Need help with your resume and interviewing? We will help you develop and polish your brand so that your message is consistent, clear, and powerful.

Once you land your new dream job, we can help you build your plans for the future to stay resilient, focused, and successful.

Call Nancy at 859-824-4555 to schedule a free consultation. A Professional Career Manager (PCM), she’s ready help you catalyze your job hunt, reassess your current job situation, and prepare for the next phase of your career.

While trying to stay cool inside, I’ve been getting hooked on “Design Star.” This is HGTV’s version of “America’s Got Talent.” Drawing a stick man is beyond my skill set, so I genuinely admire people who can make beautiful things out of almost anything.

Lately the contestant-designers are challenged to decorate a room and use something that the show’s hosts force on them for “inspiration.” Last week the designers had to find inspiration from the food served at a Mexican brunch. Another show required the designers to be inspired by tacky New York City souvenirs.

I guess the thinking is, if you’re truly a great designer, you can find inspiration in anything.

Earlier today I watched bits of the 2010 Visa (gymnastics) Championship. I saw young men and women who probably live, eat, sleep, and dream of being champions. They fall, get up, and keep on going. They practice. And they practice. And keep practicing until they execute it perfectly. And then they practice perfect execution.

That inspires me.

Tonight I read that Stafon Johnson may have sustained a season-ending injury in a pre-season game Saturday night. The young running back had fought his way back from a crushed larynx when a barbell with 275 pounds fell on his neck last September. Picked up by the Titans as an undrafted free agent, he is described by his coaches as a warrior. They believe if anyone can come back from this injury (they fear it is a dislocated ankle), it’s Stafon.

He inspires me.

Hard work. Dedication. Absolute unwavering commitment to one’s goals and personal beliefs. That inspires me. What inspires you?

See you ’round the block,

Nancy

PS Please keep good thoughts for Stafon.

· Jean receives a screening call from HR.

· HR emails Jean a job description; then HR emails her the correct job description.

· HR schedules a phone interview for Jean to talk to hiring manager, Betty.  Jean and Betty successfully connect.

· Jean receives invitation from HR to interview at company HQ to meet Betty and Veronica, another hiring manager.

· Interview day! Jean arrives early and meets first with Veronica.

· Veronica describes a different job to Jean and, when asked, cannot answer Jean’s questions about the original job that Betty described to her during her phone interview.  Jean is unclear if this is the same job or a different one.

· Veronica is unaware that Jean is also scheduled to meet Betty.  Jean lands in the lobby because Betty isn’t ready to meet with Jean at the appointed time.

· Betty meets with Jean; Betty is confused about which job (or jobs?) Jean is being interviewed for.

· Jean never meets with HR.

If you are Jean, would you want to work for this company?

I am amazed that so many senior-level managers are inept when it comes to interviewing people. Many leaders brag about being able to decide in sixty seconds if they’ll hire a job candidate. Others regard interviews as an opportunity to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.

If you want to brag about yourself, start a blog.

If you’re serious about finding great candidates, get some training on how to do to it. People seem to forget–or not care–that when they are interviewing someone, they’re representing themselves and their organization.

Here are tips to get started:

· Be crystal-clear on why you are speaking to the candidate. If there is an actual job, refer to the job description and share it with the candidate, preferably ahead of time so they can prepare too.

· Read the candidate’s resume and write down the questions you want to ask him or her.

· If HR has screened the candidate, find out what they learned and factor that in to your questions.

· Be on time.

· Talk 20% of the time; the other 80% should be spent listening and taking notes.

· Treat every candidate as if he or she is a direct descendant of your CEO. You never know who they know or what might eventually end up on Twitter.

· Close the loop with everyone you interview. An honest email or letter will do the trick. Making candidates wait to hear anything is unprofessional and a poor reflection on your company. I’m still waiting to hear about the results of an interview I had with MetLife over six years ago. Charles Schultz and Snoopy would be appalled.

See you ’round the block,

Nancy

We bought and printed our tickets at home, then headed off to the park. TANK’s Southbank Shuttle makes parking worries disappear: public transportation rocks! If you’ve never been to see it, Cincinnati has a gorgeous new baseball park, appropriately titled the Great American Ball Park. With hotdog, pretzel, and Coke in hands, we settled into our sun-soaked seats.

Man, did it get hot!!

After four innings, we needed shade. We found an open, breezy area on the mezzanine where we could stand and watch the game. Within a few minutes, a gentleman sporting a Reds’ shirt and ball cap approached us and said with a big smile, “This is the coolest place in the whole park!” We agreed, explaining we were taking a breather from the sun. Then he said, “I’ve got some seats over here in the shade, would you like to sit there?” We followed him to the next section down from where we had originally been seated. He produced a towel from his pocket, and polished two seats. He stepped back, smiled again, and said, “I hope you enjoy the game!”

This fellow, Tom T., knows how to treat customers. He gets it . . . right.

Tom stopped by several times to see how we were enjoying the game. He chatted with everyone! Two men seated behind us said that every time they come to a Reds game, they ask specifically for seats in Tom’s section of the stadium.

My husband mentioned that this was our first time to the Great American Ball Park, and Tom handed me a piece of paper and asked me to write down our names. He scooted off and within minutes returned with two certificates, signed by Dusty Baker and two others, to commemorate our first visit to see the Reds. Nice touch.

Cincinnati came from behind in the 8th inning to beat the Phillies, 4-3. We saw 3 homeruns, a stolen base, and a Reds’ victory: a great baseball game in the Great American Ball Park.

Tom waited at the top of the stairs and wished every fan a good rest-of-the-day. I got a sense that Great American Ball Park, in Tom’s eyes, is his Ball Park. And the Ball Park’s customers are his customers.

Don’t you wish everyone had that outlook?

See ya ’round the block,

Nancy

Why don’t companies’ leadership competencies include something like “Maintains a sense of humor” or “Takes the job but not him/herself too seriously”?

When I think about my years in corporate HR and Training, we needed to laugh to stay sane and productive. Yes, we laughed as much at other people as we did ourselves. When you work in Human Resources, you’re never lacking for good material!  People do funny things, and sometimes you just have to laugh.

Google “leadership and humor,” and you’ll find plenty of research that supports the value of incorporating humor in your leadership style. Zappos, one of my favorite companies to study and learn from, openly endorses keeping humor in the workplace. Their core values include “create fun and a little weirdness.” I especially like that Southwest Airlines tells its people to have a “fun-luving attitude” and not take yourself too seriously.

Companies trying to reduce their healthcare costs should promote humor in the workplace. A hearty laugh has many physical benefits. It relieves stress and increases the number of anti-body producing cells, which builds a stronger immune system. Laughing also works your abdominal muscles and gives your heart a boost too.

Leading people is serious work but not so serious that we can’t lighten up from time to time. Find ways to incorporate humor in your life. Smile, giggle, chortle, chuckle, and guffaw. You’ll feel so much better and so will the people around you.

See you ’round the block!

Nancy

Doing home repairs can be pretty intimidating. I got excited when I properly installed a new water filter in my refrigerator without flooding the kitchen. But Holmes’ beef isn’t with do-it-yourselfers; it’s with the alleged professionals who come in to do work, get paid, make a mess, and leave.

The banking industry is a mess because they couldn’t or wouldn’t get it right. BP has destroyed the lives and livelihoods of thousands because they can’t get it right. And don’t get me started on Congress:  either they don’t care or they don’t recognize what’s right any more.

Holmes gets it, and he get it right.

Who do you know that gets it right?

See you ’round the block,

Nancy

So while you’re out barbecuing, gardening, or visiting friends, remember to give thanks for those who made and continue to keep our country free and strong.

God bless the USA and all who serve her.

Nancy

Is there anything sweeter than new lambs and calves? And what does any of this have to do with training and learning?

Indulge me.

My favorite calf, now one year old, has shown signs of bovine leadership almost since birth. With a nearly all-white coat, just like her mom, Rogue Calf leads the other yearlings in mini-stampedes down our road. If you’ve never seen six calves marching down a country road, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s humorous, slightly dangerous (our road is barely one lane wide on a good day!), and a little inspiring too.

Leadership can and will emerge anywhere in your herd  . . .er . . . company. Titles mean nothing when it comes to leadership. We cringe when we think of individuals that have “leadership” dripping from their business cards, yet exhibit no skills or desire to manage, let alone lead.

I’ve always been a fan of grassroots leadership; read this article about D. Michael Abrashoff to get a taste of how powerful it can be.

If you’re in a leadership position, for Pete’s sake, do your job, and lead.

If you’re not in a leadership position, follow Rogue Calf’s example, and lead. You never know where it may take you and the rest of your herd!

See ya ’round the block and happy Spring!

Nancy

]]> http://www.piattgroup.com/?feed=rss2&p=47 http://www.piattgroup.com/?p=46 http://www.piattgroup.com/?p=46#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:46:26 +0000 Nancy http://www.piattgroup.com/?p=46 I have a love/hate relationship with skiing. I love to ski but hate the gear. I love the snow but hate when it gets up inside my clothes when I crash. I love the mountains but hate when the clouds roll in and cloak it with a foggy mist.

Managers love the concept of leadership but hate the work and worry it inevitably brings.  Thanks to Breckenridge and Vail, I have a few thoughts on how to work through the drear:

· Face your fear and learn from it. International is one of the steepest trails I have skied at Vail. Scared me to death but I did it. When leaders are unsure about how to proceed, remember what got you to this point, pick a course of action, and take it. After you look back and think, “Wow, I did that,” then thank the people that helped you have the skill and courage to act.

· The right equipment makes a big difference. Fischer Soma boots corrected my stance and made carving possible. Leaders, get the right people with the right skills and the right attitude working with you. Suddenly, anything is possible.

· Stop and think. When the chairlift stops, look around and appreciate what Ma Nature has done. Instead of plowing mindlessly through email and sitting through mind-numbing meetings, stop. Think. Then do.

· Take a lesson. Group or private, whatever works for you. Classes or coaches, whatever suits your needs.

· Drink more water. I shouldn’t have to explain that to you.

See you on the slopes!

Nancy

Better than what?

Better than ever? Better than 2009? Better than what I could imagine…and believe me, I can imagine a lot?

Beginning in 2010, The Piatt Group is offering career coaching to help make your professional life better.

And, for a limited time, everyone who participates in a Piatt Group management or leadership course will receive a month of free coaching with me. We want to do everything we can to strengthen your skills and apply them on the job. Sometimes a little coaching from behind the scenes can give you the added courage and confidence to surge ahead.

Here’s to a better, more rewarding, and more exciting 2010!

See you ’round the block!

Nancy