When was there ever a time that there wasn’t uncertainty? The truth of the matter is that there has always been uncertainty, and there always will be uncertainty in life and in business. Do we actually think that our ancestors expected WWII or the Great Depression? They did not, and they could not have expected the impact that those two events would have nationally and globally. Yet out of those horrific, historic occurrences, leaders, like cream, rose to the top and yes, they led. Not only did they lead they led with courage, innovation, empathy and new sustainable ideas. This […]

When the new normal becomes a reality, there will be a few things that will not change in the world of Human Capital Management. Employee development will be one of those things.   More than ever employees want to know where they stand with their company. They will be focused on their future, and on their personal and corporate development. Career pathing will be top of mind. They may have been furloughed, terminated by another company or asked to work from home. Bottom line uncertainty and suspect of their future will be the new normal that corporate leaders will be experiencing […]

Talent Curve / Leathers Milligan has been helping leaders with communications for decades. In a recent training engagement, every single leader present acknowledged that it wasn’t necessarily what you say—but how you say it, that matters. So, why does it matter? One common mistake in communication is passing the blame to the other party if they don’t fully understand what you mean. It’s not their fault they don’t understand you—it’s your fault. Whether it is a peer, your subordinates, prospective hires, vendors, partners or other leaders—if they don’t get it—it’s your fault. Now that we have established that, let’s get […]

We’ve all seen the news and it’s true- unemployment is at 3.8%- the lowest it’s been since 1969! So if unemployment is so low, do you really need outplacement services? Of course!  While downsizing may currently be on the decline, rightsizing continues to be a popular method of reorganizing and streamlining an organization. When layoffs take place, it can make the remaining employees uneasy and maybe even cause them to look for other employment. If you want to retain loyal employees, you need to show them loyalty as well. The best pay to promote loyalty is to give it back […]

Brand and Culture are big buzz words these days. After studying, building, and communicating brands for over 20 years, I want to boil down a couple key observations. Brand and Culture are a big deal, period. Especially when it comes to recruiting and retention. Talent is drawn to the big brands—Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Home Depot, Wells Fargo, etc. All are well-branded companies that all of us are familiar with. We know the Apple icon, the Facebook favicon, and the Wells Fargo stagecoach. That is the brand identity (logotype or logomark), the component that we are most familiar with—we immediately […]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that more workers are quitting their jobs than any time since 2001, so it is more important than ever for HR and business leaders to invest in their employees pay, training, benefits and personal development. Perhaps the Culprit Is the Lack of Management to Recognize the Changing Workplace According to the Gallup Poll 2015 “State of the American Workplace”, annual reviews, forced rankings, outdated competencies don’t really give management the results that are needed to adequately evaluate their workforce. So are we simply out of touch with the REAL needs of our employees and […]

Being a leader is not easy and it requires time and patience to master the role. When leadership skills are lacking, organizations suffer with: Vague goals and unclear direction Poor communication Unproductive meetings Lack of progress and innovation Low trust High internal conflict and dysfunction Robust leadership development can address these issues. Recognize the value of development of people and understand that success isn’t sustainable without great leadership at all levels. An effective leadership development program ensures that participants are able to embrace the following practices. Developing these abilities in your leaders will benefit them, their team, and the entire […]

Given that 81% of new hires fail and the true cost of bad hires can be significant, many companies are choosing to train, hire and develop their leadership teams internally. They are investing in their leaders to prepare them for new opportunities and any unforeseen changes that today’s world may bring. Requirements for today’s leaders. Today and tomorrow’s leaders require agility to thrive in times of turbulence and disruption, the mastery of all things digital, and the ability to lead without formal power in a growing non-employment labor market. They must learn how to reward people in ways that are meaningful to the worker […]

Organizations today face many challenges ranging from globalization to disruptive technological change, but their leadership is often unprepared to handle them. Senior managers may be reluctant to undertake leadership development programs for fear they won’t deliver desired outcomes. Look for the following areas of focus in your leadership development program to insure success. Provide Context Context is a critical component of successful leadership development. A brilliant leader in one situation may not perform well in another. A CEO may have an outstanding record when markets were growing but may be unable to provide clear direction during an economic downturn. Hence […]

Every company faces new challenges and must overcome slumps at some time or another. Your executive team can be integral to tackling these issues head-on, but they may not prepared to do so. Or, while you employ highly skilled people, and have good systems and processes for getting things done, your company is stagnant. It is unclear where growth and improvements will come from. Either of these scenarios are where executive coaching is valuable for your company. What may be holding your company back is the lack of strong leadership skills and the right business behavior. Executive coaching helps leadership […]