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The term “Talent Management” became popular after McKinsey’s 1997 research and the 2001 book on “The War for Talent.” The shift was designed to introduce a more scientific strategy for human resource planning, effectively changing the minds of leaders in organizations. A more holistic, complete and inclusive strategic workforce planning model tied to business strategy…

There’s a common phrase among organizations to distinguish and delineate the division of effort from leaders: Leaders work “in” and “on” the business. Although a form of binary thinking, the intention behind the phrase can be helpful when approached as two pieces of the whole of a leader. The two compartments of effort simplify a…

In today’s business world, things aren’t quite as cut and dried as they used to be. Right up until recent times, small or family-run businesses were usually kept within the family. As one family member retired, another took their place. But nowadays, people are more frequently encouraged to follow their own paths, even if that…

The popular magazine Psychology Today defines emotional intelligence as: “the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. It is generally said to include three skills: emotional awareness; the ability to harness emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving; and the ability to manage emotions, which…

I am reading a wonderful book called “Unthink” that is part of the curriculum for our LeadFORWARD program. The Emergent LeadFORWARD program is a year-long program for high-level leaders in organizations in Central New York. “Unthink” – like its title implies – reminds us not to just do the same things over and over again,…

With the onset of technology, changes in society and new workplace ideals and attitudes, the business environment has changed greatly in just a few years. As a leader at your company, you may be faced with feelings of uncertainty. While you might feel confident that you can manage your workforce, you might not feel quite…

As homeowners, we often weigh the decision of hiring a contractor versus the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach, and in most households, there is often a difference of opinions between the primary decision makers. One advocates for the perceived cost savings, excitement and challenge of the DIY project – the new skills, the new tools, and the…

As homeowners, we often weigh the decision of hiring a contractor versus the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approach, and in most households, there is often a difference of opinions between the primary decision makers. One advocates for the perceived cost savings, excitement and challenge of the DIY project – the new skills, the new tools, and the…

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, the current COO of Facebook is a book I would highly recommend to all men and women in a leadership role as well as all wives, husbands, fathers, and mothers.  I thought I would share a couple of ideas mentioned in the book that really stuck with me. Sheryl talks in the…

A few weeks ago I read a story that stuck with me. Since then I’ve shared it with clients for whom the message also resonates, for varied reasons. Here’s the story: “So much more can happen with our hands open. In fact, closing and stubbornly maintaining our grip is often what keeps us stuck, though…

In a world where the answers to most of our questions are at our fingertips, one in which we’re often overwhelmed with the need to keep up with technology, are we trying to be too perfect? Are we cruising blindly through the process in an effort to reach a mythical goal of perfection, and losing…

If you’re feeling that your approach to life and work is missing something, this book may be for you. Whether you were influenced by the Protestant work ethic or a motivational phrase – remember “no pain, no gain”? – many of us are literally working ourselves to death and missing out on the experience of…

First, Break All the Rules What the World’s Greatest Mangers Do Differently Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman A colleague recommended I read this book as a support to the research I did last year for a re-design of our new-leader program. She said it was a “must read,” and after reading it, I wasn’t disappointed.…