HR as Strategic Partner

This short week, my post is of a new slidecast that I put together on what being a strategic partner means for HR.  In this slidecast you will get learn the 4 areas that you must focus on to stay ahead of the game. Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Building Trust in Tough Times

I’ve been asked a number of times, “Silvia, how do I maintain trust with someone when we are in a difficult conversation about _________” fill in the blank with: performance, layoffs, budget, etc.
First, you need to ask yourself are you building trust or as we coaches call it, rapport, with this individual from the start? [...]

The Economy and HR

As I continue doing research for the new HR development program I’m launching in January, I see a greater and greater need for strengthening key HR skills. As Helstein Moerk, EVP of HR for Nokia said in his interview with HR Magazine (August 2008), ” Understanding the business and the numbers gives you a lot [...]

Future Challenges for HR

I received the following link in today’s McKinsey Quarterly:
Interview with Eric Schmidt
As I watched through the various parts of this interview with Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, I was struck by the ever changing landscape of our technological world, and with it the companies that create the technology.  If we want to keep up and [...]

Indispensable Employee – 4 ways to become one

At a minimum there are 4 things you can do to make yourself indispensable to your organization. 
1. Know and understand the business: What is your company’s product/service, business model, etc. is essential.  This means asking a ton of questions, especially if you work in a highly technical company. Spend time with the leaders you support and [...]

Calling all Mid Level HR Professionals

Hey there, I’m doing some research to determine the needs for HR Reps newly promoted HR Managers (Business Partners). In return for filling out my survey and leaving your email, I will send you a summary of my findings, along with any articles, products, and services for this particular market group.  I know this might [...]

Another Fire

Have you ever had one of those days, when all is going well and then a manager pops their head in the door and says, “Do you have a minute?” By the look on their face and their body language, you know this isn’t going to take just “a minute”.  By virtue of the work [...]

Human Being vs. Human Doing

I recently attended the IASH conference (Institute for the Advanced Studies of Health). At the conference I picked a particular presentation purely on it’s title “Health and Wellness: A new way of being”.  It intrigued me because it implied that there was a break through in how to achieve health and wellness. I was also [...]