If you’re looking to advance in your career, securing a sponsor—an influential senior-level leader in your organization—is a smart move. Women, in particular, benefit from having a sponsor because according to this report from advocacy group Catalyst, women are often perceived negatively when they use assertive career-building approaches. “There is no ‘silver bullet’ for…
Mimicking a Manager – Is There an App for That?
Apparently, there is and it can be found here on the HolacracyOne website. But before you get excited about imitating your boss via a snarky simulation you download on your phone or tablet, be warned: this “app” isn’t about mocking your boss, it’s about eliminating her job as a manager. Or, possibly giving her a…
Holacracy – Mushroom Comparisons Aside, It’s an Uphill Slog towards Acceptance
When CEO Tony Hsieh sent out an all-company email informing his Zappos team that they were moving completely to the Holacracy organizational structure of self-management, the story was huge. Zappos has long been the darling of the media for its forward-thinking workplace policies, so it’s no surprise that the media (and yes, we bloggers too)…
Don’t Let Those “Best of” Lists Create Employer Envy
Have you ever worked for a company that was listed as “best of?” You know, “Best of XYZ Industry” or “Top 100 Companies to Work for” and so on. No? Well then you might have wondered: just how cool is it to work at one of those companies? Yet another “best of” list came out…
Are Loose Cannons Driving Down Your Employee Engagement Scores?
Have you ever worked with a “loose cannon”? This high-energy person moves ahead too quickly without checking facts. Loose cannons mean well, but their unpredictability causes collateral damage. Typically, loose cannon employees are seen as a liability—and management is often looking for ways to help them “find new employment opportunities.” Frankly, I’ve not had a lot…