More Than a Buzzword: Let’s Be Honest About Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is a buzzword in the business world, and countless company websites tout their commitment to building diverse teams and inclusive cultures. Human resource departments are instilling D&I training for hiring managers and discussing their role in hiring diverse employees, and creating a culture of inclusion. But what does this all mean and why should companies care? Most…

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Leadership Interview: Ego Versus Eco with Ronald van Weegen

While traveling the world seeking answers on global leadership perspectives, we stopped in the Netherlands. I met with Ronald van Weegen, a seasoned senior executive in both Leadership Development and Human Resources. I asked Ronald to reflect upon his professional development and overall experience in life and provide us the one thing that he would recommend to younger executives on their…

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Interview Tips for Executives

Job interviews: these two words conjure a range of emotions and reactions.  Whether those sentiments are anxiety, dread, excitement, or something else entirely, the fact is that job interviews are an indispensable part of professional life, especially for executives.  Even so, there is still an incredible amount of ambiguity and conflicting advice when it comes to interviewing.   There are the…

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Salary Negotiation Tips for Executives

If you’re reading this article, you’re either curious or at the winning end of a long and competitive hiring process. Either way, congratulations! Below, I distill thoughts for people navigating executive compensation negotiations. I encourage you to read my notes on why compensation before jumping to how to negotiate. Why compensation? For employers, the goal of compensation is to buy labor that…

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The Art of Following Up for Executives

Many say there is an art to the follow-up. Could they be right? Does it really matter? The selection committee is going to hire the most qualified person for the job, regardless, so why take the time at all?  For starters, follow up action is a signal many employers look for in judging candidates on their professionalism, general organization, and cultural fit. In fact, one in five hiring…

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The Guide for Senior Executives to Stand Out on LinkedIn

A simple Google search will yield countless articles on making your LinkedIn profile stand out and optimize for visibility. You'll see tips for making the perfect new headshot, suggestions to add your high school Spanish class, and recommendations for taking a new online certification. All are fundamental recommendations to beef up your profile, and, generally speaking, they are indeed great…

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Leading with Gratitude

At N2Growth, we aspire to practice what we preach when it comes to taking care of each other and caring for our clients in a way that is unparalleled. As we look ahead to the upcoming holiday season and ringing in the New Year, we reflect over the past year's opportunities for growth, learning, and overcoming. While doing so, we realized there is a key ingredient in leading that is embodied in…

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The 15 Minute Guide to a Successful Interview

Do you want to learn the techniques which will help you to smash your job interviews out of the park and get you the offer? Learning how to answer any interview question, even those tricky behavioral interview questions begins with plenty of preparation. In this article, I will share my 15-minute guide to a successful interview. My name is Gordon Berridge, and I am the UK Partner and President at…

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3 Tips To Get Discovered By Executive Search Firms

I liken the executive search process to a grown-up version of the game "hide and seek". Brands across every sector are the seekers. Executives tend to hide. If you want to learn how to get discovered by an executive search firm - keep reading. The "playground" is big and complex. It spans geographies, industries, and functions. To most, it is unfamiliar. It is also competitive. The best seekers…

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Top Talent Management: 10 Reasons Talent Will Leave

Top Ten Reasons Talent Will Leave You Have you ever noticed leaders spend a lot of time talking about people only to make the same mistakes over and over again? Without question, your top talent will leave you if you fail to lead and take care of them. Few things in business are as costly and disruptive as unexpected departures. With all the emphasis on leadership development, I always find it…

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Why Leadership Development and Talent Programs Fall Short

Why are so many leadership development and high potential talent programs continuing to fail, or at the very least, not producing what we hope for? The answer is simple, those at the top of the organization are in denial about their own leadership capability. This is not to point fingers at the top leadership, but rather this should be a call to arms for all of us to take a good look in the…

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How Employee Engagement Drives Customer Satisfaction

Research shows there is a direct correlation between engaged employees and the satisfaction of your customer and ultimately achieving your business outcomes. In other words, employee engagement drives customer satisfaction. Richard Branson says, “Take care of your employees and they will take care of your customers”. Engaged employees are described as being fully immersed in and enthusiastic…

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6 Defining Values of a Leadership Culture

Twelve years after launching culture change consulting services, I am finally sitting down to write about six defining values of a leadership culture. These are factors I’ve learned that define whether an organization can improve their Culture or not. No surprise that all six values rise and fall on leadership. Before I unpack the six values, let me paint the backdrop of how it all began. In…

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Africa Shines in Employee Engagement

Companies in the public and private sectors across the world are faltering when it comes to employee engagement, yet Africa shines. Progress in employee engagement has stalled or is rolling backwards. The significant increases in employee engagement have been partially eroded due to global anxiety and rapid technological advances creating uncertainty about job losses, although Africa’s engagement…

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What Exactly Is Employee Empowerment and How Do You Keep Employees Engaged?

Employee engagement is defined as an active state related to productivity and innovation. Engaged employees can be described as being fully immersed in and enthusiastic about their work.  This emotional attachment means that employees will go above and beyond the call of duty. Employee Engagement differs from employee satisfaction.  Satisfaction can be described as being happy at work. Engagement…

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HR, Who’s Your Customer?

Over the last 30 years, I have worked for many organizations in HR positions with increasing responsibility. Regardless, I had discussions within each of those organizations about the concept of customer satisfaction. In my view, the only customer is those whom we sell our products or services to! They are the same who pay our salaries. Human resource staff was routinely told, that they should…

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