The Last Few Years Have Tested Leaders In Ways They Never Imagined. By Steve Schumacher It is very common that people at all levels of organizations get tired, stressed, burnt out and frustrated. These things happen during start-ups, new product rollouts, peak business times and when systems and resources are stretched thin. Leaders understand that most of these times are…
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Is Business Jargon A Good Thing?
We All Hear It And Use It, But Is It Productive? By Steve Schumacher Early in my career, I worked with a large aerospace government contractor. I recall very clearly going to a social gathering with my co-workers, not long after I was hired. I did what most people do at social gatherings, mingle with others. It did not take…
Read MoreHow to Make Your Policies Most Effective
Most Policies Become Wallpaper Because There Is No Follow-Up. By Steve Schumacher We have all experienced it at one time or another. The leaders of our organization come up with some new policies that they expect everyone to implement and adhere to. Those policies take a lot of different forms, everything from performance reviews, time off policies, company property, behavior…
Read MoreHow Do You Deal With Age Discrimination?
Organizations Often Focus On Sexism And Racism But Overlook Ageism. By Steve Schumacher Unlike many cultures around the world that value and respect their elders, our society in America tends to de-value older generations and discount their contributions. As an older adult, I see it in the body language of people I encounter. I have my own business so I…
Read MoreHow to Develop Your Employees for the Future
Effective Leaders Work Hard At Developing Their Replacement. By Steve Schumacher Most organizations put a long-range plan together for things like market share, revenue, products lines, etc. Those plans typically extend out for five or 10 years. Fewer organizations put the same time, energy, money, and brain power into putting together a long-range plan for employee development. The companies that…
Read MoreHire For What People Can Do, Not What They Have Done
Candidates’ Past Successes May Not Transfer To A New Environment. By Steve Schumacher Over my career, I have helped many hiring managers transition from horrible to highly effective hiring techniques. I have seen far too many hiring managers make a long-term investment in a new employee with a seat-of-the-pants interviewing process. Considering how much money organizations spend on recruiters, advertising…
Read MoreIn Challenging Times, Take Care of Yourself First
In The Midst Of Crises And Chaos, You Must Keep Yourself In Good Shape. By Steve Schumacher The last couple years have put stress and pressure on nearly everyone and everything associated with our businesses. Quarantines, supply shortages, remote working, hiring challenges, etc. have impacted us in ways that nobody could ever have predicted. At the same time, the resulting…
Read MoreDo You Have to Be Happy In Your Job?
Many Management Theories Say Find A Job That Will Make You Happy. Is That True? By Steve Schumacher Early in my career, when I was transitioning between jobs, I got some advice to find a job that truly made me happy. Of course, happiness is a relative term. What makes one person happy may or may not make another person…
Read MoreHow To Sell a Job to a Candidate
You Need To Convince Candidates To Join You More Than Ever. By Steve Schumacher I have spent a lot of years teaching hiring managers to effectively formulate interview questions, watch body language, and think of interviewing and selection as a major part of being a manager. Evaluating candidates takes a lot of work and even when done well, can be…
Read MoreProduction vs. Quality – Who is Right?
Trying To Get Product Out The Door While Meeting Quality Standards Can Be A Nightmare. By Steve Schumacher Successful companies in all industries have always strived to produce quality products, at a reasonable price, and in sufficient quantity to supply demand. If any one of those three elements is absent, profits suffer and customers are disappointed and take their business…
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