Online Articles

By David McNally, CEO, TransForm Corporation “A triumph of the human spirit” is the way we describe the achievements of those who have managed to tap into a deep reservoir of potential and possibility. The human spirit is a powerful force that exists within each of us. However, you can’t touch it and you certainly can’t buy it. Spirit may lay dormant in many, but when stirred from its slumber, it inspires great thoughts and great actions.

By Terence Brake, Head, Learning & Innovation, TMA World Several years ago, my colleagues and I were asked to help virtual teams operating in a merger between French and Japanese companies. Relationships between the French and Japanese team members were sour, and the productivity outlook was increasingly bleak. Not surprisingly, we were asked to come in and help the teams understand and work with their cultural differences. Given the circumstances, it wasn’t an unreasonable request.

Edited by Margery Weinstein Quicken Loans has found coaching to be an important training tool. The company’s team of regional mortgage banker coaches runs a program broken down into several initiatives, or “plays,” that promote a culture in which bankers and leaders at all levels continue to learn and sharpen their skills. Key components include:

By Hemanth Puttaswamy, Vice President, Product Strategy, Saba

By Tamra Chandler, CEO, PeopleFirm Maybe it’s a drawer at the office or a box in the garage, but chances are you have some place where well-intentioned work gifts are stashed away and forgotten. Peek inside and you’ll likely find a clock, a paperweight, or a branded polo shirt. Company gifts are well meaning but often impersonal or generic, providing no real value for the employee. The right gift, however, will generate goodwill for the holiday season and boost long-lasting employee satisfaction.

By Laura Stack, MBA, CSP

By David Bakke

ByJeannine Kunz, Director, Tooling U-SME SGS Tool Company’s commitment to continuous improvement and developing its associates is paying off with metrics related to retention and engagement well above industry average, all helping stem the skilled labor shortage it faced.

By Richard Lampner, Trainer and Account Manager, Signature Worldwide My dad was a trainer and not always thrilled about it. I never knew this when I was a kid, of course. Like many ’70s era dads, sharing his feelings and experiences was not a priority. He did “something in Personnel,” my mom said.

By Chip Espinoza, Mick Ukleja, and Craig Rusch As a manager, if you are still unconvinced about the benefits of engaging your Millennial employees, then maybe this information is not for you. But we hope you’ll keep reading anyway, because our research contains a truly remarkable discussion, one of tremendous optimism, energy, and willingness to engage on the part of Millennial workers. Despite a societal organization that favors seniority, we encountered a keen understanding among Millennials of the value of—and eagerness to—gain experience.