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Candidate Management During a Crisis
I am no stranger to the challenges of candidate management during a crisis. I started my career in executive search right out of college over 13 years ago, so recruiting is work that I've always done and always loved. While in the second year of my profession the great recession hit and had a significant impact on my area of expertise including venture capital, and private equity-backed…
Working From Home Now? Here are Our Best Tips to Ease the Transition
Are you working from home now? Because of the Coronavirus and new social distancing guidance, many people have been directed whether voluntarily or involuntarily to work remotely until the pandemic subsides. If you or your team have never worked this way it can certainly be a challenge for anyone, whether you are an employee or a leader this can be a frustrating change. Fortunately, most of our…
Leadership Interview: Awareness as a Way to Understand Impact
Many new executives come out of business school still unprepared with desired competencies when entering into potential leadership positions. I asked Naina Desai, Head of Revenue Growth Management and Bottler Strategy at Coca-Cola what her thoughts were on competencies that leaders should focus on to face the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous business environment we find ourselves…
The Impact of a Great Leader
I am always surprised by the impact that just one person can have on a team or an organization. In particular, the speed which that effect takes place. I have seen examples in multinational enterprises, where the appointment of a new CEO resulted in a change of atmosphere within a few weeks. This phenomenon happened not just to the people working closely with the CEO, but also with people who had…
Leadership Interview: Connecting With People is The Key Competency
I recently sat down with Dudu Hlatshwayo, CEO and founder of Change EQ Corporate Advisors in Johannesburg. I think you will find her answer to be thoughtful and full of insight, everyone reading this should take heed of this simple advice. Interview Summary JH: What is the number one leadership competency required in this fast-paced, unpredictable world we now find ourselves in? DH: Connection…
3 Strategies to Build Inclusive Teams
If you’ve ever played a team sport like soccer or basketball, you quickly learn that while it is helpful to have an “all-star” player, the best teams leverage the talents of all their players on the field and elevate everyone’s game in order to consistently win. The following are 3 strategies to build inclusive teams: Align on values - focus on what we share (common goals, work ethic,…
President’s Day – Part Two
Today's post is the second in a two-part series celebrating President's Day by examining the leadership traits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In yesterday's post, I looked at the unimpeachable character of our first President, and in today's post, I'll examine the resolve of America's sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln. It is an astute person who studies history and applies the…
A President’s Day Look at Leadership
Since we're headed into President's Day weekend, I thought I'd take this opportunity to author a two-part series in which I'll examine the leadership characteristics of the two Presidents for which the holiday is celebrated; George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln. In today's post, I begin by taking a brief look at the life of George Washington in an attempt to quickly offer some leadership tips…
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…
Leadership Means Facing Challenges Head-on
Many would say if you're in the leadership business, you're also in the business of dealing with adversity. After all, leadership means facing challenges head-on. Regardless of where you are in your life and your career, I can promise you one thing; you will consistently be faced with challenges and obstacles along the way. In today's post, I will take a brief look at the beliefs that cause some…
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…
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…
Leadership Interview: Stef du Plessis on Culture & Unwritten Ground Rules
While in Johannesburg, South Africa, I had the opportunity to sit down with a leading global authority on employee engagement and workplace culture, Mr. Stef du Plessis. Stef and I began to dive into the differences between employee engagement and corporate culture. I was interested to understand from his point of view if there was a difference (which we both agreed there was) and if he could…
The Engagement Secret of Great Leaders
Show me a great leader and I'll show you a talented storyteller. Leadership and storytelling go hand-in-hand. In fact, leaders who lack the ability to leverage the power and influence of storytelling are missing the very essence of what accounts for compelling leadership- the story. Give me a few minutes and allow me to share this message with you - it may just change your life. If you’ve ever…
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…
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…