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With a new year comes new hope for improved economic conditions, but it also often comes with new challenges – as evidenced by CareerBuilder’s recent survey about the staffing challenges employers anticipate having this year.  Among the challenges mentioned are the ability to provide competitive compensation, maintain productivity levels, and retain top talent. (Any of this sound familiar?) 

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• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on February 5, 2010
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• Categories: Contest

While you were busy trying to stake your claim on the phrase “Who Dat,” (prematurely?) accepting a scholarship to USC, or matching wits with Bill O’Reilly, here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week…

• How (not?) to resign in 140 characters or less
• New series finds out what happens when CEOs stop being polite and start being real step into their employees’ shoes
• Thanks to this, employees can now take justice into their own hands.  
• You might be a productivity killer (and not even know it).  
• Teamwork: 1, Talent: 0
• Wellness benefits take a hit from the man.  And finally…
• Looking back on workplace fashions, and speculating on the next big trend. (Let’s hope it’s not this.) Continue Reading…

• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on February 5, 2010
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• Categories: Week in Review

Oh, Patti Stanger, once again, your wisdom has unwittingly transferred over to the world of recruitment and talent management…I’m referring of course to TV’s Millionaire Matchmaker, who I’ve once likened to a talent recruiter in how she is often challenged with finding a happy medium between giving her clients what they want and what they need – even when the two don’t always align.

In Tuesday night’s episode, however, Patti exhibited the qualities of a manager who understands the value in providing opportunities for employees to develop the skills that will not only help them succeed in their endeavors, but ultimately reflect well on her abilities as a leader. 

During the episode, Patti coaxed her client, Michael, to take a class that would help the “painfully shy” bachelor to become more outgoing. While the scene already served as a great example of how managers should actively encourage their employees to improve their skill sets, Patti went one step further. She went the unconventional route by making Michael take an improv comedy class, which she recognized as a way to not only improve his confidence, his ability to engage his date in conversation, and ultimately his chances of closing the deal securing a second date…but also to help him have fun doing it.

What is improv comedy? If you’ve ever seen “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” (or last night’s episode of Matchmaker) you’re already familiar with improv, or improvisational, comedy – that is, comedy that is made up on the spot by a group of actors, based on a suggestion from the audience. 

How improv works in the business world.  There’s a reason why companies like Pepsi, McDonald’s and United Way have utilized improv theaters like Second City and iO for their corporate training – and why several business schools include improv classes in their curriculum: The very skills that improv comedy teaches performers for use on stage (and, evidently, singles for use in the dating world), also transfer remarkably well to the business world. Among just a few of the business and presentation skills it helps students hone:

• Thinking on the spot
• Listening and communication
• Collaboration
• Innovative thinking
• Taking initiative
• Knowing one’s audience
• Presenting with confidence

Improv is also a great team-building tool – not least of all, because it’s a unique experience employees get to share. But with its “Group Mind” mentality, improv also teaches groups to work together and agree on a uniform idea, while recognizing every person’s individual input. In fact, the first lesson taught in improv is to say “Yes, and…,” an exercise that helps others get along, and learn to accept others’ unique ideas.

For these reasons, improv is also great for developing your own management skills, as the “Yes, and…” aspect forces you to listen and explore the possibilities contained in new ideas, rather than rejecting them off the bat. You’ll gain trust and respect from employees by learning how to listen to others in a way that shows they are being understood, and learning to stay open to new ideas. It also forces you to pick up on nonverbal cues, such as body language and eye contact, helping you better understand what your employees are telling you, even when they don’t say it aloud.

Why now? At a time when employers are struggling to keep workers engaged and retain them, investing in this type of training can not only raise morale, but it also sends a clear message to your employees that you’re committed to providing learning and development opportunities (a lack of which is a major reason employees leave companies) – and that you care about their engagement in the company.  Continue Reading…

• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on February 4, 2010
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• Categories: Employee Engagement, Employee Retention

Resilience is not only found among the Oceanic 815 survivors of “LOST” — who returned to TV last night after five seasons of battling hostile island dwellers, a mysterious smoke monster, and the bounds of space and time  — but in taking a look at CareerBuilder’s updated survey among more than U.S. workers, it’s also evident among many workers who have been laid off in the last 12 months.

Although Bureau of Labor Statistics job loss numbers could be in the negative range for January, unemployed Americans continue to be steadfast in their job searches, and, according to CareerBuilder survey results, many workers laid off in the last 12 months have found new employment.

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• Posted by: Amy Chulik on February 3, 2010
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• Categories: Economy, Survey Results

Amid news of strides toward economic recovery and growth in 2010, organizations are still facing a myriad of staffing challenges this year, according to a new CareerBuilder survey conducted in November 2009 among more than 2,700 employers. Employers listed a number of factors with which they are struggling — covering everything from handling worker burnout to strengthening their employment brand. In looking at employers’ responses, it’s also evident that many of these challenges are interconnected.

What are survey respondents’ top five staffing concerns?

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• Posted by: Amy Chulik on February 1, 2010
• There are 9 Comments. Join the discussion.
• Categories: Economy, Survey Results

While you were busy updating your Twitter account with what was surely a clever joke, changing your travel plans, or shopping for a new growler,here’s what was happening in the world of hiring and recruiting this week… 

• So, some guy gave some speech where he talked about jobs this week…
• Here’s one way to work your social media policy…
• Some companies have fun, whether they like it or not.  
• Curious about the status of the stimulus?
• SAS is a-ok for employment.
• Social media is now Vatican-approved.  
• The TSA managers are not amused.
• First came social media specialists…Will companies now start hiring more social media lawyers?
• Job seekers move it all for the money.
• Forecasters putting their money on job growth in 2010. Continue Reading…

• Posted by: Mary Lorenz on January 29, 2010
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• Categories: Week in Review