Catherine Iste

Catherine Iste is the founder of betterHR.org, an online school that is redefining recertification by providing fun, unique and convenient continuing education for HR pros, nurses, attorneys and CPAs. Connect with her on LinkedIn or at betterHR.org.

Articles by Catherine Iste

• Grooming women leaders in retail

  Retail is often a first and safe stop for women entering or returning to the workforce because there…

  Thursday, June 13, 2019

• How to recognize employees when summer Fridays aren’t practical

  Summer Fridays refer to the practice that employees get to leave early or work remotely on Fridays between…

  Tuesday, June 11, 2019

• 3 ways knowing how to break the rules makes you a better leader

  The best part of any ethics class I teach — for me at least — is telling the students to try to get…

  Friday, June 07, 2019

• 3 steps to a better thank you

  The thank you — written or spoken — is a cornerstone of good manners. And while acts of appreciation…

  Wednesday, June 05, 2019

• Should you get your MBA?

  It used to be that a high school diploma was enough to land a good job. Then, a bachelor’s degree became…

  Friday, May 31, 2019

• Successful leaders in real estate and development embrace these soft skills

  Real estate development and construction project managers excel at multitasking. Impeccable attention…

  Thursday, May 30, 2019

• 3 millennial negotiating skills to master

  For all the grief they continue to get from older generations, millennials deserve even more credit.…

  Wednesday, May 22, 2019

• How to create a successful summer internship program

  It is not too late to hire interns for the summer. Many organizations who have never hired an intern…

  Tuesday, May 21, 2019

• Why understanding the time pyramid is critical for healthcare administrators

  Everything that falls under the auspices of healthcare administration is complex. From budgets to billing…

  Wednesday, May 15, 2019

• Is your boss planning to fire you?

  With jobs, we often go for the salary and stay for the boss — that is, until the boss starts acting…

  Tuesday, May 14, 2019

• 3 behavior combinations the best retail leaders exhibit consistently

  Being open-minded, a good listener, and strategic can be good leadership characteristics. The problem…

  Thursday, May 09, 2019

• 3 reasons to look for a job while you’re happy

  Unemployment is low and a wide range of industries continue to experience job growth. As the market for…

  Wednesday, May 08, 2019

• Leadership styles and deciding between 2 justifiable options

  We can use buzzwords to describe our leadership style and inject best practices into our routine to buttress…

  Thursday, May 02, 2019

• HR best practices: Lannister-style

  "Game of Thrones" is such a great example of extreme cases. It is by looking at these extremes that HR…

  Tuesday, April 30, 2019

• Should you leave stability and join a healthcare startup?

  Healthcare is a $3.5 trillion market that is not renowned for its efficiency. Yet, because there are…

  Thursday, April 25, 2019

• How to identify and stop ostrich-style management

  We have all come across them in our careers: managers or even whole organizations that keep their heads…

  Wednesday, April 24, 2019

• Performance improvement plans aren’t just for problem employees

  Few of us like giving negative feedback. From quick tips to academic research findings, there is no shortage…

  Friday, April 19, 2019

• 3 steps to impactful sexual harassment prevention training

  #MeToo has had a significant impact on organizational awareness of pervasive harassment issues. The number…

  Wednesday, April 17, 2019

• The employee who cried wolf

  What do we do when a whiny employee keeps whining? If we cannot move them to another department, we tend…

  Thursday, April 11, 2019

• Advertising without paying for social media clicks

  Businesses in the cannabis industry are not allowed to advertise on most social media platforms. Yet,…

  Wednesday, April 10, 2019

• 3 simple ways to diversify your recruiting

  Realizing the importance and value of having a diverse team is not difficult. Instead, the challenge…

  Thursday, April 04, 2019

• 3 ways conferences can accelerate your career

  It’s conference season! Think again if you think the best things about conferences are the goody bag…

  Wednesday, April 03, 2019

• The critical link between HR and retail success

  Why go to the store when you can buy online? Presumably, there is something about the in-person experience…

  Monday, April 01, 2019

• 3 reasons healthcare leaders should consider an executive coach

  The healthcare industry is in a state of flux at all levels. Staffing shortages continue, and while the…

  Wednesday, March 27, 2019

• How HR can help with board diversity

  When employees sitting around the table come from different backgrounds, generations and gender, opinions…

  Tuesday, March 26, 2019

• Women leaders: Helpful steps to getting your first board seat

  Getting on a board is a boon for any leader. It helps propel professional growth, provides insight and…

  Wednesday, March 20, 2019

• Taking 10 minutes to escape a rut

  Whether it has been a frustrating quarter or the job itself is not as interesting as it once was, as…

  Friday, March 15, 2019

• Decoupling and the customer experience

  It is a great time to be a consumer. On one hand, we can walk into a big-box store, find exactly the…

  Wednesday, March 13, 2019

• The link between feedback style and culture

  Which one is more like your workplace? Option 1: Annual review time is like Christmas: employees count…

  Monday, March 11, 2019

• How to avoid getting sick on your next vacation

  Vacation can be that wonderful carrot, dangling out in the future. Blocking the time off on the calendar,…

  Thursday, March 07, 2019

• What do elder care, robots and Japan have in common?

  While there is no shortage of attempts to stop or reverse it, we are all still aging. This year, for…

  Thursday, February 28, 2019

• The real way social media helps interior design businesses

  Marketing isn't the only thing Pinterest and Instagram can help designers do. The ease of posting amazing…

  Tuesday, February 26, 2019

• Training is an investment, not a cost

  The race to attract skilled labor is on. Productivity may be slowing but it is still moving in a positive…

  Wednesday, February 20, 2019

• An unexpected way to reignite the spark for veteran teachers

  Often, professional development throughout the year is based on the newest trends, a district initiative…

  Tuesday, February 19, 2019

• Avoid these tricky but common nonexempt traps

  Can't we just make everyone exempt? It would be so much easier! Employers would not have to worry about…

  Thursday, February 14, 2019

• The easiest ways to give negative feedback

  Social media may empower us to tell that restaurant what we thought about the poor service or show the…

  Wednesday, February 13, 2019

• Why every organization needs a salary structure: A simple step in the right direction

  While the causes of fair pay issues vary, implementing a salary structure is a simple step that can help…

  Friday, February 08, 2019

• Why every organization needs a salary structure: Understanding the problem

  Does any organization really intend to discriminate against women and people of color by systematically…

  Tuesday, February 05, 2019

• 3 simple steps to keep graduating students engaged

  While the winter months may try to slow it down, time seems to speed up from now until the end of the…

  Thursday, January 31, 2019

• If you only have one HR position, make it an HRBP

  One of the most common paths into HR is accidental. An ambitious employee takes on the task of general…

  Wednesday, January 30, 2019

• 3 ways to better manage retail sales staffing

  The best business schools have always praised two things: efficiency and numbers. So, in retail, when…

  Thursday, January 24, 2019

• Fire fast, even in an employee market

  Pay is up. Jobs are increasing. And the opportunities of the gig economy continue to unsettle traditional…

  Wednesday, January 23, 2019

• Why and how to change school districts

  While it was once commonplace to start in one classroom and stay there for 30 years, it is not any more.…

  Thursday, January 17, 2019

• What’s old is new again in retail for 2019

  Regardless of age or profession, every citizen in a small town understands retail’s fundamental principles:…

  Wednesday, January 16, 2019

• Harassment or just being a jerk? Tips to help managers recognize, prevent, and address issues

  While workplace regulations — even post-#MeToo and in employee-friendly states like California —…

  Tuesday, January 08, 2019

• 3 of the worst work behaviors and how to beat them

  Imagine a workplace where we all said what we meant, kept an open mind and consistently cooperated to…

  Friday, January 04, 2019

• Repeating the past to propel progress

  As humans, we tend to acknowledge the time in which we exist as unprecedented; yet, from extreme political…

  Wednesday, December 19, 2018

• Overcome any challenge with an expert entourage

  The flip of the calendar can inspire reflection and anticipation; a ready-made reason to make any change…

  Tuesday, December 18, 2018

• How to be strategic when everyone sees you as tactical

  One of the biggest struggles for HR professionals is getting that elusive seat at the table. In some…

  Tuesday, December 11, 2018

• Respond quickly to an unexpected job opportunity with these simple moves

  Whether it is a last-ditch effort at year-end or an attempt to get the new year started off on the right…

  Thursday, December 06, 2018

• Trends in 2018 you didn’t know you missed and a few to look for in 2019

  Social media has helped us all become more in tune with what is trending. However, most of us are not…

  Wednesday, December 05, 2018

• Overcoming career setbacks

  The end of the year is not just for stressful mandatory fun or closing out and prepping for the next…

  Monday, December 03, 2018

• A radical year-end challenge: 3 steps to end even a bad year on a high note

  When we have a great year, we can fail to take the time to think about all the work, luck and assistance…

  Thursday, November 29, 2018

• The HR-friendly guide to holiday parties

  Work parties can be like mandatory fun. In many cases, more employees would choose to have the extra…

  Tuesday, November 27, 2018

• Do’s and don’ts: Holiday gift-giving at work

  No good deed goes unpunished often holds true when it comes to holiday gift-giving at work. Instead of…

  Tuesday, November 20, 2018

• Get long-term employees engaged in open enrollment

  The volume of communications, details and information thrown at us during open enrollment can be overwhelming.…

  Friday, November 16, 2018

• A leader’s guide to seasonal anxiety and depression

  The end of the year is synonymous with so many unique professional challenges: reconciling the grandiose…

  Tuesday, November 13, 2018

• The golden rule or the platinum rule?

  Treating others the way they want to be treated sounds so much less selfish than treating others the…

  Thursday, November 08, 2018

• A quick and definitive guide for mixing business, food and drinks

  The holidays are upon us. Among so many other challenges and festivities at work, it also means increased…

  Wednesday, November 07, 2018

• Stop email from secretly undermining your success

  How awesome is email? With it, we can work remotely, delegate, share files, manage teams, stay productive…

  Monday, October 29, 2018

• 3 essential steps to avoiding leadership burnout

  Burnout does not always look like a heart attack, high blood pressure or weight gain. It is not only…

  Thursday, October 25, 2018

• Where to draw the line

  Leaders must be clear, firm and consistent. In this article are three steps to ensure you are drawing…

  Friday, October 19, 2018

• A better way to explain the job to candidates

  Retention is directly related to new employees having a clear understanding of the position upon hiring.…

  Thursday, October 18, 2018

• Orientation as a retention tool

  Reading the handbook, reviewing benefits details and filling out paperwork are not the best ways to welcome…

  Friday, October 12, 2018

• Finding more time: A CEO crash course

  How do CEOs of massive, complex, international companies find time to exercise, sleep, and enjoy their…

  Friday, October 05, 2018

• The positive spiral of operationalizing curiosity

  Why can’t we? This is a natural first question along the path of becoming a curious company. Once we…

  Wednesday, October 03, 2018

• 2 steps to thriving in a dynamic environment

  The adage of, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person" is taken to the next level with…

  Thursday, September 27, 2018

• Managing the boss: The basics

  Managing up is a necessary skill at any level. It can be challenging, but by default, the way we act…

  Thursday, September 20, 2018

• What to do when you don’t trust a colleague

  If everyone was professional, we would not need HR. While that is not exactly true, it is true that employee…

  Wednesday, September 19, 2018

• Why every organization should hire general counsel

  Even the smallest organizations can benefit from legal advice via a trusted advisor invested in the business.…

  Wednesday, September 05, 2018

• Surprising things to do if you are let go

  Even when we see the writing on the wall, being terminated is a challenge few of us are prepared to face.…

  Friday, August 31, 2018

• 2 strategic intangibles critical for terminations

  Terminations can be tricky, especially in employee-friendly states like California. And although there…

  Thursday, August 30, 2018

• 3 tips for hiring general counsel

  Every organization can benefit from a formal relationship with general counsel. But how do you know what…

  Tuesday, August 28, 2018

• What does your email signature say about you?

  Regardless of the size, recipient or intent of the message, email signature blocks are little snippets…

  Thursday, August 16, 2018

• Team building without the hassles

  Ugh, team building. From HR-unfriendly happy hours or rock-climbing walls to cheesy ice-breakers and…

  Tuesday, August 14, 2018

• It’s a candidate’s market: 3 tips for employers

  The recruiting process can be tough. A stronger economy and increasingly competitive sectors are making…

  Wednesday, August 08, 2018

• Ideal vs. best: Rethink assumptions about the right candidate

  Fit is like the F-word of hiring: it can mean so many different things and using it can get you in trouble.…

  Friday, August 03, 2018

• How and why to create a personal motto

  CEOs, high-level executives and recruiters have the shortest attention spans. Yet, some of our most critical…

  Wednesday, August 01, 2018

• Finding motivation without a raise

  Once upon a time, there were clear career paths. Show up, learn the job, take courses, start managing,…

  Wednesday, July 25, 2018

• 2 succession planning rules for unique roles

  Single points of failure can instantly disrupt any business. Institutional knowledge is great unless…

  Wednesday, July 18, 2018

• 2 major ways female leaders fail ourselves — and how to stop

  Sometimes, it is the most obvious advice we fail to follow. After all, when we hear things over and again…

  Thursday, July 12, 2018

• 3 reasons to have a side hustle

  We are so busy at work that it can be difficult to believe that adding something would actually make…

  Tuesday, July 10, 2018

• 3 signs you might be an entrepreneur

  Thanks to Silicon Valley, we all have an idea of what an entrepreneur looks like: supersmart geeks who…

  Monday, July 09, 2018

• 3 steps to build trust

  Trust issues in the workplace are more common than most leaders realize. For example, the need to constantly…

  Wednesday, June 27, 2018

• How leaders can find a ‘work spouse’

  Work spouses have been proven to further success, productivity and fun on the job. Having a colleague…

  Wednesday, June 20, 2018

• Is it possible to enjoy work every day?

  While I was inclined to say no to this question, I have been proven wrong. After asking it in the varied…

  Monday, June 18, 2018

• How to balance accountability and remote work in small offices

  Small offices often reap the biggest benefits from remote work options. Yet, many leaders of small teams…

  Wednesday, June 13, 2018

• 3 counterintuitive characteristics of good bosses

  Bosses can be leaders, managers, supervisors, team leads or project heads. Yet, despite the different…

  Monday, June 11, 2018

• 2 ways to be less busy

  Busy is a four-letter word. It can be an excuse, "Sorry, I can’t, I am too busy!" Or a justification,…

  Wednesday, June 06, 2018

• 5 simple steps to stay connected and still relax on vacation

  Tropical islands, mountain getaways and remote locations may force us to limit our cellphone use while…

  Monday, June 04, 2018

• Create your leadership niche: The how

  Similar to organizations, when leaders carve out a niche, they open themselves to new opportunities.…

  Tuesday, May 29, 2018

• Create your leadership niche: The why

  A niche can be a scary thing for a business. It seems counterintuitive to narrow the focus of the organization,…

  Wednesday, May 23, 2018

• 3 secrets of natural leaders

  Some people seem to float through life effortlessly. Promotions come to them. Raises are provided. Direct…

  Wednesday, May 16, 2018

• Tips for tough terminations

  A problem employee can have a ripple effect of toxicity in a department or organization. Oftentimes,…

  Tuesday, May 15, 2018

• Personality tests: The forgotten leadership tools

  Buzzwords, trends and the constant refreshing of new options can make us forget the tried and true or…

  Wednesday, May 09, 2018

• 2 tips for staying professional through a personal crisis

  We all go through dynamic personal events, and they often seem to happen at the least opportune times.…

  Tuesday, May 08, 2018

• 5 ways to get the most out of any conference

  Attending a conference with anyone else from your organization is a great opportunity to build, strengthen…

  Thursday, May 03, 2018

• Stop undervaluing individual contributors

  Promotions are not always an option. Stable or small workforces may mean promotion opportunities are…

  Tuesday, May 01, 2018

• How to think like a leader

  A title does not make someone a leader. In fact, leaders can be found within all levels of the organization.…

  Thursday, April 26, 2018

• Leadership focus: Embrace one priority

  The amount of information available at our fingertips is amazing. At any given moment, we can accomplish…

  Tuesday, April 17, 2018

• 3 reasons every organization should care about leaks

  ​An Apple employee recently leaked an internal memo in which Apple warns employees to stop leaking…

  Monday, April 16, 2018

• Start off right with the new boss

  Whether the new boss was promoted from within or an unknown entity, getting off on the right foot is…

  Thursday, April 12, 2018

• 3 easy leadership upgrades

  ​One common characteristic of good leaders is that they are always working on being better. Sometimes…

  Tuesday, April 10, 2018

• Spring is here: 3 simple tips to re‑energize at work

  Even after all the seemingly nonstop, massive weather events around the country this winter, spring is…

  Tuesday, April 03, 2018

• The benefits of talking less in the workplace

  Living in Southern California for 10 years, I have seen colleagues participate in many kinds of fasts.…

  Thursday, March 29, 2018

• 3 steps leaders can take to achieve and encourage flow

  ​​Working in a flow state allows anyone from a cashier to an extreme athlete to accomplish amazing…

  Tuesday, March 27, 2018

• 4 reasons to encourage flow states at work

  Sports championships, scientific breakthroughs, technological developments — in addition to reams of…

  Tuesday, March 20, 2018

• How to be funny at work

  ​Laughing releases stress, increases productivity and supports team-building. On the other hand, a…

  Thursday, March 15, 2018

• Self-promotion tips for introverts

  ​Social media, email and chat services provide fantastic opportunities for us nonsocial butterflies…

  Tuesday, March 13, 2018

• Frustrating HR rules demystified: Part 2

  ​Working with HR can be frustrating. HR professionals often seemed closed off or compelled to look…

  Thursday, March 08, 2018

• Frustrating HR rules demystified: Part 1

  Working in HR for so many years, I am acutely aware that my colleagues and I are not always celebrated…

  Thursday, March 01, 2018

• Should you quit and start your own business?

  If you are thinking about it and have been for a while, then the answer is probably yes. Making the move,…

  Tuesday, February 20, 2018

• Leaders: Get more out of HR

  ​Like nurses and teachers, HR professionals are often overlooked unless they are both excellent at…

  Thursday, February 15, 2018

• The less glamorous side of strategy

  Operational excellence is essential for success in any business. Yet it does not get the attention strategy…

  Tuesday, February 13, 2018

• Do this today, lead better tomorrow

  Even strong leaders need to recalibrate occasionally. Whether it is a head-clearing weekend getaway or…

  Wednesday, February 07, 2018

• Develop influencers, not just leaders

  Talent management, professional development and mentoring programs often focus on spotting potential…

  Thursday, February 01, 2018

• Make the most of any shared workspace

  ​Whether your team consists of four employees working in a front office or 50 workers in a vast cubicle…

  Tuesday, January 30, 2018

• Leadership lessons from Venus Williams

  Despite losing in the first round of this year's Australian Open, Venus Williams is successful by any…

  Thursday, January 25, 2018

• 7 tips for hiring outside investigators

  Over the course of 2017, the news provided us with ample evidence as to why conducting fair, impartial…

  Tuesday, January 23, 2018

• Fixing healthcare: Redefine the meaning of success

  From the opioid crisis to complicated billing and reimbursement structures, it seems almost every facet…

  Tuesday, January 16, 2018

• Fixing healthcare: Improve the work environment

  ​Our healthcare system has no shortage of challenges. Yet the opportunity for the greatest impact and…

  Monday, January 08, 2018

• Fixing healthcare: Start supporting medical professionals

  ​Our healthcare system has no shortage of challenges. From the opioid crisis to complicated billing…

  Tuesday, January 02, 2018

• 3 reasons to not use the holiday break to catch up

  It is generally understood in the world of corner offices and cubicles not to expect any work to get…

  Tuesday, December 19, 2017

• Leadership strategies: Small businesses and sexual harassment

  Small businesses are not immune to sexual harassment problems. Most small businesses — from doctor's…

  Thursday, December 14, 2017

• Creative leaders: Make time for inspiration

  We often overlook things that are too simple, delaying them for a time that never comes or not making…

  Tuesday, December 12, 2017

• Reduce stress by rewriting your job description

  Dissatisfaction with work can affect even the happiest employees from executive down to the front line.…

  Thursday, December 07, 2017

• Creative leaders: Look outside your circle

  ​Leaders can get stuck in a rut. To avoid the rut, it helps to have a few simple tricks to keep the…

  Tuesday, December 05, 2017

• Creative leaders: Embrace the reverse pilot

  Good leaders stay on top of their game by remaining dynamic. While it is not always about embracing every…

  Monday, November 27, 2017

• Finding extra time at year-end

  ​The end is near! In addition to wrapping up projects for year- and quarter-end, reviewing budgets…

  Monday, November 20, 2017

• Build a better holiday party this year

  Nothing should be assumed to be obvious about a holiday party. From a well-behaved-but-unwelcome child…

  Thursday, November 16, 2017

• Saying no to the boss

  Trying to work through a disagreement with a co-worker can be frustrating. However, in most cases if…

  Tuesday, November 14, 2017

• 2 steps to adjust your leadership perspective

  Leading for a long time has many benefits: calm composure, wide-ranging perspective and wisdom from handling…

  Thursday, November 09, 2017

• From co-worker to boss: Tips to manage former peers

  ​Congratulations! You finally got that long-overdue promotion (and raise). Now all that time spent…

  Tuesday, November 07, 2017

• 3 ways to keep your team healthy this winter

  We are coming up on the most wonderful time of the year — for CVS, Kleenex and doctor's offices. According…

  Tuesday, October 31, 2017

• Hiring for now vs. forever: Embrace the differences

  ​It is not always the best thing to hire employees with the intention of keeping them forever. ​In…

  Tuesday, October 24, 2017

• 2 simple steps to handle stupidity

  Sometimes it is difficult to escape stupidity at work. Whether it is an irritating co-worker, a micromanaging…

  Thursday, October 19, 2017

• Hiring for now vs. forever: Filling a need

  Not every employee is a forever employee. Some hires are perfect for different times in the organization.…

  Tuesday, October 17, 2017

• 3 ways leaders can improve open enrollment

  As leaders, we may be thrilled that we are not the ones leading open enrollment. Most of us barely have…

  Tuesday, October 10, 2017

• Get more out of open enrollment

  Would you rather go through your inbox, do your taxes, clean your toilet or research healthcare options?…

  Wednesday, October 04, 2017

• Tips to nip awkward workplace situations in the bud

  Jen's perfume is bothering Carol. No one cares about Steve's six cats. Sue gets upset when John clears…

  Monday, October 02, 2017

• Is your workplace undermining women?

  Blatant sexual harassment and hostile work environments are making headlines a lot lately. Fortunately,…

  Tuesday, September 26, 2017

• How terminations can improve morale

  ​Because terminations are the ultimate confrontation at work, few people feel comfortable conducting…

  Thursday, September 21, 2017

• Secret weapons of successful leaders: Simplify

  In Part 1 of this article, we discussed sleep as one of the most powerful secret weapons of successful…

  Tuesday, September 19, 2017

• Creating a culture of productive meetings

  Did you know meetings can actually be productive? This is not fake news. As leaders, it is up to us to…

  Friday, September 15, 2017

• Secret weapons of successful leaders: Sleep

  It is easy to find MBA programs, seminars, conferences, books and podcasts teaching the various traits…

  Tuesday, September 12, 2017

• Add these 3 questions to every interview

  We are constantly looking for ways to streamline our hiring processes while ensuring we only bring the…

  Tuesday, September 05, 2017

• How not to give a presentation

  Most of us consider public speaking and attending meetings as two of our least favorite things. Yet as…

  Thursday, August 31, 2017

• 3 secrets to leading small teams

  Whether we are running a department or an entire organization, leading small teams can have its own special…

  Tuesday, August 29, 2017

• 3 ways to spot a future star

  As leaders, we often face challenges that require us to creatively reallocate our resources. Taking a…

  Tuesday, August 22, 2017

• How and why to practice gratitude at work

  Whether or not we love our job, boss, commute, pay or team, there are several good reasons to practice…

  Thursday, August 17, 2017

• The subtle failures of leaders

  Leaders are often in charge of finding our own areas of growth. This becomes more challenging to do the…

  Tuesday, August 15, 2017

• How to switch careers: Get the interview

  Any particularly bad day in the office can inspire us to think about a career change. But taking the…

  Tuesday, August 08, 2017

• Successful leaders control their time

  ​Being busy does not mean we are successful, happy or even good at what we do. It can mean we are invigorated…

  Thursday, August 03, 2017

• How to switch careers: Creating the story

  Switching careers may be more common now than ever, but that does not make it easy. This three-part series…

  Tuesday, August 01, 2017

• How to switch careers: Time for a change?

  Some people grow into their work; others know exactly what they want to be and do from day one. But many…

  Tuesday, July 25, 2017

• Learning about leadership is not the same as leading

  Leadership is a multimillion-dollar industry. From online articles to MBAs, business coaches to executive…

  Thursday, July 20, 2017

• Stop rewarding efficiency with more work

  Diligent, loyal, committed employees are easy to take advantage of — whether we mean to or not. They…

  Tuesday, July 18, 2017

• 3 ways to be more strategic

  There are things we know, things we know we don't know and — to paraphrase former Defense Secretary…

  Thursday, July 13, 2017

• Do leaders need to be inspiring?

  Does the founding partner at a law firm need to be as inspiring as the executive director at an equally-large…

  Tuesday, July 11, 2017

• Do leaders need to be transparent?

  Does transparency equate to trustworthy? How transparent do leaders need to be to create a transparent…

  Wednesday, July 05, 2017

• Do leaders need to be innovative?

  Buzzwords can develop a life of their own. Being called a leader used to be sufficient. Now, the adjectives…

  Wednesday, June 28, 2017

• Should your office manager be exempt?

  Determining whether a position meets the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for overtime exemption is fairly…

  Wednesday, June 21, 2017

• The path from manager to leader

  Whether it is because of a promotion, a new job or a comment on a performance review, becoming a good…

  Monday, June 19, 2017

• How to remain authentic when terminating an employee

  Well-intentioned legal advice, fears of lawsuits and simply the awfulness of the conversation can leave…

  Monday, June 12, 2017

• Create a 2-item to-do list to ease your stress

  A two-item to-do list will decrease stress while increasing productivity. But going from a massive to-do…

  Friday, June 09, 2017

• 3 ways to rethink your cellphone use

  ​Early business cellphones were amazing productivity tools. We did not have to wait to plug in to the…

  Tuesday, June 06, 2017

• Take a break from asking why

  ​A well-worn Post-it displaying "WHY" with a circle around it and line through it was hanging from…

  Wednesday, May 31, 2017

• How to return from vacation successfully

  ​​Preparing to leave for vacation is only half the process in ensuring we take a successful vacation.…

  Friday, May 26, 2017

• How to take a vacation successfully

  ​Feeling rushed and stressed is no way to start a vacation. Similarly, feeling exhausted and full of…

  Tuesday, May 23, 2017

• Stop doing that: How to take job duties away from an employee

  Which is more difficult: taking work away from an employee or giving her additional work? For any manager…

  Tuesday, May 16, 2017

• How and why to embrace vulnerability

  Why would you want to be vulnerable at work? As a woman, it is certainly not an approach I would have…

  Thursday, May 11, 2017

• Why can’t we wear shorts to work?

  How are strappy heels OK but sandals are not? Unless employers require uniforms, dress codes will always…

  Tuesday, May 09, 2017

• How to handle jerks at work

  ​Yelling, swearing, tantrums. It is amazing and surprising sometimes the types of behavior adults exhibit…

  Tuesday, May 02, 2017

• (Not) looking for a job at work

  As leaders, we try not to spend too much time thinking about how much time our employees are looking…

  Tuesday, April 25, 2017

• Leader or manager? 3 ways to tell

  Are you a leader who spends a lot of time managing people, projects and goals? Or are you the one who…

  Monday, April 24, 2017

• 4 signs you need a little refresh

  Daily routines can be a welcome thing — even downright comforting sometimes when everything else is…

  Thursday, April 20, 2017

• When you should fake it

  Driving, swimming and being pregnant are good examples of when "fake it until you make it" is clearly…

  Tuesday, April 18, 2017

• 3 ways to approach an awkward conversation

  Maybe the receptionist wears too much perfume. Or one of the accountants is always microwaving fish and…

  Tuesday, April 11, 2017

• It’s time to spring clean your brain

  ​The promise of sunnier weather is a nice excuse to engage in a little deep cleaning. While it can…

  Monday, April 03, 2017

• 3 basic interview tricks everyone forgets

  ​The internet provides thousands of tips and tricks for nailing job interviews. However, sometimes…

  Thursday, March 30, 2017

• 3 ways to tell whether to push through or cut your losses

  ​We set milestones, develop metrics and create plans to monitor our success. We know exactly what it…

  Monday, March 27, 2017

• 2 fundamental reasons performance reviews fail

  Performance reviews are awful. They are so difficult to get right, yet companies continue to cling to…

  Tuesday, March 21, 2017

• How to work less and accomplish more

  Perhaps with just one more day in the week, we could get all our work done. Or maybe even with just a…

  Monday, March 13, 2017

• How to increase ideas and reduce complaints right now

  As leaders, we have the luxury of making and implementing decisions rather quickly. Instead of having…

  Friday, March 10, 2017

• Is gender bias really that big of a problem?

  How can we live in one of the most advanced societies in history and still be fighting biases in the…

  Wednesday, March 08, 2017

• 3 questions to start asking today

  If Tony Robbins and Tim Ferriss both gave you the same advice, would you consider taking it? Both men…

  Tuesday, March 07, 2017

• How to avoid hiring those difficult-to-fire employees

  ​Though terminations can be challenging, it is so much easier to fire a consistently poor performer…

  Monday, February 27, 2017

• 4 ways to get sick employees to stay home

  How much work can you get done when your co-worker is coughing, sniffling and sneezing right next to…

  Monday, February 20, 2017

• 3 traits any HR professional should possess

  Whether you are an HR professional or are hiring one, here are three traits the most successful HR pros…

  Wednesday, February 15, 2017

• Lessons from The Matrix: 4 steps to prescient communication

  In the 1999 hit sci-fi movie "The Matrix," Neo is told he will save the world from its horrible fate.…

  Monday, February 13, 2017

• The overachiever’s guide to overcoming failure

  Who gets everything right on the first try? If we are honest about it, many of our successes are built…

  Tuesday, February 07, 2017

• 5 leadership mistakes to stop making now

  By reading this article, you have already avoided the first mistake: thinking you are done learning how…

  Tuesday, January 31, 2017

• Make more money because you deserve it

  One of the most common complaints I heard from employees while working in HR was regarding compensation.…

  Tuesday, January 24, 2017

• Make more money without a raise

  One of the most common complaints I heard from employees while working in HR was regarding compensation.…

  Tuesday, January 17, 2017

• 3 ways understanding SAD makes you a better leader

  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the "winter blues" could affect 10 to 15 percent of your staff.…

  Tuesday, January 10, 2017

• Ditch the resolutions and accomplish more

  ​Good for you if you have not wasted your time writing a New Year's resolution. Those of you who wrote…

  Tuesday, January 03, 2017

• The delicate balance of HR: Inside

  Being an HR professional is often a thanklessly rewarding job. We work with employees through the best…

  Tuesday, December 13, 2016

• The delicate balance of HR: Employees

  ​From an employee perspective, HR can be anything from the team who coordinates the holiday party to…

  Tuesday, December 06, 2016

• The delicate balance of HR: Leadership

  It is easy to hate human resources professionals. In small or startup organizations, they are constantly…

  Tuesday, November 29, 2016

• Reclaim your time from the co‑workers who waste it

  What is more frustrating than staying late in the office to get something done only to have your co-worker…

  Monday, November 21, 2016

• Getting a new job at your current company

  Employment investigations and terminations are the bulk of what I do. Often, the investigations highlight…

  Tuesday, November 15, 2016

• 3 simple steps to reduce stress this holiday season

  It's here. The most wonderful, weight-gaining, money-spending, schedule-packed time of the year is upon…

  Tuesday, November 08, 2016

• Minimalism at work: Break out the red pen

  ​As soon as we decide to do less, it becomes more clear how much we have yet to do. ​As we touched…

  Monday, October 31, 2016

• Minimalism at work: Less is more

  Work-life balance does not exist. Work is part of our lives; it is not something we put our life on hold…

  Monday, October 24, 2016

• Tell that employee to stop whining — It’s OK

  When is it OK to tell your employees to stop whining? More often than you think. While "stop whining"…

  Tuesday, October 18, 2016

• Workplace investigations: Following through

  Handling an employee complaint and the subsequent investigation can be tricky, as we discussed in the…

  Tuesday, October 11, 2016

• Workplace investigations: The devilish details

  Receiving an employee complaint and embarking on an investigation can be a tough but necessary decision.…

  Monday, October 03, 2016

• Workplace investigations: Why you should care

  "Workplace investigations are human resources problems. They're something only bigger companies have…

  Monday, September 26, 2016

• Overtime overboard: The numbers game

  The new overtime rules will affect an estimated 4 million workers, according to the U. S. Department…

  Tuesday, September 20, 2016

• Overtime overboard: The honeymoon phase

  Misclassification of employees is a common occurrence in small businesses. It is usually a mutually agreeable…

  Tuesday, September 13, 2016

• 5 ways to diffuse political arguments at work

  We're exactly two months from Election Day, and the closer we get to Nov. 8, the more prevalent election…

  Thursday, September 08, 2016

• A different kind of mentor

  When we think of mentors, the image is one of a more senior person sharing his/her vast knowledge with…

  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

• Adding mindfulness to your daily routine

  By finding a balance between autopilot and intention, we can increase our sense of accomplishment and…

  Tuesday, August 23, 2016

• Moms: A great recruiting resource for small businesses

  An often overlooked but potentially fantastic source for new hires is moms returning to work. Large companies…

  Wednesday, August 10, 2016

• 5 signs you care too much about work

  Even those of us who do not like our jobs can care about them too much. In fact, sometimes we are the…

  Tuesday, August 02, 2016

• Pros and cons of retention pay: Employer and employee perspectives

  Retention pay is a common tool in a total rewards toolkit. However, as discussed in the previous article…

  Tuesday, July 26, 2016

• Pros and cons of retention pay: The basics

  ​The story of Kelly Rieves, a former employee of Buc-ee's being sued by the company for pay they say…

  Tuesday, July 19, 2016

• The reality of work relationships: To ban or not to ban

  There are 168 hours in a week. Assuming a modest seven hours of sleep per night, removing those 49 hours…

  Wednesday, July 13, 2016

• The reality of work relationships: Dangerous clichés

  Common sense does not usually prevail in matters of the heart. Fortunately, however, the biggest problems…

  Wednesday, July 06, 2016

• The reality of work relationships: Co-workers in love

  There are 168 hours in a week. Assuming a modest seven hours of sleep per night, removing those 49 hours…

  Thursday, June 30, 2016

• 5 ways to deal with a bad boss

  What do you do when the person responsible for directing the activities of the majority of your waking…

  Tuesday, June 21, 2016

• Creative ways to take time off work

  Summer is here. Bodies of water, sunny spots and parks are all beckoning us to visit. But few of us have…

  Monday, June 13, 2016

• 3 leadership myths no one wants to discuss

  Instead of looking at a checklist of things you need to become a better leader or manager, this article…

  Tuesday, June 07, 2016

• Employee rights: What to do when you face a challenge at work

  Having an issue with a co-worker can be a time-consuming, energy-draining, unproductive challenge. Whether…

  Thursday, June 02, 2016

• Guns at work: Are employers keeping their workers safe?

  ​Are employers doing enough to protect their employees from active shooters? And if not, does an absence…

  Wednesday, May 18, 2016

• You should pay your summer interns

  Interns are usually employees. The issue can seem confusing, but that is only because so many employers…

  Wednesday, May 11, 2016

• 3 simple steps to destress your commute

  Even with all of the telecommuting, online meeting services and flexible schedules available to us, commuting…

  Thursday, May 05, 2016

• Do you really deserve a pay raise?

  Too many of us feel like we are underpaid. Maybe our salary is right for our position, but we are working…

  Wednesday, April 27, 2016

• Guns at work: Do you know the laws and policies?

  ​True or false: Only law enforcement and some security guards are allowed to bring weapons to work.…

  Friday, April 22, 2016

• Millennials are not always the problem

  It is always the younger generation's fault. But if you think about it, that means at one point it was…

  Wednesday, April 13, 2016

• Approaching FMLA openly is best for everyone

  Jodi Lasher, a nurse, was terminated after she failed to notify anyone that she needed to take measures…

  Tuesday, April 05, 2016

• The communication challenges of FMLA

  Jodi Lasher, a nurse, was terminated after she failed to notify anyone that she needed to take measures…

  Tuesday, March 29, 2016

• Does it matter if you sleep at work?

  Jodi Lasher, a nurse, was terminated after she failed to notify anyone that she needed to take measures…

  Tuesday, March 22, 2016

• Volunteer, intern or worker — Which are you?

  Organizational development experts, business coaches, great bosses, mentors and solid human resources…

  Wednesday, March 16, 2016

• Don’t have unions? You should still be worried about the NLRB

  ​If you are in a nonunion work environment, it is possible you have no idea who the National Labor…

  Wednesday, March 09, 2016

• Why managers do stupid things

  It is really unfortunate when you have to discipline a good manager for bad decisions based on good intentions.…

  Tuesday, March 08, 2016

• When to bring a coach into your organization

  ​Coaching can be a valuable tool. Like with any tool, though, it helps to know what you can use it…

  Tuesday, March 01, 2016

• The reality of raises

  A colleague's younger sister graduated from college and got a great job in a fantastic city. She was…

  Friday, February 19, 2016

• Department of 1: Tearing down silos

  Welcome to Part 3 in our series on best practices for leading multiple functions. With the majority of…

  Thursday, February 18, 2016

• Department of 1: The good, the bad and the ugly

  More than 95 percent of businesses have fewer than 100 employees. Within those companies, it is inevitable…

  Tuesday, February 09, 2016

• Department of 1: Vigilante or superhero?

  How do you stay organized, current and compliant while handling administrative, tactical and strategic…

  Tuesday, February 02, 2016

• You’re right — Why doesn’t anybody listen?

  ​Nothing would drive me crazier than being right, telling people about it and having no one listen.…

  Monday, January 25, 2016

• Take the time to assess your Web presence

  What does 2016 look like for you? Are you up for change or are you looking forward to something more…

  Friday, January 15, 2016

• Your goal for 2016? Set fewer goals

  The season of excesses is behind us — 2016 is here. With the same spirit you are shunning huge dinners…

  Tuesday, January 05, 2016

• Lessons in termination: Being proactive

  ​Welcome to the time of year when it becomes ever so clear who you wished no longer worked here. In…

  Monday, December 14, 2015

• The naughty and nice of holiday parties

  The idea behind the holiday party is a positive one: celebrate. It is the end of the year, a whole number…

  Wednesday, December 09, 2015

• Lessons in termination: Don’t wait, terminate

  Welcome to the time of year when it becomes ever so clear who you wished no longer worked here. In Part…

  Friday, December 04, 2015

• Lessons in termination: Too small to fail

  Welcome to the time of year when it becomes ever so clear who you wished no longer worked here. But before…

  Tuesday, November 24, 2015

• 3 signs your small business is no longer ... small

  Across industries — from design firms to doctor's offices, accounting teams to nonprofits — there…

  Monday, November 16, 2015

• The other kind of mentor: Starting your own program

  Mentor programs have become increasingly common across industries and in many organizations of various…

  Monday, November 09, 2015

• I hate football: Handling an employee who doesn’t fit in

  There are those who are sent to HR and those who voluntarily show up. Of that latter group, I have seen…

  Monday, November 02, 2015

• Your relationship with work: The honeymoon phase

  Continuing our series on our relationships with work, this week we will look at consulting. How does…

  Thursday, October 08, 2015

• Your relationship with work: Reinventing yourself

  For many people, their relationship with their job is like a marriage. They make a thoughtful decision…

  Wednesday, September 30, 2015

• Your relationship with work: It’s not you, it’s me

  Continuing with our series on the relationship we have with our jobs, this week we will take a look at…

  Friday, September 25, 2015

• Your relationship with work: Time to start dating

  Whether it is the turn in the economy or the incessant demands of the millennials, the tide has turned…

  Thursday, September 17, 2015

• Back to school or back to work? An ideal workplace combines both

  'Tis the season for the younger set to end their summer jobs, hang up their bathing suits and return…

  Thursday, August 20, 2015

• How ethical is your HR department?

  Human resources serves as the liaison between management and staff. It helps with critical administrative…

  Tuesday, August 04, 2015

• Content learners vs. test preppers: Which type is best?

  ​It seems there are two types of people when it comes to professional certifications: those who work…

  Thursday, July 30, 2015

• Giving negative information: What we can learn from healthcare

  ​In the course of our work either as managers, HR professionals or consultants, the day comes when…

  Wednesday, July 22, 2015

• Why can’t we all just get along?

  We are adults. We are professionals, and we spend most of our waking hours at work. Why is it so hard…

  Thursday, July 16, 2015

• What makes a good workplace investigator?

  Michael Julian, CPI, PPS, CSP, grew up in the investigations business. His father, Ron Julian was a former…

  Wednesday, July 08, 2015

• How to tell your employees they are nonexempt

  Despite the very clear regulations specifying what employees should be exempt or nonexempt for wages,…

  Thursday, June 18, 2015

• Rethinking the rules of resume screening

  Anyone who has had the pleasure of screening resumes has a set of rules that allows them to look for…

  Thursday, June 11, 2015

• Problems at work? Maybe it’s you

  My coaching colleagues and I were talking the other day about the challenges we have when we suspect…

  Thursday, June 04, 2015

• Work-life balance in healthcare: Addressing the system

  Why is achieving work-life balance as a healthcare professional so difficult? As noted in the first part…

  Thursday, May 28, 2015

• Work-life balance in healthcare: Realign your priorities

  As a healthcare professional, your work requires you to be there for others, but how can you do that…

  Thursday, May 21, 2015

• Work-life balance in healthcare: The fundamentals

  People in careers that revolve around helping others are often the worst at maintaining a healthy work-life…

  Thursday, May 14, 2015

• Using outside investigators: 4 ways to ensure success

  Using an outside investigator can be a great option when you are dealing with an internal investigation…

  Thursday, May 07, 2015

• Overcoming bias: 3 things to consider when interviewing

  Organizations often say they are committed to a diverse workforce or transparent hiring. But organizations…

  Thursday, April 30, 2015

• 5 steps to prep for that tough job interview

  You made it past the thousands of others jockeying to get an interview for your dream job, and the big…

  Thursday, April 09, 2015

• Inside HR: Making the job offer

  A client of mine is posting for a director-level position at a real estate development and property management…

  Thursday, March 26, 2015

• Inside HR: Scheduling and executing interviews

  A client of mine is posting for a director-level position at a real estate development and property management…

  Thursday, March 19, 2015

• Treating office politics like traffic stops

  You may have pursued your career in law enforcement to avoid the boredom and confines of an office environment.…

  Thursday, March 05, 2015

• Inside HR: How the screening process works

  A client of mine is posting for a director-level position at a real estate development and property management…

  Wednesday, March 04, 2015

• Finding a job in healthcare: Terminations

  ​Once a year, I have the pleasure of being a guest lecturer for an ethics and social leadership class…

  Tuesday, February 17, 2015

• Finding a job in healthcare: Performance reviews

  Once a year, I have the pleasure of being a guest lecturer for an ethics and social leadership class…

  Wednesday, February 11, 2015

• Finding a job in healthcare: Bureaucracy

  ​Once a year, I have the pleasure of being a guest lecturer for an ethics and social leadership class…

  Tuesday, February 03, 2015

• Finding a job in healthcare: Negotiations

  Once a year, I have the pleasure of being a guest lecturer for an ethics and social leadership class…

  Wednesday, January 28, 2015

• Before you hang up your uniform ...

  Certain skills you pick up wearing a uniform can put you ahead in the civilian world. So before you box…

  Friday, November 07, 2014

• The care and feeding of an executive

  Executives have a different approach to work than individual contributors or even directors. Some people…

  Wednesday, October 29, 2014

• Rethink your resume: Accounting for gaps and job changes

  How many times have you applied for a job that perfectly matched the skills and experience on your resume,…

  Wednesday, October 22, 2014

• Strong women and handling criticism

  Women in traditionally male roles — military veterans, law enforcement, firefighting — have all faced…

  Thursday, October 16, 2014

• Show and tell: The impact of stories on organization success

  About 100 human resources and organizational development professionals listened to Chris Van Gorder,…

  Thursday, October 02, 2014

• 4 ways to ensure successful board presentations

  ​As a consultant and board member, I have experienced board presentations from both sides of the table.…

  Tuesday, September 23, 2014

• What if your transition from the military did not go as planned?

  A fellow veteran, Andy, was a high-ranking NCO, who had racked up lots of training and credentials while…

  Monday, September 08, 2014

• Embracing change in business

  Regardless of industry or title, the one thing we all have to understand is the nature of change. In…

  Thursday, September 04, 2014

• Should you pay your employees for overtime?

  Managers, executives and owners often want to work around the overtime laws so they classify employees…

  Monday, August 25, 2014

• Top 4 myths of landing a civilian job

  Previously, we discussed some of the keys to landing a civilian job with some great insight provided…

  Friday, August 22, 2014

• Smart referrals: Basic tenets of a good referral

  As service providers, we often see other areas of the business than the one we are supporting. Providing…

  Tuesday, August 12, 2014

• Reading is fundamental for seeing your work differently

  Combine lots of paperwork with office politics, then add working with the public when they are not necessarily…

  Thursday, July 31, 2014

• Frustrated at work? Try a different approach

  ​A common theme in the round-table meetings and one-on-ones I host for my clients is frustration. Frustration…

  Thursday, July 24, 2014

• Wordle it — just a little bit

  ​Word clouds are a visually appealing way to distill key concepts from larger amounts of data. There…

  Tuesday, July 22, 2014

• This is the last job you’ll ever have — now what?

  What if the job you are in now is the one you plan to keep until you retire? How do you keep it fresh…

  Tuesday, July 15, 2014

• Why you have to use social media

  As a teenager, I frequently used the "but everyone else is doing it" argument to try to secure permission…

  Thursday, July 10, 2014

• 4 quick tips to make presenting simple

  Are you ready for your TED talk? In the expert hands of John Bates of Executive Speaking Success, you…

  Thursday, June 26, 2014

• 3 steps to better office communication now

  I love technology. I even married a software DevOps guy. So I was thrilled when I walked into a new client's…

  Wednesday, June 18, 2014

• Take a day off — a real day off

  When is the last time you took a day off? A real day off? A no-checking-email, do-what-you-want, Ferris…

  Wednesday, June 11, 2014

• Niceness is no excuse to avoid termination

  ​Managers often wait too long to terminate an employee either because the employee is too nice or the…

  Thursday, June 05, 2014

• Managing up: How to keep your boss happy

  One of the most important skills to develop is the art of keeping your boss happy. It does not matter…

  Wednesday, May 21, 2014

• Where are the women?

  ​We make up half the population but only 18.5 percent of Congress and only 14 percent of leadership…

  Wednesday, May 14, 2014

• Formalizing your veteran hiring program

  With the ever-increasing number of veterans in the workforce, formalized veteran hiring and retention…

  Monday, May 05, 2014

• Help wanted: 3 ways to minimize new-hire risk

  Great news: Companies are hiring again. In fact, today's Labor Department numbers ​show unemployment…

  Friday, May 02, 2014

• 4 easy ways to have a better day at work

  How do you change your attitude when you are in the midst of a bad day? Here are four simple things I…

  Monday, April 28, 2014

• Can interview techniques squash boring business meetings?

  ​Meetings and interviews can be some of the worst job experiences. We can have too many or not enough.…

  Tuesday, April 15, 2014

• 4 tips for transitioning to a civilian post

  Whether you work in defense, military, police or fire, your job description includes duties rarely found…

  Thursday, April 10, 2014