Category: Talent

Employee feedback, compliance, government forms, leave policies, recruiting: the list of tasks that an HR professional have to perform is nearly endless. Just as important as any one task is how professionals put them all together into a united front. Welcome to the Strategic HR topic.

Are You Trying to Maintain Training Excellence with a Decreased Budget?

Like many other companies, the economic downturn forced Heavy Construction Systems Specialists Inc. (HCSS) to reduce its employee development budget over the last few years. But unlike some other companies, the Sugar Land, Texas, company was able to cut expenses without sacrificing learning for its 100+ employees. Doing More with Less With a little creativity, […]

Hands-On Training Educates New-Hires About High Service Standard

Every new hire completes the New Hire Training program for two main reasons. First, Zappos.com, a leader in online apparel and footwear sales, is a company that has set a high standard for service for both its internal and external customers, says Rebecca Ratner, former director of Human Resources. Second, no matter what their role […]

Train Managers to Avoid Rookie Hiring Mistakes?

If you have not identified your critical needs, and how to screen for them, you’ll fail, says Susan M. Heathfield, blogging about hiring mistakes on About.com. Here are two more of her mistakes managers make. 7. Failure to Differentiate the Critical Job Skills Everyone has a wish list for their ideal candidate, but you must […]

Does Your Leadership Training Create Career Paths?

In recent years, Convergys (http://www.convergys.com/), a global leader in providing customer care, human resources, and billing services, implemented two training and development programs, Future Leaders and Emerging Leaders. Training magazine recognized the programs when it named Convergys to a recent Training Top 125 list. “We are honored to be named to this select list of […]

Are Your Managers Making Rookie Hiring Mistakes?

Bad hires sap time, training resources, and emotional energy, says Susan M. Heathfield, blogging on About.com. Here are her top eight “rookie” mistakes (often made by experienced pros as well). 1. Failure to Prescreen Candidates Prescreening applicants is a must, Heathfield says. A half-hour phone call saves hours of your time and other interviewers’ time, […]

Leadership Training Creates Competitive Advantage, Career Paths

The company’s CEO believes that, ideally, Convergys “leaders should spend 50 percent of their time coaching employees for performance,” Handy says. Consistent with that philosophy, the company piloted a third leadership program this spring. The day-long Leader as Coach program is geared toward managers at the director level and above. If you are looking for […]

Is Your Training Sufficient for Your Employees' Career Needs?

While 77 percent of survey respondents indicated that training should be a joint responsibility between employer and employee, more than 33 percent said the current training they receive from their employer is not sufficient to meet their career needs in the future, according to the survey by Kelly Services (www.kellyservices.com), a global workforce solutions firm. […]

Leadership Training for All Ages

I’m not much of a golf fan. I certainly can’t play the game and only have a passing interest in it as a spectator. Like the rest of the world, however, I did notice when young Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open. It’s amazing to see a 22-year-old at the top of his profession. But […]

3 More Lead-Manager Rules

A consultant whose opinion we respect—Bill Lee of Lee Resources, at BillLeeOnline.com—recommends a book he thinks is the best manager-improvement product he’s come across. It is The Control Theory Manager, by William Glasser, M.D. (HarperBusiness, 1994), and it’s short enough to be covered in an hour-long training session. The author contrasts what he calls “boss-management,” […]

Do Your Managers Need Some Refresher Training?

Your managers are the keys to your employees’ productivity and engagement. How well are they doing? A consultant whose opinion we respect—Bill Lee of Lee Resources, at BillLeeOnline.com—recommends a book he thinks is the best manager-improvement product he’s come across. It is The Control Theory Manager, by William Glasser, M.D. (HarperBusiness, 1994), and it’s short […]