Perspectives

Simply argumentative…

Someone wiser than I, Alan Weiss, recently mused about others who disagree, stating: “Too many people respond to a new idea or suggestion with, ‘Let me tell you how I do it,’ or, ‘I disagree.’ Their immediate response is to protect their own thinking patterns or try to prove they know more.” “Hang on,” I…
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Hiring? Thoughts on ‘smart’ rather than ‘fit’

When clients decide to make an external hire, they [almost] always state that candidates must have industry experience-to fit in more quickly, to engender credibility, have an easier learning curve, and to ‘hit the ground running.’ Industry knowledge helps, no argument. Indeed, if the job to be filled is mid or low level, technical or…
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The fear of hiring

That may sound peculiar, but I often see clients get cold feet when committing to a new hire.There could be many reasons; no one wants to make a hiring error with a big job; concern that no one externally can fit into the culture quickly enough; an uncertain economic climate, which always gives an easy…
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How not to interview

The economic news in the second half of 2012 is rather glum. The banks are [again] laying off, Europe and the US continue to hit new high of unemployment, Asia is feeling the heat, and a case can be made for being guardedly pessimistic before the markets turn upward, which they invariably will. For those…
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The [overly] ambitious subordinate… look out

The other day I spoke to a friend, a regional director, where he’d been recently, how his new hires were doing, work chit-chat. He said that one new hire (working elsewhere in the region) was doing very well; smart guy, good pedigree and contacts, presents well and ‘made a contribution from day one.’ My friend…
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5 reasons why the boss doesn’t develop new talent

I often grapple with clients who can’t seem to decide on whom to hire. I hear all sorts of reasons; the budget, the economy, quarterly earnings, changes in strategy, cultural fit, etc, ad nauseam. What it also means is that no decision is made. A search goes on that much longer, causing heartburn–if not burnout–for…
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Got the new job, can’t quite figure it out

An acquaintance recently started a new job–a big one, large prestigious MNC, very good package (expat perks), regional purview. He was hired within 2-3 weeks, unusually quick, in my experience (I was a bystander, not involved). One meeting in Asia, a couple of telecons with global HQ, flew out to meet everyone, the contract was…
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The boss can mentor, but can the boss really coach?

I often hear senior management (Pres, CEOs, MDs ) say they’re good coaches to their key people. And I see more books exhorting leaders to be Chief Coach. Hmmm.. Many bosses can mentor, (often be great mentors), but it’s not quite the same thing as coaching.. I personally don’t think bosses are good coaches. Occasionally,…
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