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Nov 17, 2009 | cschutz | Corporate Culture, Internal Communications
Today’s uncertain economic conditions have produced an interesting new hobby. I call it “manager watching.” All it takes is a newly released earnings report, an inquiry from a higher-up for specifics on forecasted revenues, or another impromptu budget review meeting to get this process moving. And unlike the traditional “people watching” we all seem to enjoy (especially while at the state fair or a large sporting event), “manager watching” can reveal a lot about the people who are running the show. Depending on the situation, we get to see real poetry in motion or a nightmarish train wreck unfold right before our very eyes.
While observing my client’s, co-workers and competitors, I’ve noticed a couple of distinct, management personalities emerge.
Recent Entries
Nov 11, 2009 | cchappel | Global, Hodes Happenings
Next week, we’ll be shipping Mark Hornung off to Lima, Peru. Hodes is sending its Senior Vice President of Strategy to be the guest speaker at the official membership launch of Overall Strategy, our most recent addition to the Global Network. His keynote address will discuss the concept of Employer Branding and its distinctive framework for how best to attract and retain talent, thus securing employee loyalty and performance, as well as other relevant topics regarding talent solutions for Latin American companies. There is no doubt that the “scramble for talent” and the need to develop talent in-house, is one of the primary concerns in the minds of Peruvian business leaders.
Overall also participated in the Annual Human Resources fair, Expo Capital Humano 2009, which took place in Lima on the 9th and 10th of September (picture below). It was a great opportunity to “pre-announce” their membership to the hundreds of executives that attended the fair.
Nov 9, 2009 | cbarber | Corporate Culture, Employee Engagement, Internal Communications
I must have a face that says, “Sure, I want to hear your life story in full, tedious detail.” For instance, I’ve found the only way to have peace on an airplane is to loudly suck on a toothpick and look totally absorbed in a book with a title like, Celebrating the Life & Times of Ted Bundy. Believe me, this technique works every time.
There is something liberating about being in the company of a stranger, though. First, you’ll probably never see the stranger again; and secondly, the stranger has no historical ammunition to use against you. It’s safe harbor for those in need of being heard, and my ears are usually the port-of-call.
Nov 4, 2009 | ctierney | Strategy
The biggest mistake I see with any solutions proposal is…we make our clients think too hard.
And now you’re saying…”Seriously?”
Well…yeah…we make them think too hard. If we want a client, especially one we’ve had a long term partnership with…to really respect us and take our consultation seriously, we are the ones that have to do the work.
The work has to be wrapped around empirical data, and tons of research. If we’re sitting in a client’s office with an anecdotal list of “let’s just give it a try” suggestions, we are in big trouble. Clients are constantly hearing from one representative or another. Each one has “the answer” to all their problems. Not many have done their homework…they’re just spewing a bunch of noise at someone.
What our clients need is a real answer, a real partner, a real strategy.
Nov 2, 2009 | cbarber | Corporate Culture, Internal Communications
We’ve all heard and read the corporate rap time and again. “Our employees are our greatest assets!” How then have 15 million dedicated, hardworking “assets” ended up unemployed?
We all understand the uncertainty of the times; we get it. But what’s hard to swallow is the walk versus the talk. If it’s true that what people bring to the table is important enough to be included in annual reports, how can they be tossed out like yesterday’s news? What makes talent that was indispensable a week ago of no value now? These are the questions keeping many of us awake at night.
Layoffs Cost More Than They Save.
According to Geoff Colvin, senior editor at Fortune magazine , reducing headcount is no question the quickest way to adjust the balance sheet, but the downstream expenses are huge. Aside from the fact that laid off workers have limited buying power, which directly affects consumer brands, Colvin reports that brand equity, customer loyalty, morale and productivity are all at risk.
Oct 29, 2009 | baddis | Recruitment
A significant challenge in HR today is the lack of voice among key executives. The primary reason is that HR very often seen as long on process and short on business substance. This doesn’t mean that HR isn’t valued and important. What it means is that business executives are looking for the bottom line solutions to their needs. Executives don’t care about time to fill, cost per hire, how many employees were written up last month or what new recruitment marketing material is being used. If you want a seat, you need to bring the meat.
Oct 27, 2009 | amcummings | Diversity & Inclusion, Research, Social Media/Social Recruiting
Marketers have know for a long time that African-American consumers tend to be early adopters of new products and in recent years of new consumer technologies, from gaming to MySpace to Twitter. A study just released by the Pew Internet and American Life Project confirms once again that minorities, and African-Americans in particular represent a desirable marketing segment.
According to a study released on October 23, 2009, African-Americans are more likely than any racial or gender group to use Twitter or another status update service. Pew found that 26% of African Americans online use Twitter or other service. The percentage for all groups, including women, was as follows: Men (non-Hispanic)—17%; women (non-Hispanic)—21%; white—19%; African-American—26%; and Hispanic—18%.
Those of us who specialize in helping our clients reach all demographics of the population should take note and factor this data into our strategies when developing communications and outreach plans. We know that social networking sites help build community and if businesses want to build a relationship with minorities, they have the research to support allocating financial resources for that purpose.
Oct 26, 2009 | Paul Austermuehle | Corporate Culture, Employee Engagement, Employer Branding, Government
The most troubling chapter of
Ronald Kessler’s new book on the Secret Service has nothing to do with the proclivities of Presidents or the lunatic inner lives of assassins. Instead, it is an 11-page diatribe on the insensitive and often counter-productive people policies of the Secret Service bureaucracy. In tale after tale, the agents describe how their personal needs are ignored and why they had to leave the service in order to rescue their personal lives.
“The leadership is in absolute denial that there’s a problem,” an agent says, “they don’t want to do anything to fix it.”
In the midst of a fascinating book on Presidential lifestyles and security, comes this grinding, painful chapter about how hard it is to be an employee of the federal government.
Oct 23, 2009 | gcassella | Events, Government, Social Media/Social Recruiting
The International Association of Chiefs of Police puts together a fantastic annual conference; between the spectacular exhibit floor to the informative and educational workshops they conduct, this conference is a tremendous asset for every Police Department to take advantage of. I have attended 2 so far, and in both instances have come back with valuable insight to assist with recruitment marketing to the law enforcement community. It also has one the more impressive exhibit halls I’ve ever experienced; helicopters, motorcycles, mobile communications vehicles. Let’s just say if it involves policing you will find it on the exhibit floor.
Two weeks ago I shared on a workshop panel at the Annual IACP Conference in Denver, Colorado. Our workshop was on “Leveraging the Internet for Police Recruitment”. The workshop went very well; however, we did have stiff competition from a workshop on “Race and the Police: In Search of a Perspective” which was conducted during the same time.
Oct 21, 2009 | cchappel | Hodes Happenings
Christy Schutz, Bernard Hodes Group’s Director of Client Relations in Tampa, joins host Syleste Porter on AdCast, Ad 2 Tampa Bay’s monthly webcast show. Check out the interview below as Christy discusses how best practice companies attract, recruit and retain quality employees.
Ad 2 Tampa Bay is an affiliate of the American Advertising Federation and the Tampa Bay Advertising Federation, and provides young advertising, marketing and communication professionals the contacts, education and leadership opportunities they need to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.