’s a popular cliché I’ve seen tossed around a lot.  And I get the premise – strong cultures can make or break your organizational strategy.  It’s true. But where does culture start? Well, Steve Boese recently wrote a post titled, “If culture eats strategy, then what eats culture?” answering that exact question.

Without giving Steve’s post away, it got me thinking about talent.  And, who “owns” talent in a company: is it the organization or the manager?

Or maybe it’s neither. 

Could it be that the individual employee “owns” their...

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Media and the 21st Century Resume

by Kyle LagunasOn February 17, 2012 0 comments

In an attempt to circumvent the keyword-laden resume game, job seekers are taking a more creative approach to captivating recruiters. Rather than dropping the resume altogether, the trend seems to be a breakaway from over-automation and a return to the heart of what makes a good hire. Laurie Barkman of The Resumator explains, “We’ve been told for a long time, ‘This is how you do recruiting, and here’s what matters,’ but organizations are now more interested in interactions that help to determine a good fit. And more nimble organizations are looking at people beyond the resume.”

Sounds...

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5 Ways to Change Careers

by Craig FisherOn February 16, 2012 0 comments

The problem with trying to change occupations or industries, is that most people don’t have the skill set to support a broad leap in jobs. So they end up willing to do practically anything other than what they are currently doing, and subsequently flounder in their job search.

After 15 years in recruiting, helping companies to find and hire teams of highly specialized consultants and executives, my job is now to teach employers and recruiters how to find and attract talent better. But one of my primary passions remains helping job seekers along in the career process. I...

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