Q: I was selected for a management training program for a retailer based on my professional background and my interest in working for the company. I made it clear in the interview that my long-term goal was to be in...
Preparing for “Postseason” – HR in Baseball
When September 1st arrives, baseball teams bring up anywhere from zero to 15 players to support their teams during the playoff stretch. In the case of the Yankees, this came in the form of a 3rd catcher, a second backup...
HR and Baseball – The Pitcher/Catcher Relationship
Our national pastime is rich with memories and parallels to everyday life. A friend of mine knows how much I love baseball, and I told her that I had been thinking about writing a baseball column relating to HR. She...
Working with Someone Who Takes All the Credit
Q: My boss takes all the credit for the hard work I do, but I don't complain. However, it has created some great stresses on the organization because of his mistakes. Thankfully, other members of the organization are aware that...
Online Learning and Training
Q: I've been a bit skeptical about teaching my employees anything online; however, the costs of sending them to a training class (gas, time away, hiring someone to do the training) are making it seem like a better option. What...
Thoughts from “Four Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss
One of my favorite HR and Career related books is The Four Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. Some of the key principles I received from this book include1. How to speed read - there's an excellent excerpt in the book on...
Favorite HR and Career Books
Here are a list of just a few of my favorite books when it comes to HR and Careers7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen CoveyThe 4 Hour Workweek by Timothy FerrisA Whole New Mind by Daniel PinkCreating Magic...
Bartering and Bartending
Common questions I get from students include "How do I break into a new business?" and "How can I learn more about sales?"Bartering can provide you with some great opportunities to show off what you can do with limited investment...
Shave Your Head and Start Over
When it comes to business, sometimes, "shaving our head and starting over" means throwing out old practices completely and starting fresh with something knew.I was asked last week what was the meanest thing I ever said to someone.A few years...
Food for Thought – Human Resources in Restaurants
I spoke to my class today about my recent experience at a restaurant where I was served by a well-trained, confident, and competent bartender assisting probably 30 guests with a smile and with great follow-through. Meanwhile, at the same time,...