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The human need to feel acknowledged and appreciated is alive and well.  We know that employees who feel acknowledged for their efforts give more discretionary effort, go above and beyond the call of duty, stay longer and, in general, are more engaged overall.  

I worked in Corporate America for 22 years before launching my own business in January 2009.  Virtually every year that I was an employee, the company I worked for would set goals in the first quarter of the year for that year.  By the time the goals were approved...

This week ushers in a U.S. national holiday – Thanksgiving.  Traced to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts, it was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of a fruitful harvest.

I’ve been blogging every week for the past three years.  If you have been on the journey with me from the beginning, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and you know that “the story of Sears” is – and remains – a major thorn in my side. ...

It’s no secret that I love sports.  Always have, always will.  Growing up I participated in team tennis, softball, bowling, soccer and ski racing, and I credit sports with teaching me the importance of practice, determination, healthy competition and self-confidence.  Sports also can humble us and teach us important...

Bersin by Deloitte reports that nearly 40 percent of all recognition programs are more than 10 years old, and 87 percent are built on a foundation of rewards for employee tenure that have no effect on organizational performance.  According to Dr. Bob Nelson, a best-selling author, recognition expert and motivational speaker, “Today’s...

An organization’s culture can be its greatest asset (Southwest Airlines) or its greatest liability (Wells Fargo).  However, according to the 2017–2018 National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Public Company Governance Survey, only 18 percent of board directors have a good grasp of their organization’s culture.  Quite interesting, since directors have a fiduciary responsibility...

Mary Teresa Barra is the Chairman and CEO of General Motors, making her the first female CEO of a major global automaker.  Bravo, Mary.  Her management style is said to be direct and brief, which mirrors GM’s workplace dress code: Dress appropriately.  Are you sure about that, Mary?  In an age...

Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, choked up several times in a recent interview with the New York Times, while detailing his excruciating year.  The stress of meeting production goals, sleeping at the office, and dealing with investors has, in his words, “made it the most difficult and painful...

When it comes to hiring the best and brightest workers, it’s a cut-throat world out there.  What can you do as an employer to stand out?  According to Millennials, offer career advancement, and perks that help limit out-of-pocket costs while promoting a healthier, less-stressful lifestyle.