China Sourcing and the Agent of Change

Gary Young - Sep 02, 2010

Business in China

I was thinking about my job and what it really represents. It struck me that sourcing products and services in China is all about change and I am really a change agent. I guess that is why I only deal with top executives as change is too difficult to power up from the bottom. Powering change from the top down is where change is most likely to occur. And change seems like such a natural process, but I know from personal experience that it can be painful. So I Googled…

Talent Plus Effort Equals Great Results

Barry Deutsch - Sep 01, 2010

Hiring Success

As you probably know by now – my favorite metaphors are sports related –  especially basketball metaphors. For our new readers, a little background: In  addition to a full schedule as a retained executive recruiter, speaker, author,  and partner in a thriving Internet hiring business, I also coach high girls  basketball and run a youth basketball organization with over 8 teams and 100  kids.

This summer I had the pleasure of coaching over 60 basketball games in two  months. Through that experience, I’ve gained reinforcement on some basic  thoughts around human performance that extends from 9 year olds all the way up  to senior corporate…

The Secret of Successful Software Implementations

David Faye - Aug 31, 2010

Business Leadership, Technology

It’s the dirty little secret of successful software implementations. No one really talks about it. It’s taken for granted and underappreciated, usually. Like the Aunt that always shows up at parties and holidays with gifts for the kids, but everyone makes fun of her anyway. The Spanish call it “adiestrando”. The French call it “entraînement”. The Germans call it “Ausbildung”. In Latin, they used to call it “palaestra”, of course. Here in the US, we just call it “training”.

You can pick just the right software, configure it perfectly, build the best doggone reports on the planet, but if the…

Are You Shifting Into High Gear with Social Media?

Holly Green - Aug 30, 2010

Social Media

Not only is our world moving faster and faster these days, it is also becoming more connected than ever.  And it looks like the corporate world has finally gotten the message.

For the past few years, I have been talking to clients and keynote audiences about the importance of embracing social media as an additional communications channel; ideal for marketing, collaborating, and engaging with stakeholders internally and externally.  While some companies have eagerly jumped on the bandwagon, many have resisted, for a variety of reasons.  That appears to be changing.

According to Forrester Research, an independent…

Followership

Leo Bottary - Aug 30, 2010

Business Leadership, Uncategorized

Leadership is among today’s most popular business topics.  But as John Maxwell reminds us, “The leader who thinks he leads and has no one following, is only taking a walk.”  Leaders should maximize the value of the team, and followers should understand what it takes to be a good follower, particularly during these challenging economic times.

Carolyn D. Townes wrote a terrific post called Good Followers Make Great Leaders. In it, she quotes the writings of Dr. Adalat Khan who identifies the qualities followers should have to be of greatest assistance to…