Human Resources

Distance Creates Distrust

2022-04-01T22:27:57-05:00April 8th, 2022|Tags: , , |

Speaker and author, Nicole Unice, shared with our Des Moines audience recently an incredible insight for those immersed in a workplace conflict. Nicole informed us that distance creates distrust.   I don’t know about you, but when I’m having a conflict with someone that I’m struggling to resolve, I tend to avoid them for a while. If I must work with ...

Taking Breaks

2022-04-01T22:18:22-05:00April 6th, 2022|Tags: , , |

In Jordan Raynor’s book, “Redeeming Your Time,” he references significant data that suggests that our bodies work in cycles. These cycles are called Ultradian Cycles.   Basically, Jordan contends that our bodies work best in blocks of 90-minute cycles before we need a short break. These short breaks allow us to be more productive.   Jordan references a study that Sony performed. ...

Paying Equitably

2022-04-01T21:25:27-05:00March 29th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

Some employers are beginning to pay people less if they move to a community with a lower cost of living, even though the work being produced is the same. Other employers are hiring great talent in Midwestern cities by paying them West Coast wages.  Paying employees equitably has become complicated.   Jesus told a parable about hiring workers throughout the day ...

A Blended Team

2022-03-31T20:37:48-05:00March 16th, 2022|Tags: , , |

Kathy and I recently enjoyed the Kansas City Symphony as they performed “Star Wars.” Dozens of professional musicians worked together to make an incredible blended sound.  In contrast, I remembered joining a rock and roll band as a teenager. We each played the songs without respecting the other instruments. We sounded terrible!   My respect for the symphony grew when I ...

5 Questions to Retain Employees: Part V

2022-03-30T19:47:11-05:00March 10th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

In Harvard Business Review, Susan Peppercorn highlighted five questions to help you retain your employees. Her final question is, “Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?”  Talented people can perform different types of functions effectively. However, each person has skills that they love doing.   By asking about what they do best and exploring how ...

5 Questions to Retain Employees: Part IV

2022-03-28T14:53:01-05:00March 10th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

In Harvard Business Review, Susan Peppercorn highlighted five questions to help you retain your employees. Today I want to talk about her fourth question, “What are we currently not doing as a company that you feel we should do?”  When you can make this question specific, for instance, asking, “What are we not doing in our marketing efforts?” it will ...

5 Questions to Retain Employees: Part III

2022-03-28T14:50:38-05:00March 9th, 2022|Tags: , , |

In Harvard Business Review, Susan Peppercorn highlighted five questions to help you retain your employees. Today I want to talk about her third question, “What do you need from me to do your best work?  Employees need to know that you are there to serve them. By giving your employee the opportunity to share what is hindering their progress, you ...

5 Questions to Retain Employees: Part II

2022-03-28T14:48:21-05:00March 8th, 2022|Tags: , , , |

In Harvard Business Review, Susan Peppercorn highlighted five questions to help you retain your employees. Today I want to talk about the second question, “Do you feel a sense of purpose in your job?’   Many employees do serve meaningful roles in your company. But if they don’t know how to connect their work to your mission, work likely feels like ...

5 Questions to Retain Employees: Part I

2022-03-28T14:45:50-05:00March 7th, 2022|Tags: , , |

With inflation increasing wages, and employers struggling to find new employees, employee retention has become critical. Executive coach and speaker, Susan Peppercorn, developed a list of five key questions to help you retain key employees.  The first question is “How would you like to grow within this organization?”   Two-thirds of people leave jobs due to a lack of career development ...

Changing Loyalties

2022-03-21T11:40:44-05:00February 23rd, 2022|Tags: , , |

As I’ve reviewed dozens of job applications lately, it’s not uncommon to see applicants with five jobs in just a three-to-five-year period. Brevity of time on a job reflects in part our cultural changes to loyalty. There was a time when loyalty was valued by both the employer and the employee. My father was loyal to General Motors for his ...

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