Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Employee appearance presents a thorny issue. You don’t want to make an employee self-conscious or hurt feelings, but at the same time, there’s no denying a person’s appearance can affect his or her success in the workplace.
You are who you are. I’m in my 50th year. I am who I am. If I were to take a personality test, it would tell me largely the same thing it would have told me 10 or even 20 years ago. Sure, things happen in our lives that can cause our personalities to change […]
by Dan Oswald A couple of days ago we celebrated Mother’s Day, and while one day each year clearly isn’t enough to honor our mothers, it does provide us with the opportunity to thank the women in our lives for everything they have done to love and support us. A number of years ago, I […]
by Dan Oswald Last week I took my second child—and my only daughter, which is a significant distinction for a father—to college for her freshman year. I knew it would be an emotional time for her, her mother, and me. And I wanted to offer some sage advice as I left her behind in her […]
by Dan Oswald My oldest graduated from college this weekend. In addition to reminding me that I am, indeed, getting older, it caused me to consider what sage career and life advice I might have for him. My first thought was that I had the order of those two things reversed—that I should be providing […]
A great man once said, “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” The man credited for uttering those words? Dr. Seuss. But how right was the author of those wonderful children’s books? In my estimation, he hit the nail on the head. I was on the phone the other day with a […]
When people question what it takes to be successful in business, my response is often, “You should ask someone who is.” The best way to learn about anything is to ask someone who has been successful at it. If you want to learn how to throw a great curve ball, ask someone who throws a […]
No, I’m not here to talk about your love life. I’ve been married for 23 years and I would never presume to have the least bit of insight to share with you regarding that topic. And my wife would gladly confirm that if I did provide any advice, you’d be best to ignore it! I’d […]
We’ve all heard the old saying “Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” It’s pretty straightforward. The Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings describes it this way: “Don’t criticize another person’s work until you’ve tried to do it yourself; don’t judge another person’s life until you’ve been […]
“A trusted counselor or guide.” That’s Webster’s definition of a mentor. Who do you have in your professional life that you can trust for sound counsel and guidance? It’s critical to your success and, likely, your emotional well-being to have people to whom you can turn when you’re struggling, need advice, or just want some […]