Control Change or Be Controlled Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services As our clients close out 2013 and are looking to the new year, many are considering various forms of change in their organizations. But change can be daunting. Most individuals and organizations tend to be comfortable with the status quo. Before trying something new, they analyze the emotional, financial and reputational risks of making a change. Most of […]
A Critical Leadership Skill” Avoiding “Task-Toggling” Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services One of the hardest tasks for any senior executive is staying focused on the task at hand. There are distractions everywhere: phone calls, emails, texts, internal squabbles and external crises that often demand immediate attention. In a fast-paced workplace, multitasking is part of our daily lives. But new research by Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Lab, in […]
Lisa Thompson, Director, Professional Services Senior human resources executives face an unprecedented challenge in retaining the institutional knowledge and skills of retiring workers. With an estimated 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching age 65 each day, organizations of all sizes face a potential “brain drain” as valued employees leave the workforce and enter retirement. A substantial segment of Baby Boomers has not saved enough money to retire in comfort, and wouldn’t […]
Are You a Strategic Thinker? Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services In a world characterized by increased economic and financial volatility, major corporations are looking for leaders with the ability to see the big picture. It might be a chief technology officer who understands why applications are moving to the cloud and how the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend will affect communications in the workplace. Or, a chief financial officer might […]
Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services One of the goals for leadership development programs is getting participants to step outside their comfort zones. It’s a universal human problem that affects CEOs, mid-level managers and aspiring young supervisors. After all, people develop attitudes, habits and other behaviors at an early age to cope with the stresses of their daily lives. But, all too often, that “comfort zone” becomes a box […]
Ask for the Job – And Keep Asking! Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services Any successful widget salesperson will tell you that you have to ask for the order in order to close the deal. It’s not enough to discuss your widget’s features and benefits when talking to a prospective customer. At some point in the conversation, a salesperson will say, “How many widgets would you like to order?” […]
Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services It’s not uncommon for a senior executive to be given an attractive financial package to help with a career transition. That provides time for you to consider your four main options: look for a new full-time position, take a part-time job, enter retirement or become a consultant. Because each of those career possibilities has its attractions and drawbacks, you need to decide what […]
Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services Searching for your next job may be the hardest job you’ve ever had – but with the right approach and a little luck, it could be one of the shortest. The effectiveness of your job search corresponds to the amount of effort you expend, as well as the quality of your actions. New job seekers are often unsure how to spend their time […]
Working with Executive Recruiters Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services Executive search is a large, yet very fragmented, business. According to the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), industry revenues in 2013 were more than $10.5 billion, yet the 10 largest firms accounted for less than one-fifth of that revenue. There are many reputable and successful search firms you may not be familiar with. Here are some tips from our […]
When a troubled manufacturing company needed an expert numbers person as CEO, the board of directors conducted a national search for an experienced chief financial officer with the ability to run the entire organization. When a U.S. sales company decided to open its first overseas affiliate, the CEO selected a sales manager from one of its largest domestic offices to run the new operation. And before a major children’s hospital […]
