How to Hire During a Pandemic
All the craziness happening in the world is forcing everyone to adapt and change quickly, in order to overcome challenges that never existed before. Hiring is one of those challenges and it can be hard for companies to navigate during these uncertain times. Here are some helpful tips on how you can effectively manage your hiring process during this time and continue your hiring efforts to stay well positioned once “normal” returns. Get comfortable with Video Interviewing: In our digital age, there is no shortage of tools, including Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Teams and Skype, to name a few. These are…
Maintaining Productivity During Vacation Season
Vacation season is almost upon us. Days of fun in the sun and all that goes with the more relaxed nature of summer is just around the corner. And although you fully believe in the benefits of vacation time, you admit to a smidge of nerves, a tiny ruffling of your managerial feathers when you peer at the full vacation calendar. The benefits of time away from the job, as well as your daily rituals and responsibilities, are well-established. But it’s your job to make sure it’s “business as usual” during those vacationing days of summer. You know, that the…
Keys to Boosting Brainpower
Everyone knows that regular physical activity helps keep your body healthy and in shape. Exercise strengthens a person’s heart, lungs, and muscles, keeping them in prime working order and staving off the effects of aging. But what about your brain? Does it need exercise too? Why yes, it does. It turns out that there’s a correlation between keeping the body active and keeping the mind sharp. While it was once thought that a person was born with all the brain cells that he/she would ever have, research has found that new brain cells can grow. Physical activity increases levels of brain-derived…
Team Player – Part II – The Dos and Don’ts
Understanding the collaborative nature of teamwork is the first step to becoming a sought-after team player. With attention to these strategies, anyone can improve his/her team player prowess. First off, the “Do’s”: Engage active listening mode Effective communication only happens if active listening takes place first. Only after a person has put effort into absorbing, understanding, and weighing thoughts and ideas can said person effectively (and intelligently) discuss or debate those thoughts and ideas. Teamwork relies heavily on the art of listening. And it is an art. One that too often gets pushed aside as secondary to speaking up. But…
Team Player – Part I – The Tale of a No-Show Team Player
Bill was psyched when the department manager assigned him to the “A Squad.” “I guess all the long hours this past couple of months have paid off,” he murmured, mentally patting himself on the back. Now he could kick back and enjoy the ride. Not to mention the prestige of being on the team everyone respected. They had it all together. No doubt about it. “I probably won’t have to do a thing . . . ” More murmuring under his breath. Show up, smile, nod. He’d be on easy street now. And after only six months of keeping his…
Building Effective Teams – Part II
What is the foundation of an effective, productive team? In the same way that a building requires a sturdy foundation to stabilize the structure, an effective team must have a defined and understood purpose on which to build. Why are we here and what are we trying to accomplish, are questions that must have definable answers. Each member must be able to grasp their contribution to the effort and understand their role on the team. Knowing where you’re headed, why you need to get there, and when you need to arrive are crucial to a team’s success. But the one ingredient…