We spend most of our waking lives at work. In some cases, we end up spending more time in the company of our co-workers than we do with our friends or families. Creating a positive working environment becomes central in achieving long-term life satisfaction. But, of course, you’re running a business. A working environment doesn’t…
We often make up our minds about people in a millisecond. That represents Tinder’s main operating principle. It also applies to business, especially to the hiring process. HR managers have to shuffle through a lot of candidates to whittle their lists down to a manageable size. They aren’t in a mood to give the benefit…
In our darkest moments, those times when the future seems grim and all our hard work seems destined to lead to little long-term benefit, we seek support from those closest to us. However, those might not be the best people to ask. They can give affection and emotional support. But are they in a position…
A position opens up in your organization. You have a number of strong internal candidates. However, some of the managers prefer looking for someone from the outside. What should you do? Should you promote one of your current employees? Or should you launch a hiring process to bring in an outside ringer? Unfortunately, there are…
Protecting a job is almost as important as finding one. When you land a position you love, you want to stay there as long as it continues to feed your long-term career plans. Unfortunately, the vagaries of corporate life might not cooperate. Situations beyond your control can push you out of a position you love…
A job candidate flies through the recruiting process. Great resume. Stellar interview. Says all the right things and describes all the right experiences. You bring them in for their first day. Disaster. They have no idea what they’re doing. It quickly dawns on you: the perfect resume, the impressive interview … all lies. Now you…
Balance in any endeavor is difficult. In fact, it’s definitionally precarious, as it involves an attempt to hold steady between two intense, competing forces. Consider the difficulty faced by tightrope walkers or NASA engineers attempting to send a satellite into orbit. Or just think back to yourself as a little kid, first learning to ride…
The first day of any new endeavor is hard (flashbacks to junior high or summer camp). Beyond these normal anxieties, however, onboarding at a new job comes with a special torture inflicted by all the requirements of corporate bureaucracies, namely: complete, utter boredom. The start of a new job can feel dreary and uninviting. The…
You’ve been working at your current post as a temp for a while now. You love the position. You love the company. You love your co-workers. You respect your manager and you buy into the firm’s overall mission. You decide your goal is to turn the temporary gig into a full-time opportunity. But how do…
Maybe it stems from a long-buried hibernation instinct, but it’s difficult to get anything done during the winter. Vacations, holidays, New Year’s hangovers, the general malaise of short days, bad weather and having to wear multiple layers – it all contributes to an overall sluggishness that drains the willingness to do anything productive. Luckily, spring…