A while ago, I mentioned to you about how I have a daughter who studies philosophy and literature in college. We’ve discussed multiple different ways her world of arts and my world of business coincide and have even produced a blog from one of those very discussions. Today is another addition to those that I have already shared with you. This day is a day we take some advice from the greatest playwright of our time and apply it to the business world, because what Shakespeare taught us about love and war, he can also teach us about business. Today’s topic: The Taming of the Shrew.

 If you are unfamiliar with the plot of the play, here is a very brief summary: There are two sisters: beautiful and gentle Bianca and her more outspoken and unpleasant sister, Katharina. While Bianca has a number of suitors, their father insists that Bianca cannot be married until her elder sister is first. All of Bianca’s suitors are annoyed by this so they bribe a man named Petruchio to wed Katharina. He agrees and takes her to his country home and denies her food and sleep while complimenting her at the same time. His behavior ends up working on her and in the end she becomes even more of a submissive wife than her younger sister.

What can this play teach us about modern day comings and goings? Well…

1. The best kind of partnership is one that is equal. While Petruchio and Katharina eventually get along because she succumbs to his will, it cannot be said that their relationship is a particularly healthy one. She is fearful of him and agrees with him because of this as opposed to because she actually agrees with the ways in which he sees the world. This is a good thing to look at when it comes to business partnerships as well. While another company who is flashier or more popular may seem like a company to make a partnership with, it is always good to look deeper and do proper research before jumping into or agreeing to anything. You never know what you might find if you look just a little deeper.
2. Beauty isn’t everything. I am not talking about beauty in the literal sense, though that is the form in which it takes in this play. I mean that, in the confines of the play, the less beautiful of the two sisters ended up being what could be considered a better wife because she is more adaptive and knows how to handle herself in situations she would rather not be in. This could be said about any business partnership as well – while one company may be more aesthetically pleasing up front, another may be more beneficial to you and your dealings in the long run.

 The point of these blogs is to remind you that the best ways to handle your business and lessons to learn these things by can be found just about anywhere and the sooner you start looking, the more you will find in places you would never expect. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

Do you know a Shrew that needs Taming? is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. Listen to YOUR employees, PLEASE Four things to take in to consideration in order to...
2. The King and the Recruiter I have twice used my discussions with my daughter to...
3. Shakespeare Returns to HR  Today is another addition to those “literary posts” that I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

We all have moments when we have trouble articulating what we want to say, or putting down the exact words that we want to write. This can be a big problem if it persists and keeps you from moving forward. Many people have their own techniques, habits, and solutions for when the elusive block comes – whether this is a writing block, a thinking block, or a general block of creativity doesn’t matter – because in the end, it all keeps things from getting done. Here are a few suggestions for what you can do when your brain just isn’t agreeing with your goals:

1. Do something else! Let’s say you are working on a proposal and your deadline is in a few hours and you just cannot figure out how to conclude it. You’re staring blankly at a computer screen but nothing comes to mind. Relax! Take a breath and take a step back. Go get a cup of coffee, reorganize your desk drawers, or write responses to a few e-mails you have been meaning to get to. You will find the words you were looking for when you stop actively looking for them.
2. Read. There is nothing wrong with looking up and reading pieces similar to those you are trying to work on and create yourself. If you’re having trouble finishing a blog for your website, go and read some blogs. The same goes for any other kind of project you’re trying to finish – creative, or otherwise.
3. Try Freewriting. Freewriting is a technique used mainly when someone who is writing a fiction or creative piece comes to a block and needs to get their ideas flowing once more. All you have to do is sit down with an empty word document and write for a set amount of time or space. Ten minutes, or a full page or two works. You don’t think about what you’re writing, you don’t read it as you write, you just write. A lot of times when you are done with freewriting and go back to review what you have written, you’ll find you have worked out a lot of problems through just letting your subconscious go.
4. Talk it out. Find an audience – a coworker, an employee, a casual friend. Talk to them about what is keeping you from finishing your work, get their input. It could be more beneficial to speak to someone who knows nothing about the work you are trying to finish, someone who doesn’t even work in the same field as you. That way their input will come from a direction you may not have even considered when you were working on your own.

If you find yourself still stuck after attempting some or all of these techniques, try something else! Anything that seems right to you might just be what you need. For all we know, all you needed was a chocolate bar! To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

HR Professionals Need To Write More is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. HR Thought Leadership and YOU Part 2 There are common traits that can be found in those...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

We’ve discussed multiple different ways the world of arts and the world of business coincide. Today is another addition to those that I have already shared with you. This day is a day we take some advice from Shakespeare about love and war, as well as business. Today’s topic: Macbeth.

If you are unfamiliar with the plot of the play, here is a very brief summary: On his return from war, Macbeth comes across three witches along with his another general named Banquo, whom is killed by Macbeth after he hears the prophecy. The witches predict that one day Macbeth will become king and because of this he murders the current king, Duncan. His wife helps him commit this act. The crown is then passed on to Macbeth. Banquo’s ghost begins to hunt Macbeth and his wife. She grows mad and weary with guilt. In the end, as is usual with Shakespeare, just about everyone dies.

So, what is there to learn from this that applies to the modern day? Well..

1. Do not mistake ambition for something else. The biggest lesson to learn from this play is that ambition can become something monstrous if you forget that the best way to become successful is an honest and hardworking way. Macbeth gets very far in the play, becoming the king, even, but he does it at a cost he can hardly fathom – he takes lives, and does it without regret or conscious because he feels that is what he is supposed to do to succeed instead of working hard for what he wants and earning it through pure means. This is the same when you’re working towards any goal, or any position in a business, whatever you achieve will not be worth it if it is achieved in negative ways because in the end, the truth always comes out and scores are always settled.
2. If someone you trust is about to make a poor decision, tell them that it is a poor decision. It’s incredibly difficult to tell someone that you think what they are about to do is something that they shouldn’t, especially if it is a supervisor or boss at work, but that is always the best thing to do because the consequences of not admitting what you feel are much greater than the opposite. If Macbeth’s wife had protested to the original murder, she never would have taken her life at the end because she would not have had the guilt to worry her. This is very important in a business setting because it is never a single person’s decision, an office is a well oiled machine that completely relies on proper communication and honesty between employee and employer, employer and employee.

The point of these blogs is to remind you that the best ways to handle your business and lessons to learn these things by can be found just about anywhere and the sooner you start looking, the more you will find in places you would never expect. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

Office Politics Can Destroy You is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. HR Thought Leadership and YOU Part 2 There are common traits that can be found in those...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

 Today is another addition to those “literary posts” that I have already shared with you. This day is a day we take some additional advice from the greatest playwright of our time and apply it to the business world and your recruiting department, because what Shakespeare taught us about love and war, he can also teach us about business. These lessons are most applicable to your Internal Recruiting Staff.  Today’s topic: Othello.

If you are unfamiliar with the plot of the play, here is a very brief summary: This is another of William Shakespeare’s tragedies centered on a man named Othello, a highly esteemed general in the Venetian service. He has an ambitious friend named Iago who becomes incredibly jealous when he promotes another friend, Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant. Iago starts a campaign to smear Othello’s name. Othello elopes with his love, Desdemona, but Iago continues to plot against them. This causes Othello to become suspicious of Desdemona and, not knowing of his friend’s treachery, confides in Iago that he plans to poison her. He finds out the truth after it is too late.

There are three lessons we can learn from this play that apply in the business world and your office environment, and they are…

1.  Don’t let jealousy or negative emotion prevent you from making a practical decision. Othello let the jealousy that he felt with Desdemona cloud his decision making. He was so convinced that the things Iago was telling him were true that he didn’t stop to think about what the truth actually was or could have been and instead acted emotionally instead of logically. This can happen to you as well with any business decision – emotions like excitement, eagerness, or the more negative ones like those plaguing Othello in the play – can make you act too rashly or make poor decisions. Think first, and then act.
2. Don’t cut yourself off from others. When Othello, Desdemona and the others left Venice for the island, they found themselves with little to nothing to do. Because of this, they did one of the only things that they could think to do and that was pick apart and turn on each other (sound familiar ???). Always promote clarity and community within your office. Frequently, people say or do things that can cause big ripples without even realizing the extent of their comments, so good policy and clarity of communication and focus is very beneficial.
3. Keep your cards close to your chest. I’m not saying that it is bad to trust people that you work with, but I do think that it is good never to let any single person know everything you have planned. If you spread information out between various sources you can still get the feedback you need to help you create a greater picture. If Othello had not shared his plan with Iago, he may have had more time to stew and realize the negative aspects of what he wanted to do.

 The point of these “literature” blogs is to remind you that the best ways to handle your business is to learn that lessons can be found just about anywhere and the sooner you start looking, the more you will find them in places you would never expect. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

Shakespeare Returns to HR is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. The Liberal Arts CEO and Shakespeare We take some advice from the greatest playwright of our...
2. Would You Hire Romeo & Juliet ?? Recently I have reminded you about how I have a...
3. HR Thought Leadership and YOU Part 2 There are common traits that can be found in those...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Recently I have reminded you about how I have a daughter who studies philosophy and literature in college. Her and I frequently discuss the ways in which the worlds of business and the world of art and literature coincide. Not too long ago, we related this back to Shakespeare’s Hamlet and how lessons learned from that could apply in both words. Today we’re taking some more advice from the greatest playwright of our time and applying it to the business world, because what Shakespeare taught us about love and war, he can also teach us about business. Today’s topic: Romeo and Juliet.

If you are unfamiliar with the plot of the play, here is a very brief summary: It is set in the city of Verona, a violent and feuding place with two noble families locked in an ongoing war. Romeo and Juliet, the children of two of these families, become involved in a passionate love affair and are forced to keep that love hidden from their respective families. This leads to the deaths of both the children and in the end their families, all too late, put their feud behind them.

1.       Communication is one of the most important things when it comes to relations with other people. While it will not be as extreme in a business situation as it was for Romeo and Juliet, miscommunication can cause a lot of problems. Romeo and Juliet met their demise because of bad timing and poor communication – because they did not go to the source or speak directly to one another, and instead used other modes and assumed that they would work. Always double check the memos you sent out, always call back a day or two later to make sure that the messages you left were received. It is always better to be sure that contact was made than to wait until it is too late to recover if they were lost.
2.       Honesty is always the best policy. The progeny of the two families in the play were led to deceit because they felt that if they told the truth, everything would fall apart and be thrown into chaos. The fact of the matter, though, is that they had no definite, sure idea what would happen, but chose to act on the assumption that something bad would. Their avoidance of the truth led to their demise – if they had been honest, there is no denying that things could have ended up much better for them. This concept applies to practicing of business as well. Our fears are always worse than any repercussion from telling the truth – if something goes wrong, admit to it and work through it instead of hiding it away. If it is hidden, things only get worse and you end up having to lie more to cover up the original one and eventually it will be out of your control. Romeo and Juliet learned the hard way, not everyone has to.

The point of these blogs is to remind you that the best ways to handle your business and lessons to learn these things by can be found just about anywhere and the sooner you start looking, the more you will find in places you would never expect. Whether it is the back of cereal boxes or conversation with your children as opposed to business journals and social media, there is always something to be learned. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

Would You Hire Romeo & Juliet ?? is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. HR Thought Leadership and YOU Part 2 There are common traits that can be found in those...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A while ago, I mentioned to you about how I have a daughter who studies philosophy and literature in college. We’ve discussed multiple different ways her world of arts and my world of business coincide and have even produced a blog from one of those very discussions. This time we have a series of blogs set up for you, this being the first. This day is a day we take some advice from the greatest playwright of our time and apply it to the business world, because what Shakespeare taught us about love and war, he can also teach us about business. Today’s topic: Hamlet.

If you are unfamiliar with the plot of the play, here is a very brief summary: A ghost has been haunting Elsinore castle, bearing an amazing resemblance to a recently deceased King Hamlet. The Prince, son of the king, also named Hamlet, learns from this ghost that his father was murdered by a man named Claudius. The play is about Hamlet’s decisions in relations to his father’s death and whether or not to take revenge on Claudius.

 There are three lessons we can learn from this play that apply in the business world, and they are…

1. Nothing is certain.  We must always be prepared for the worst. In Hamlet’s case, it’s making sure that there aren’t men waiting to kill him behind every curtain. In our case, it is about properly taking care of our employees and ourselves in order to keep everyone happy (and healthy). We can never be certain that a plan will work out so we must exhaust all options to ensure that it does. If we have a business meeting coming up, we should consult multiple people in order to make the best plan of order, just like Hamlet consults with multiple people to help solidify what he plans on doing.
2. When is the right time to act, and when isn’t. In the play, Hamlet goes to great extent to find out the truth about whether Claudius is truly guilty for his father’s death. He does not instantly assume that the ghostly apparition that spoke to him is right. In the business world, it is a daunting task to keep track of the truth, but it is a necessary one. Before taking action, always take everything in to consideration. If you hear something unpleasant about one of your employees that could bring shame to your company, find out the truth first. Talk to the employee themselves, ask around. If you do this before making any rash decisions, you may save yourself a lot of trouble. At the very least, unlike Hamlet, you will not have to worry about any goblets filled with poison.
3. Revenge doesn’t help anyone. When it comes to conflict in the office, it is always good to let yourself cool down and assess the situation before striking out. In Hamlet’s case, a swift set of vengeful actions results in nearly everyone’s demise. This is a bit extreme in comparison to conflicts in the office, but the idea is still the same: stay calm, think first.

The point of these blogs is to remind you that the best ways to handle your business and lessons to learn these things by can be found just about anywhere and the sooner you start looking, the more you will find in places you would never expect. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

The Liberal Arts CEO and Shakespeare is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. HR Thought Leadership and YOU Part 2 There are common traits that can be found in those...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

An HR thought leader is someone who has innovative ideas and concepts – someone who, despite what is going on around them, defies convention and tries something new and succeeds. It is a term that was coined over fifteen years ago and has a lot of new dynamics in the current age. I have recently written to you about resources for those who desire to be on the track to HR thought leadership but there is more to sharing innovative ideas than just outlets. There are common traits that can be found in those who are HR thought leaders in this day and age and my goal is to share some of those with you today so that you may hone such traits in yourself and your work.

1.       Fearlessness. If you want your voice to be heard and your idea to be listened to, it is very likely that you will have to put yourself in multiple situations that could very well be outside the realm of your comfort zone. It’s okay! Do it! Talk to people you don’t know, ask questions that you need answers to, go to meetings and conferences and forums and you will begin to be recognized as long as you are not afraid to put yourself out there. No harm in trying, no matter what.
2.       Passion. One thing that can make a lot of ideas fall flat is a lack of passion. You may have an idea that you know could be very marketable but for some reason it just doesn’t inspire you or fire you up like other things do. People can sense this. People can tell when what you are pitching to them is something that comes from deep down inside. People respond well to “belly fire” more so than they do to most other things. If you want to be a thought leader, you have to believe in what you are doing. Don’t do anything halfway.
3.       Humility. Even if you’re positive that your idea is the best idea in the entire history of ideas, there is always room for growth. Remember this and stay humble because any help is useful help and you never know when some advice may make all the difference. People don’t want to help someone who believes they will never need it. Sometimes you do.
4.        Drive. Never! Give! Up! That’s the most important lesson here – drive. If you want to fly higher than anyone else, you have to continue to practice your craft, hone your work. You have to put in extra hours, get up early, write it all down, and keep on growing and working and believing. If you really believe you can do it, you have to keep doing it until you reach your goal. Once you reach your goal, keep climbing.

In the end, being an HR thought leader comes down to you. It comes down to your confidence and your drive. It comes down to your desire to really share your ideas with the world. If you believe you can change it, there’s no reason not to try. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

HR Thought Leadership and YOU Part 2 is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

Related posts:

1. Are YOU an HR Thought Leader ?? A thought leader is someone who has innovative ideas and...
2. Listen to YOUR employees, PLEASE Four things to take in to consideration in order to...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

A thought leader is someone who has innovative ideas and concepts – someone who, despite what is going on around them, defies convention and tries something new and succeeds. It is a term that was coined over fifteen years ago and has a lot of new dynamics in the current age. The advent of social media and the continuing advance of technology makes being innovative and sharing those innovative ideas. How do we utilize these things to share our ideas? What things are there for us to use? Here are a few suggested resources you can use to help share your ideas with those who can help support you on your way to thought leadership.

1. Your community! While the internet has boundless forums and websites and so on and so forth that can help you share your ideas and gain recognition, the first place to always go is your own community. Your colleagues, customers, friends, and family – all of these people will listen to your ideas and it is very likely that if they like it they will share it with their own colleagues, customers, friends, and family. The power of speaking with those around you is surprisingly strong and people are usually quite eager to help those they know out if they believe in their ideas.
2. Social Media. I know I talk a lot about social media here, but that is because it can be a useful tool. There are both good and bad ways to utilize it, but that’s for another blog. Sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, and many others can be used to help share and connect with people who may have similar ideas to you. Also, using Google to find more specialized forums and think tank type sites can help you as well. Be vigilant!
3. Self-publishing. If you have formed your idea enough, the world of self publishing is a very useful one. Many of the major publishers look to self publishers as a way of finding new and upcoming manuscripts so if you are confident enough about your idea you can take that next step by writing about it in a manuscript and going from there – who knows who could pick it up, or who could read it – the possibilities are endless.
4. Listen to advice! That’s my biggest tip, if there is any tip to give it is this one. Anyone who offers you help or gives you advice, listen. There are many bits of genuine information lying in a lot of the places you would least expect to find them. If you just look, search, and persevere, the right path is always there.

In the end, being a thought leader comes down to you. It comes down to your confidence and your drive. It comes down to your desire to really share your ideas with the world. If you believe you can change it, there’s no reason not to try. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

Are YOU an HR Thought Leader ?? is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Irish poet William Butler Yeats once said, “Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.”  I think this quote embodies a really important thing that we sometimes forget not only in the office, but in all aspects of life: how to properly communicate. We talk to strangers, friends, colleagues all the time, but there are many techniques we could employ to enrich our communicative experience for us and those we are communicating with. That’s what I’ll be talking about today – things to take in to consideration in order to communicate better.

1.       Listen! Suggesting listening as a way to improve your communication may seem silly, as it is something we do naturally, but if you stop to consider it, there is a lot of time we spend doing the exact opposite. How many times have you been more preoccupied with what you plan on saying next while someone is speaking to you instead of listening to what they are saying yourself? How many times have you completely ignored someone’s sentiment because you do not agree with it? If we take a pause to absorb what is being spoken to us instead of focusing on what we want to say next, we may learn a lot more than we would expect.
2.       Communication is not just the things you say. A lot of communication is about the way you present yourself. If you want someone to make sure they know that you are paying attention to what they are saying, things like straight posture, eye contact, and nodding or some other interactive gesture can help to get that point across. A lot of these things we do naturally, but in some situations, where we are nervous or uncomfortable, for instance, keep them in mind or that stiffness may send the wrong message.
3.       Constructive Criticism. It is natural to react defensively to any criticism someone might come to you with, but if you work on relaxing and taking it in stride, you will find yourself with a lot more room for growth and learning. The same goes with when finding yourself with criticism for someone else’s work – remember what it feels like to be criticized, and be constructive, statements like, “I like what you’re doing here, but…” help soften the blow of any problems you may find and segue into easier lines of communication on how to improve.
4.       Remember who you are speaking to. Being able to empathize with others will help you to know how to communicate better. For instance, if a worker is doing something that is negatively affecting the rest of those in the office working on a similar project, instead of automatically issuing a sort of warning or letting them go, tries to understand why they might do those things. If you can do that, you can help resolve it by speaking to them from a place of understanding.

 A lot of communication is natural, but sometimes we have to remember certain things to keep ourselves ready for anything at any time. To stay at the edge of issues on HR and staffing, be sure to subscribe to the Human Capital Supply Chain Blog.

Listen to YOUR employees, PLEASE is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What is the best way to determine the real salary expectation of a job seeker or current employee? First, do NOT assume anything !!

This is an especially pertinent question in a time of high unemployment. Because of the number of job seekers out there, employers can offer lower-than-usual salaries to prospects. If staffing services don’t help their job seekers have realistic and workable salary expectations, they will find it hard to make placements.

A  recent article in HirePlateau, an information hub for recruiters and other staffing professionals, provided some important insights for the staffing professional:

•  Don’t immediately negate someone’s salary expectations, even if they are unrealistic. Their response to “How much do you expect to make?” may express a wish or an aspiration rather than a firm expectation. 
• Focus on what the candidate is looking for besides money. Does he or she want to travel? Be able to advance? Get paid training? Work from home? Work for a large or small company? These desires are just as motivating as salary.
• Ask, “If a dream job came in at (some number lower than the desired salary), would you take it?” The answer will probably be “yes” or, at least, “it depends.” You’re on your way to discovering a candidate’s true salary floor.

 The article points out that if a staffing agency doesn’t work with a client this way, another one probably will, and then it will get the credit – and the dollars – for effectively managing their candidate’s job search.

 Two additional points we recommend are:

•  Don’t mislead a candidate’s about possible salaries. We have heard too many stories of staffing professionals agreeing with (or at least encouraging) a number that they knew was too big so that they could retain a candidate. Then they go under a candidate’s bottom line to get a placement, often taking advantage of the candidate’s need for a job. The result: no one is happy. The alternative: be honest, but in a way that will actually help the candidate thrive in a placement .
• At some point, ask, “Can I contact you with offers under this amount?” – And then honor the answer. This helps set clear expectations for the candidate, and he or she retains the freedom to turn down an opportunity on his or her own terms. It also establishes the staffing professional as an honest broker which, in the long run, is what really makes someone successful in this business.

 Talking about annual salaries or hourly pay rates is never easy, but by heeding the above suggestions, a staffing professional can help ensure that everybody wins in the end.

Visit the eEmpACT staffing resources section for more about staffing tools and improving human capital management.

Are Raises Back in 2011 ?? is a post from: Human Capital Supply Chains

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.