Human Resource Management
- General Strategies
- People - a critical factor of production.
- Tactics
- Matching personal and organizational goals.
- Org. Development
- Making two or more people work together productively.
- Recruiting
- Attracting the people who will make you successful.
- Selecting
- Culling the producers from the pack.
- Orientation
- The beginning of a beautiful relationship.
- Training
- Converting potential into successful outcomes.
- People Management
- Meeting your toughest challenge in business.
- Evaluation
- Creating comfortable win-win outcomes.
- Controls
- Answering the question, "Are we all on the same path?"
Life is Change - Prepare for It.
Have you noticed the people who are more resistant to change are those who have not experienced much of it? All people in a workplace should be prepared for change...
Dance With Those Who Brought You to the Ball
For the small business operator, problem-solving is greatly enhanced when you are, and have, loyal friends and associates in your networks...
Divide and Conquer
Divisions on your organization chart are easier explained than administrative constraints...
Protect Your Investment in Good Employees
Do your employees tend to keep one eye on the internet job sites or newspaper want ads? It is unwise to take any persons tenure for granted...
Entrepreneurs Don't Resent Success - They Admire It
Know where to reveal your success. More importantly, learn where NOT to reveal your success...
Common Sense is NOT so Common
Some things you think of as Common Sense may not seem obvious to others. Often we assume it is obvious to everyone. Therefore, it's important to remember that old joke about the word assume...
Apply Some Wizardry
There's a small untapped resource in your community. These are teenagers in their final years of high school, Uncle Max calls them Wizards...
Mean What You Say
Mean what you say and say what you mean. This maxim is a key element to maintaining integrity in business relations...
Wear Your Mission Statement
Business slogans, mission statements and motivational messages are often posted on static walls or documents. Wouldn't they have more impact if they were active and moving about the workplace?
Fire the Lowest Producer Often
A businessman who has made himself and his numerous companies very successful is said to have had this policy since his earlier days. His frequency was monthly, other intervals may be more appropriate for you business...
Perceptions Are Reality
Much is written about getting feedback on the perceptions of customers. Perceptions are realities that should also be examined in other areas...
Prove a Person's Value at the Outset
Demonstrate you are interested in building meaningful relationships with your associates. Add value to the term, "associates"
Recognize and Avoid Groupthink
Well-established groups tend to become dangerously cohesive in the interest of efficiency. Cohesiveness is a contributor to a condition called, 'Groupthink'...
Creativity Thrives in an Incubator
Creative ideas are similar to other growing things, they require certain conditions to thrive. You will harvest greater creativity when you establish fertile conditions in your workplace...
Circling the Wagons Is Great as Long as You Don't Shoot Inwards
Sometimes small business groups are hampered by a reluctance of members to share problems and solutions for fear someone will steal their business...
Get Beyond the Resume with an Essay
Beyond the usual resume, application questionnaire and interview questions - have a candidate write an essay...
Avoid Filling a New Position With a New Employee
Before you hire a new employee to fill a newly created position consider the risks. Why combine two sets of problems?
Be Wary of Trusting Your Own Kind
When you encounter someone who shares something in common with you, your first instinct is to place too much trust in this person, without going through your usual investigative procedures...
You Can't Change a Leopard's Spot's
Try as we may, there are times when trying to change peoples' attitudes or habits is a lost cause. This is especially common when a strong culture is involved...
Garbage in - Stinks
Do you want to operate a business with people who are pleasant and highly cooperative? Selecting new employees determines the culture you create in your business...
When It's Easier to Do it Yourself, You're in Trouble
If you employ others and you can't delegate tasks that don't fit your schedule, it's time to sharpen your employee management skills...
If The Learner Hasn't Learned - The Teacher Hasn't Taught
Before you begin finding fault with someone who is having difficulty learning, check your own messages...
Yes! We Have No Bananas
Many years ago there was a popular song called, "Yes! We have no bananas." Find some old person who remembers the tune and lyrics. Then, spice up your sales or general staff meetings by having everyone sing the song...
She Who Teaches Learns
One of the positive aspects of teaching something to an employee is that the teacher also benefits from the instruction...
Anyone Can Be Replaced
Anyone can be replaced when you maintain ongoing cross-training. The ongoing aspect creates a non-threatening style of management...
Praise With Specifics
We tend to praise with generalities and express adverse criticism with specifics. More...
How to Manage a Nerd Part 1
If you decide to engage some nerds to advance your organization into the 21st century you are going to have to make a few adjustments to your management style...
How to Manage a Nerd - Part 2
Whereas nerds are different from gregarious managers, communicating with a nerd is different...
Management Style can be Wet or Dry
Is your management style Wet or Dry?
Ask and You Shall Receive
You will be surprised to find many workers are just waiting to be asked something. They may not even have known what you wanted. Surprises await you when you ask your associates for more...
Abusive Managers Can Go Undetected
Abusive managers often function for long periods without being detected by senior managers. Managers who lack personal qualities of fairness, respect and judgement in dealing with subordinates are often clever about covering up their dysfunctional behavior...
Fish or Cut Bait
Plain talk between persons is far better than beating around the bush or uttering derogatory comments behind a person's back. Clarify your lines of communication...
Correct Mistakes Immediately
Once you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it...
The Lights Are On But Nobody's Home
Do you have people on your staff who appear to be functioning normally yet, their reactions are not as normal? Increase your observations...
Use 'More of' and 'Less of' in Your Evaluations
We don't like criticism and we dread evaluation meetings. We tend to defer these review sessions as long as possible. An effective soft approach is to offer suggestions with the prefix of...
Pot Calling a Kettle Black
When a person points out a flaw in your character or behavior it may be a major weakness in their own. There are many spinoffs or corollaries to this idea...
Where There's Smoke - There's Fire
How often have you detected the signs with your 20/20 hindsight? Did you say, "The signs were all there - if only we had paid attention to them..."
Check Your Memos
Check your employee memos. Are you sending the right message?
