Posts by Chris Gardner
Do You Really Know Your Employees?
At a recent business lunch, I was shocked to find out that my account manager, Lisa, has an identical twin. Identical twin? Really? I’d been working with her for three years, and somehow never knew this MAJOR life detail. It caused me to think about how well I actually know my employees. I know that…
Read MoreIs Your Work Becoming Toxic?
If….you speed-walk to your cubicle and throw on noise-canceling headphones… If…..you feel stressed out by constant conflict with coworkers… If… you’d rather make yourself sick than go into work each day…. Then, you may be in a toxic work environment. All work environments have periods of high and low. Some are consistently low. But, others…
Read MoreHow to Handle Losing a Top Employee
You knew the day would come. “It’s an offer I can’t refuse,” he said. You mumble a quick congratulations, but the reality of all that talent, all that competence, all of that drive… going elsewhere. It hurts. In today’s market, job change is increasingly common. A LinkedIn study of its 500 million users found that…
Read MoreHow to Speak Up to Your Boss
You know the solution to your boss’s current problem. But, with clenched fists, you lock your jaw and hold your tongue, hoping your smile doesn’t look too fake. You want to say something— badly. You don’t know how to speak up to your boss. You wait for the right moment to share your idea, but…
Read More3 Mistakes Companies Make That Derail Their Hiring Process
Hiring…it’s like any relationship, really. And some companies aren’t as good at relationships and make mistakes that derail their hiring process. People are introduced, they meet, and then get to know each other through questions and answers. Initial impressions are made and a (working) relationship begins. The relationship grows through interviews, emails, and phone calls.…
Read MoreThe Unexpected ROI of an AMAZING Hire
A $5 scratch off ticket wins you $1000. Losing weight even though you cheated on a diet. Impressing a teenage son in a pick-up basketball game. Sometimes, in everyday life, things go better than expected. The same is true in business. We expect to hire great people. But what happens when a new hire turns…
Read MoreHow Ambitious People Think
There’s one thing I know for sure about ambitious people: they have a personal vision for success. In fact, Google Dictionary describes ambition as “eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.” In other words, ambition and the ability to define personal success go hand in hand. Easier said than…
Read MoreThe Effects of Busyness In Your Business
So, here’s a challenge. Read through this entire article… uninterrupted. Not an easy task? Perhaps you fall into the majority of workers who participated in a recent online quiz. If you’re in business, you’ve experienced the effects of “busyness” Of 6,000 workers surveyed, “71% reported frequent interruptions when they’re working” (Quiz: How Do Your Time…
Read More4 Ways to Help Your Team Make Decisions Quickly
Good decision-making isn’t inherent. To have employees who make good decisions, you need to give them the knowledge and resources they need. When your team learns to make decisions quickly, there can be long-term benefits. From our executive search experiences, the companies that succeed and grow the fastest are the ones that train and empower…
Read MoreIt’s a Remote World: Know How to Manage It
Managing remote employees is all about communication. It’s a remote world and we need to know how to manage it. Forty-three percent of American workers are now working remotely, according Gallup’s 2016 State of the American Workplace study. The report, which surveyed more than 15,000 adults, also states that 51% of people would switch jobs…
Read MoreWhat’s Trending in Your Career?
With a new year, comes a frenzy (and flurry) of predictions—what will trend in the business world in next? How will things change with new technology, the latest politics, the global market? Now is the perfect time to personally reflect on your own career direction. Where will your job take your career next? How will…
Read MoreCast a Bigger Net | How a Search Firm Expands Your Recruiting Reach
When I realized I would need an extra hand getting a king sized mattress up two flights of stairs, I reached out to my neighbor for help. Actually, there were quite a few people I could have asked. I live in a very tight-knit community, and over the years I have made the fortune of…
Read MoreHiring: They Call it a “Process” for a Reason
I enjoy the hiring process. I know it works. I believe that each step is important in forming a complete picture. In my years of experience as an executive recruiter, I have seen the value of following a step-by-step hiring process. When companies rush the process or skip steps, they often realize that they didn’t…
Read MoreUsing Semi-Formal Interviewing to Uncover More About Candidates
We can Intentionally create informal moments to see more sides of a potential hire by using semi-formal interviewing to gain a deeper understanding of candidates. On my way to our conference room, I passed the sales candidate we were about to interview. She was seated cross-legged, back straight, her formal heels neatly together on the…
Read More“Zone-ing” in on Employee Learning and Retention
Imagine overhearing these two sentiments: “OMG. This job is soooo boring. I sit here all day long and never learn anything new.” Or, “I am beyond frustrated. I have way too much work and no training. This is just not worth it.” Companies and associates equally benefit when employee learning and retention is a priority.…
Read MoreIs Your Company Strutting its Stuff?
The dance of a male peacock is truly fascinating. Blue iridescent feathers shimmer in a proud exhibit of splendid ornamentation. Strutting back and forth, its wide arc of feathered beauty captivates. This is nature’s version of full display. Potential new hires are googling. How does a company anticipate the results? Is your company strutting it’s…
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