Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Detect-and-Respond-the-new-business-reality.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Detect-and-Respond-the-new-business-reality.html Speed and agility are the name of the game if you want to beat your competitors or stay out front. The key to instilling speed and agility into an organization lies with its leaders. How do they make decisions? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Pay-for-Performance--in-this-Economy.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Pay-for-Performance--in-this-Economy.html Yes, especially now! There are three potential mistakes organizations can make when there is a downturn in the economy. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Human-Resources-How-much-is-enough-A-Controversial-Perspective.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Human-Resources-How-much-is-enough-A-Controversial-Perspective.html If your HR staff is not providing key reports and developing programs and strategies that either reduce your costs or increase revenue in some way, then you don’t need them at all. I mean that. But assuming you have, or will hire, a Human Resources professional that does or will make recommendations that contribute to the bottom line, the answer is “it depends”. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Is-there-a-place-for-MultiRater-Feedback-in-the-Selection-Process.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Is-there-a-place-for-MultiRater-Feedback-in-the-Selection-Process.html Also known as 360 degree feedback…most people would automatically say ‘no’ – but let’s think about that for a few minutes. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Everything-Changes-after-a-Recession.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Everything-Changes-after-a-Recession.html “If change is happening on the outside faster than on the inside, then the end is in sight” Jack Welch, CEO, G. E. In fact, the world is rapidly changing and organizations need to keep up. Innovation has become one of the top business objectives in organizations that want to grow, out perform their competitors and, indeed, survive by creating a high value proposition. More than 70% of senior executives said “innovation will be at least one of the top three drivers of growth for their companies in the next three to five years”. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Dealing-with-the-Economic-Downturn-with-the-Rebound-in-Mind.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Dealing-with-the-Economic-Downturn-with-the-Rebound-in-Mind.html Or……selectively cutting costs to improve the organizations competitive market position. Whenever there is an issue that can affect business success, I am always angered by the way the media focuses the general population on the negative, creating, in some respects, a “self fulfilling prophecy”. As the reports began to magnify the economic downturn, people in all walks of life began to question and curb their own spending, which is what feeds the downturn for businesses. The reality is that a downturn can give smart companies a chance to beat out their competition and prepare the organization for the turnaround. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/EVERYONE-HATES-PERFORMANCE-REVIEWS.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/EVERYONE-HATES-PERFORMANCE-REVIEWS.html Leaders and employees alike. Most managers hate doing them. Employees hate them too – even those that are over achieving. Is it time to get rid of them? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Human-Resources-Buzz-Words-are-they-all-Greek-to-you.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Human-Resources-Buzz-Words-are-they-all-Greek-to-you.html Employee Engagement, Organization Effectiveness, Organization Development, Leadership Surveys, Employee Satisfaction Surveys…………… http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Is-the-Human-Resources-function-really-just-a-necessary-evil.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Is-the-Human-Resources-function-really-just-a-necessary-evil.html What is the single largest expense in most businesses? People; payroll costs represent anywhere between 60 to 85% of controllable expenses. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Reference-Checks-are-they-reliable.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Human-Resources/3372/Reference-Checks-are-they-reliable.html There is a big time investment in the recruiting process. The ‘up front’ work does pay dividends - “Hire hard; manage easy” is, I believe, the expression. It works. Many clients ask us to check references when they find a good candidate and we always, but gently, remind them that these references are provided by the candidate and are not, therefore, likely to produce anything remotely negative. Organizations would be better to pay the money to a professional organization