Innovation is a hot topic in the United States, especially now as we search for ways of igniting our economic engines. From business publications to the main stream press, legions of voices are elevating the attention brought to the subject. Based upon the research, it’s clear that innovation is a requirement of healthy, vibrant, … More The Call for Innovation . . . Part 1
The new reality show Undercover Boss from CBS should be required viewing for every corporate executive and everyone who aspires to be one. It follows CEO’s as they slip anonymously into the rank and file of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they see the effects their decisions have on others, where the problems … More Undercover Boss: Listening to the Heart of Your Company
You better start loving up your employees. As we begin to recover from the economic downturn, organizations will be relying on their workforces more than ever to help them return to stronger financial performance. But with recent studies showing that fewer than 1 in 3 employees are engaged and as many as 55% are passive … More Now What? Managing Well After Layoffs, Recessions and Other Corporate Stressors
A friend of mine called the other day to share a story from the executive suite that made him dream of selling hot dogs on the streets of New York. I told him that it was not the first time I had heard the tale, especially in these days of our sputtering economy. I imagine … More The Trouble With Layoffs
A marketing exec friend of mine gave me a call yesterday to catch up. After swapping stories about families and our current work, he finally asked after years of knowing me, “What exactly is change management anyway?” I had to think for a moment before answering him for a couple of reasons. First, because he’s miles away … More What Is Change Management Anyway?
A number of years ago I had a boss who was so focused on staying on schedule during meetings that he forgot we were actually gathered to accomplish something. He thought nothing of interrupting a productive dialog to remind everyone that we needed to move to the next agenda item. The poor fellow thought “accomplishment” was … More Review Meetings: When Talking Is Effective
It’s been fascinating to watch the attempts at U.S. healthcare reform over the last year and beyond. The change management requirements for this monumental effort make multi-process, enterprise outsourcing implementations look like a piece of cake! Ross Douthat’s column in Sunday’s New York Times presents an insightful summary of the challenge, highlighting the complex web … More A Change Manager’s View of U.S. Healthcare Reform
“We need to discuss your performance.” There are few phrases that cast more fear in the hearts of employees. I was talking with a client last week about managing change for their implementation of performance management technology. After a quick technical chat about scope, the vendor, the timetable, resources and current tools and process, I … More The Folly of Performance Appraisal
Industry Week published a terrific article yesterday called Outsourcing Point/Counterpoint that captures the key challenges of the industry over the past decade. It questions whether outsourcing should be the automatic solution it has become and offers strong suggestions for those considering its use. In the US alone, the industry has grown to an estimated $500 … More Listening to the Results of Outsourcing
Erik Van Slyke 