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Essential elements of an employment application
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOne of the most important tools in evaluating and screening applicants for employment is a written application for employment. Employers should never accept a resume in lieu of a completed application for employment. Regardless of whether the application form is an old-fashioned pen-and-paper type or an online version, it should contain certain basic inquiries. This article outlines some of the basic statements and inquiries that should appear on every application and could serve as a helpful checklist for reviewing your own application form.
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Leadership styles and deciding between 2 justifiable options
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe can use buzzwords to describe our leadership style and inject best practices into our routine to buttress said style. Yet, it is during the exceptions — challenging issues, difficult decisions, or other proverbial forks in the road — that the true nature of our leadership is tested and exposed. Here are a few ways deciding between two justifiable options can define our style in ways we may not realize.
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Don’t ever resign with a ‘shove it’ quit
Hank Boyer Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn 1977, country music artist Johnny Paycheck recorded what many employees wanted desperately to tell their boss as they quit their jobs. "Take This Job and Shove It!" nearly won a CMA award for Song of the Year, and artists like the Dead Kennedys and David Alan Coe re-recorded it in the years to follow. Have you ever felt like leaving a job this way? Many people have. However, before you yield to the temptation, there are few things you ought to know.
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9 noteworthy governance practices
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementThere are thousands of great associations, chambers and other nonprofits working for important causes. Each has a mission and dedicated leadership. I have been introduced to noteworthy practices in governance, communications and membership. First, know precisely why the organization exists. It should be clear by the mission, but that is often stuffed with everything the board can fit into it. Worse, then nobody can remember much about the mission.
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Tips for creating an effective online job posting
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementOnline job recruitment is here to stay, and just about everyone is doing it. Like print ads, your goal is to stand out from the competition. But that's where the similarity ends. In today's fast-paced environment, job candidates are quickly surfing the internet for the next big wave, or in this case, job opportunities. Here are some tips to help you capture their attention and optimize your online recruiting investment.
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HR best practices: Lannister-style
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management"Game of Thrones" is such a great example of extreme cases. It is by looking at these extremes that HR practitioners can learn the limits that define best practices. Understanding these limits are especially important for us because we are so often in the situation where we are the intermediary trying to balance opposite opinions and keep everyone satisfied. This constant focus on positive outcomes can take our attention away from addressing negative behaviors. HR pros should keep these "Thrones" practices in mind as we work to create, cultivate and implement our best practices.
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Social moves away from vanity metrics — and you should, too
Emma Fitzpatrick MarketingSocial media platforms are currently intrigued with ways to reduce the emphasis on likes and vanity metrics. The companies are still trying to figure out how to make it happen, but in the meantime, you can address vanity metrics internally at your company. Vanity metrics capture satisfying numbers that make you feel good about your social media marketing efforts but don’t deliver on action. Here are a few common vanity metrics you can evaluate, along with ideas on what numbers to focus on instead).
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How to save 200 hours on board meetings each year
Robert C. Harris Association ManagementAre board meetings depleting association resources and staff time? The culprit may be meeting frequency. Most boards convene quarterly. A few govern only three times a year. Others gather as frequently as monthly. The most common reason given for meeting often is, "We’ve always done it this way." Other rationales: "We like each other and the meeting facilitates the board’s networking." And, "If we don’t meet monthly the directors will forget what we are working on."
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Advisor vs. coach: Is there really a difference?
Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementI'm often contacted by people who tell me they are looking for a coach when what they need is a trusted advisor. The words advisor and coach are frequently used interchangeably. However, they are actually quite different. Understanding the distinction will ensure that you hire the right person for your needs.
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How to identify and stop ostrich-style management
Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWe have all come across them in our careers: managers or even whole organizations that keep their heads in the proverbial sand, refusing to acknowledge what is all around them. Whether it is something subtle like a leader who avoids conflict or more obvious, like an organization that does not have a handbook, the ostrich syndrome can affect everything from attendance to office culture. As such, it is more important than ever for leaders to identify and stop ostrich-style management.
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