4 Stupid Interview Questions To Dump Right Now (And What to Ask Instead)

by Lisa McKale October 2, 2016

HR has rustled up a great group of candidates to fill your empty staff position. They seem smart, eager and perfect fits on paper. So how do you know which one is the best?

You’ll never find out if you’re still sticking with lame interview questions.

They’re questions Ellis Chase, HR director at the former Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, refers to as “flat-out dumb.”

But they’re still on many many managers’ interview checklists. And they’ll never get you what you need from prospective employees.

Here are 4 of the top offenders you need to eliminate TODAY – and what to ask instead:

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Performance Management

20 Annoying Co-Workers That Drive You Up a Wall

by Renee Cocchi September 25, 2016

My ideal work environment is sitting at home in my comfy clothes with my dogs lying at my feet while I write and edit in total peace and quiet.

In reality, I work in an office full of people. And while most of my co-workers are great, a few of them – to put it nicely – are a bit annoying.

But it’s pretty much unavoidable that someone’s going to annoy you when you’re in an office 40 or more hours a week, and you combine a bunch of people with different personalities and backgrounds.

In fact, one in eight people will leave their job due to incivility and never report it.

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Leadership

Finding A Great Mentor: It’s A Dance, Not A Contract

by Rich Henson September 11, 2016

There are times when I’m about to offer someone advice I catch myself and say, “You know what? You could really benefit from having a good mentor.”

Which is actually pretty good advice.

And you know what? They agree.

Having a healthy relationship with a mentor has no downsides. And a mentor can provide much more than just sound advice.

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Leadership

The Great ‘That’s Just Who I Am’ Leadership Cop-Out

by John Walston September 10, 2016

I’m a blunt, tell-it-like-it-is, straight shooting son of a gun.

That’s just who I am. And I wear it like a badge of honor.

But it can be a lousy leadership style.

I read a great piece by Karin Hurt of Let’s Grow Leaders this week which reminded me that “that’s just who I am” can be a cop-out. It can demoralize your team and derail your results.

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Employee Engagement

8 Team-Building Exercises That Don’t Actually Suck

by Renee Cocchi September 5, 2016

What’s the first thought that pops into your head when you hear the words team-building exercises?

Mine is run for the hills!

I’m not a fan. They make me very uncomfortable!

But experts say they have their place and purpose. They facilitate better communication, break down barriers, foster collaboration and creativity, and boost morale.

So maybe there are team-building activities that are fun, effective and don’t completely suck. Maybe I just haven’t participated in the right ones.

So I set off in a search of them, and here’s what I found:

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Leadership

How To Say ‘No’ To The PWNHNs (People Who Never Hear ‘No’)

by Lisa McKale August 28, 2016

Resourceful managers always have a lot going on. It comes with the territory. So we sometimes have to say no to demands for our time. And most people respect that.

But then there are The Others. You recognize them. The PWNHNs – the People Who Never Hear No.

They’re always clamoring for your time, and you Just. Can’t. Tell. Them. No.

They ask. You politely say no.

They cajole: “But you’re perfect for this! I need you!”

They pout: “What do you mean, no? You did it last year!”

They argue: “It won’t take long. You can fit it in between meetings.”

But you can’t be everything to everyone. You can stop the PWNHNs by recognizing their tactics, getting smart about avoiding their traps and learning how to say ‘no’.

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Leadership

Positivity Amid The Wreckage; 30 Coaching Skills; Become A Better People Person

by John Walston August 27, 2016

You’ve probably heard that newspapers are dying. And they are.

They’ve been dying since the 1970s, long before the Internet came around and starting pounding nails in their coffins.

I know. I was an editor for six of the ones that died. (Note: I didn’t kill them. They all died after I left.)

Sounds depressing, eh?

But actually it wasn’t. It was the most exhilarating time of my career.

Why? Because I worked with the most positive people you’ve ever met.

They were realistic and talented, too. They understood what they were up against.

But the #1 trait they had was they were POSITIVE.

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Hiring

13 Crazy Stunts Job Candidates Are Using To Get Your Attention

by Rich Henson August 21, 2016

You want crazy?

Sit down with your favorite hiring manager and ask him or her about the job candidates they’ve had the pleasure to interview lately.

The job market may be improving, but the competition remains stiff. A great cover letter and strong resume only go so far these days in getting job candidates noticed, according to a recent Careerbuilder survey of 2,300 hiring managers.

Instead, for better or for worse, some of the current crop of job hunters yearn to be indelibly seared into the minds of interviewers.

And that’s where the crazy comes in.

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Employee Engagement