Delegating with Success

Trying to do it all is a variation on the theme of doing too much at once. When you try to do everything yourself, rather than appropriately delegating tasks that others can do (sometimes even better than you can do them), you slow yourself and your company down, as well as potentially sacrificing the quality of your services or products.

Setting Goals & Planning in 2012

I have a room in my house that has about ten framed quotes by Ronald Regan. As January is a great time to evaluate goals, I often reflect on Regan’s quotes about setting goals, one being: “My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose – somehow we win out.”

Full Disclosure Critical When Searching for ‘A Few Good Men’

I remember it like it was yesterday. Col. Nathan Jessep sits scowling from the witness stand asking, “You want answers?” Lt. Kaffee answers defiantly, “I want the truth!” “You CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” Awesome. Underdog Daniel Kaffee did the unthinkable. In that moment, an 11-year old me knew what he wanted to be when he grew up – an attorney. Almost immediately, I started practicing anyway I could. I gave my parents elaborate presentations that overwhelmingly proved why my bed time being pushed back from 8:30 to 9 p.m. would allow me to greater develop my social skills. I loved playing Devil’s advocate on topics I couldn’t care less about – successfully arguing why Alicia Silverstone was a better actress than Julia Roberts. I even went to college with my major set in Political Science. I was ready. Eventually, college taught me less about what I wanted to do and more about who I wanted to be. Two years into my major, I no longer wanted to be an attorney. The dream was over.

The Incredible Shrinking Candidate Pool

If you haven’t heard, the world’s population just surpassed 7 billion people. The national unemployment rate has also largely remained unchanged around 9.1% since July 2011. So it’s reasonable to conclude that you’ll continue to have an uninterrupted supply of great candidates for your positions, right? Unfortunately, no you can’t.

PUSH or PULL Your Way to Success

Do you push or pull your employees? Let me explain what I mean by describing “pushers” and “pullers”.

Pushers use deadlines and required benchmarks to motivate employees. Pushers are vocal and provide feedback, but most often when things aren’t going well. They also tend to be very reactive when handling situations. Employees avoid interaction with Pushers as it usually means they have done something wrong. Pushers often give their employees the impression that their own success is more important than that of the company. This approach makes employees think that the bottom-line is all that matters.

Celebrity Staff Recognizes Employee of the Year

Celebrating with professionals from each of the staffing divisions within C&A Industries, Inc., Celebrity Staff was thrilled to recognize the accomplishments of our 2011 Employee of the Year, Cathy F. at our Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 15.

Let’s go Have Some Fun in the Sun!

Summer is here! Heat, humidity, and days when we all look out the window wishing we were out at a ball game, on the golf course, or out at the pool. Many of us save those beloved vacation/PTO days to use during the summer when the days are long and there is lots to do outside. And we should! We work hard all year to save up that time off so we can get out and enjoy some fun in the sun.

Hiring is Heating Up. Are You Prepared?

With each passing month, 2011 is looking more and more optimistic. News reports indicate unemployment is declining, the worst may be over for the housing market (in most parts of the country at least), and consumer confidence is slowing returning. In the business world, the turnaround means many of us who were forced to reduce staff or leave vacant positions unfilled the last two years will need to add employees to our staff.

Is Time Really On Your Side?

Are you one of the many hiring managers who takes their time when interviewing and making an offer to a candidate? If you answered yes, please read on. It appears the common theme among many employers today is to interview as many candidates as possible in order to find that perfect candidate. The problem with this thought is that it is causing the interview process to be drawn out. What is the outcome that takes place? You’re missing out on some great candidates.

Bull$h*t and the Blarney Stone

Back in college I was lucky enough to study abroad as part of an international exchange program in London, England. A group of us traveled as much as we could on the weekends. One extended weekend we crossed the Irish Sea to visit Ireland. Of course we had to visit Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland and kiss the Blarney Stone. This is a real stone that has been kissed my millions of people including movie stars, writers, and world statesmen.