...Top Ten Reasons Why Large Companies Fail To Keep Their Best Talent 124 comments, 9 called-out + Comment now Whether it’s a high-profile tech company like Yahoo!, or a more established conglomerate like GE or Home Depot, large companies have a hard time keeping their best and brightest in house. Recently, Giga OM discussed the troubles at Yahoo! with a flat stock price, vested options for some of their best people, and the apparent free flow of VC dollars luring away some of their best people to do the start-up thing again. Move up Move down Yet, Yahoo!, GE, Home Depot, and other large established companies have a tremendous advantage in retaining their top talent and don’t. I’ve seen the good and the bad things that large companies do in relation to talent management. Here’s my Top Ten list of what large companies do to lose their top talent: 1. Big Company Bureaucracy. This is probably the #1 reason we hear after the fact from disenchanted employees. However, it’s usually a reason that masks the real reason. No one likes rules that make no sense. But, when top talent is complaining along these lines, it’s usually a sign that they didn’t feel as if they had a say in these rules. They were simply told to follow along and get with the program. No voice in the process and really talented people say “check please.” 2. Failing to Find a Project for the Talent that Ignites Their Passion. Big companies have many moving parts — by definition. Therefore, they usually don’t...
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...7 Characteristics of a Great Boss The weekend is over and here we are, hello Monday and your boss has already started the morning off on a bad note. You feel like telling your boss “I quit” because her appreciation for anything or anyone does not exist. When was the last time you heard the boss say “great job, thank you for reporting in today, have a great evening; see you tomorrow”? These few simple words make a world of a difference. To hear the words “thank you” can modify your outlook of quitting or wanting to stay. Making that judgment varies on the person you work for. A noble boss is one who provides training and leadership to their personnel; however, some bosses are less efficient in their supervisory methods and procedures. To define boss - one who guides or oversees employees and exercises authority and control. Their responsibilities may include insuring the work is completed; policies and protocols are followed, and offer the crucial training to achieve these duties (Wikipedia, 2015). They have the ability to employ new workers and fire those that do not measure up. How responsibilities are conducted can be the distinction between a virtuous boss and an immoral boss. The personality of whether a boss is measured bad or good is contingent on the perception of the employee. A respectable boss directs his employees by assigning work based on an individual’s strengths. They take time to acquire what skills the employees have and in what way they can best be used...
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...The relationship with your boss is probably the most important relationship you have at work. Boss management can stimulate better performance, improve your working life, job satisfaction, and workload. Give your boss a hand and reap the rewards. ________________________________________ When we think of managing someone, we usually think of managing our team members or subordinates. The above title appeared for the first time a few years ago in a Harvard Business Review article written by two well known socio-psychologists. Their argument was that in modern companies, subordinates are not solely dependent on their bosses, but that today's complexity requires interdependence: the boss needs her team as well. I have the vantage point of being an adviser to top management, a CEO, and now as Co-Director of the PED program at IMD. In addition, I have been involved in the restructuring of a major international company, which involves some 12,000 people and 12 hierarchical levels. In order to unleash the energies and get closer to customers, we divided the group into 250 'small companies' of some 50 people each and of three hierarchical levels. To change the mindset, we organised a 20-day management seminar, during which we discussed the challenge of how to deal with bosses, who in the old structure, tended to hamper change. The whole process forced me to crystallize my observations and previous experience and test them with the 250 managers. I have grouped the results into...
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...A good boss, handsome salary or career growth? The term ‘boss’ has, of late, evoked more negative than positive images among the denizens of the corporate world. The statement “employees leave bosses and not organizations” has become ad nauseum now. The term “a good boss” is in danger of becoming an oxymoron. So, how do we define a good boss? What is more important for corporate professionals? A good boss, a handsome salary or career growth ? This is indeed a difficult question to answer. An ideal situation would be to have all three. But then it will be too much to ask, isn’t it ? The world that we are living in is full of imperfections. The key challenge for all of us is to achieve success despite all these constraints . No one can claim to be perfect in this world. The extent of perfection can only be relative – there can never be any absolute definition of perfection. Every leader has his inadequacies and shortcomings. Sometimes, the battle in the mind of a leader is to seek an ideal balance between adopting a employee-friendly approach and a business-friendly approach. He faces the challenge of straddling between both worlds. The sad part is that though these two aspects have become mutually exclusive – in reality, it need not be so. Being accommodative to employees need not signal the end of business performance. If it was so, we would not have had so many modern concepts in the field of human resources today. Flexi timing, a sustained effort to promote work-life...
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...Book Review | Book Review | Good Boss, bad boss: How to be the best... and learn from the worst | Ottawa University Organizational Consultation Skills | Erin Smith | 11/18/2012 | | Good Boss Bad Boss wrote by Robert Sutton is the research and stories put together about good and bad bosses, and behaviors in the workplace that led to their successes and failures. This book gives insight and self awareness as part of an ongoing process toward becoming a great boss or leader. Suttons work was directed by three basic questions: His work is directed by three basic questions: If you want to be a Good Boss, what do you need to accomplish day after day, If you have a Bad Boss, what can you do about it, and In short, what are the hallmarks of a Good Boss, and worst flaws of a Bad Boss? (Sutton, 2010) In the beginning of the book Sutton takes a look at having the right mindset. Being a good boss creates a healthy environment. What is more, a good boss has "more impact on engagement and performance than whether their companies are rated as great or lousy places to work" (Sutton, 2010). Sutton points out that “the leaders of an organization still matters more than the other bosses.” (Sutton, 2010) Sutton points out many points, but one strong point that is a focus is that bosses matter. Sutton stated, “Bosses matter, especially to their immediate followers and in small teams and organization.” He points out that bosses need to act as if they are in control even when...
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...Good Boss vs. Bad Boss There are many traits that a boss needs; like communication, respect and mentoring. These traits and others will decide whether you are a good boss or bad. It will depends on how one looks at it, are you an employee or a boss. Bosses will come and go, however the good ones will always stand out from the bad ones. At the same time, ironically, it’s easy to spot both extremes, good and bad. Everyone has a difference of opinion on what makes a good boss. I have worked for several bosses and the good ones outweigh the bad. When treated with respect and understanding an employee feels good about the job they are doing, and the boss. Communication and respect are important keys to any relationship, and the relationship between a boss and an employee is no exception. Because employees are the backbone of any business, a bad employee can negatively impact a business. Good bosses teach, train, and listen to their employees when they make suggestions, as they come from personal experience with customers or with a work situation that they have found that needs attention. Communication is key in a manager and employee relationship, understanding each other is key, questions need to be asked if needed to make sure everyone is on the same page. An employee’s perspective differs from the perspective of a boss, therefore meaningful discussion between both parties can bring positive changes and this will promote on a dialog of both...
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...Can BOSS tune to their SUBORDINATES? -Presentation on Mckinsey Article-Why good bosses tune in to their people- by Robert Sutton Difference Between YOU and BOSS When you take a long time, you're slow. When your boss takes a long time, he's thorough. When you don't do it, you're lazy. When your boss doesn't do it, he's too busy. When you make a mistake, you're an idiot. When your boss makes a mistake, he's only human. When doing something without being told, you're overstepping your authority. When your boss does the same thing, that's initiative. When you take a stand, you're being pig-headed. When your boss does it, he's being firm. Difference Between YOU and BOSS When you overlooked a rule of ettiquette, you're being rude. When your boss skips a few rules, he's being original. When you please your boss, you're arse-creeping. When your boss pleases his boss, he's being co-operative. When you're out of the office, you're wandering around. When your boss is out of the office, he's on business. When you're on a day off sick, you're always sick. When your boss has a day off sick, he must be very ill. When you apply for leave, you must be going for an interview. When your boss applies for leave, it's because he's overworked. Daily Prayer of Employee Give me the wisdom to UNDERSTAND my BOSS Give me the Love to FORGIVE him Give me the Patience to UNDERSTAND his deeds But Dearest GOD……………. Don’t give me the...
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...what it means to be in charge. by Linda A. Hill E Paul Blow the process of becoming a leader is an arduous, albeit rewarding, journey of continuous learning and self-development. The initial test along the path is so fundamental that we often overlook it: becoming a boss for the first time. That’s a shame, because the trials involved in this rite of passage have serious consequences for both the individual and the organization. Executives are shaped irrevocably by their first management positions. Decades later, they recall those first months as transformational experiences that forged their leadership philosophies and styles in ways that may continue to haunt and hobble them throughout their careers. Organizations suffer considerable human and financial costs when a person who has been promoted because of strong individual performance and qualifications fails to adjust successfully to management responsibilities. VEN FOR THE MOST GIFTED INDIVIDUALS, O S S hbr.org | January 2007 | Harvard Business Review 49 THE TESTS OF A LEADER | Becoming the Boss The failures aren’t surprising, given the difficulty of the transition. Ask any new manager about the early days of being a boss – indeed, ask any senior executive to recall how he or she felt as a new manager. If you get an honest answer, you’ll hear a tale of disorientation and, for some, overwhelming confusion. The new role didn’t feel anything like it was supposed to. It felt too big for any one person...
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...determine on how they perceive a good or bad boss. I. Introduction- Everyone has a boss; however, not every boss is qualified to be a boss. II. First main point - How a good boss conducts themselves in a work environment. a. Supporting details - A good boss is one that mentors their employees’ and empowers them. i. Subdetails – Good bosses want to help you learn and grow so you can be the best that you can be. ii. Subdetails – Good bosses listen and assess their employees needs and tries to meet them b. Supporting details – A good boss is a person with good communication skills, morale, and provides resources for their employees and co-workers.. i. Subdetails- A good employer has excellent communication skill and is someone who keeps in touch with their employees, while demonstrating good morale. ii. Subdetails - A good boss is going to want to provide you with the resources you need to get your job done, even if that means thinking outside the box. III. Second main point- How a bad boss conducts themselves in a work environment. a. Supporting details- A bad boss is one that is self serving or belittles you, causing a tense work environment. i. Subdetails – An employer that has an over abundance of ego, pride, and arrogance are usually not positive leadership and tends to put himself over service. ii. Subdetails- A bad boss uses belittling words and offers no...
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...Manuela Heinrich Villa September 4, 2015 Writing Activity #1 Characteristics of an Effective Boss Being a boss is a difficult job and is more difficult if you want to be an effective boss. A company is like a family where the boss and subordinates work all together to achieve the goals in the right way. An effective boss needs to have many characteristics such as: excellent leader, good communicator and a capable person of assuming responsibility. Primarily, a boss has to be an exceptional leader. A leader is a person who is honest and ethical, have the ability to delegate, trust on his/her team recognizing the abilities of each subordinate, keep calm and confident even if the things are not going according to the plan, always have a positive attitude and transmit this to the partners, if the boss await his/her team work hard he/she needs to lead by example and must to have the ability to inspire others. Furthermore, communication is another characteristic of a good boss. The chief must be able to express their vision and ideas to the team so that everyone can focus on the same goals. Other things that improve communication, is to value the efforts and the work of the entire organization, when the boss do that, the employees improve their skills everyday and also enhance the labor environment; and keep the door open because it builds trust among subordinates. Finally, an effective boss has to be a capable person of assuming responsibilities because he/she is responsible for the...
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...that one of the most important quality that boss should possess should be to guarantee employee satisfaction. An organization is as good as it's employees.Hence the supervisor should have the knack of selecting the best possible employees.He should be able to identify talent when he sees it.He should create a good working atmosphere for his employees so that they can give their best. He should also offer appropriate remuneration packages to keep his employees motivated.He should follow an open door policy wherein the employees are encouraged to come forward with their suggestions and grievances.There should not be a barrier of any sort between the employee and the boss. The employee who is part of an organization whic follows the above policies will feel motivated to give his best which in turn will prove instrumental in the success of the organization.Mr Narayan Murthy CEO of Infosys,a software consultancy firm in India has all the above qualities.Hence his organization has been voted the best organization in India for three years running. A boss should also have the tactical acumen to take the right decisions at the right time.After all the success of the oragnization depends on the kind of decisions he takes. He should also have the leadership capabilities to command the respect of his employees.He should lead by example.He should be prepared to accept his mistakes. Thus I would conclude by saying that a boss should be a person who inspires his employees...
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...do as what the boss told or follow the original heart. This dilemma is the main focus of Tom and Frank’s case study, ‘Challenge the boss or stand down?’ (2011). ‘Challenge the boss or stand down?’ concerns a general issue in the company D7 Displays. A rising star Tom challenged his new boss Frank in the public, and they have different opinions. Tom is facing the dilemma which may lose his job, and he has to choose a better method to solve this issue. As a diligent employee, Tom wants to do his best and gain reliance from his boss. He argues that the airline kiosk business is hurting by the web service and the only way to compete is developing the kiosk-based services which could make profit or provide more benefits. However, Frank, who is his new boss, is firmly holding the different opinion. Frank points out that the airline kiosk business presents a mature market and clients will not resign it. In addition, the hotels and car rental markets are wide open, and the company should develop these areas. Frank asserts that Tom was out of line and focus on the part not belongs to him. Advice about this dilemma is given by two experts, Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor from Stanford University and Paul Falcone, president of human resources at Time Warner Cable. Both of these experts consider that Tom should deal with this issue carefully. However, two experts obviously have different positions. While Falcone argues that Tom should follow his heart to convince his boss and it could generate...
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...Human Resource Management - Book Review “Managing Your Boss” by John J. Gabarro and John P. Kotter Harvard Business Review, 2005 Introduction People sometimes do not realize how much their bosses depend on them and many people also do not realize how much they depend on their boss. For example bosses need honesty from manager’s direct reports. People can managing their bosses for very good reasons: to get resources to do the best job, not only for their-selves but also for their bosses and their companies as well. Effective managers take time and effort to manage not only relationship with subordinates but also those with their bosses. This essential aspect of management is sometimes ignored by otherwise talented and aggressive managers. And there are some managers who actively and effectively supervise subordinates, markets, etc assume an almost passively reactive stance when they meet their bosses. With this mutual dependence, effective managers seek out information about boss’s concerns and are sensitive to his work style. Whether see the boss as the enemy or viewing the boss as an all-wise parent. Summary The book is divided into four big parts. First part is Misreading The Boss-Subordinate Relationship. This part provide about how two people can on occasional be psychological or temperamentally incapable of working together, where a personality conflict sometimes only a very small part of the problems. Sometimes people did not realize that their relation...
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...Royko’s Boss serves to critically analyze the self-serving legend, of famed Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, woven and drawn about himself during his career, while also bringing into perspective the consequences greed and unchecked power. Each chapter of the book begins with an excerpt from William Kunstler’s examination of Daley during the trial of the Chicago Seven, a group of activists charged in 1969 with incitement to riot during the Democratic Convention. Boss is Royko’s attempt to place Daley on trial for his corruption, and to prove he was elected five times not because of what he did for Chicago but in spite of what he did to it. From Daley’s earliest Democratic Party maneuverings to the blatant lies he used to cover up the unreasonable...
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...Top 10 mistakes bosses make NOT knowing when to fire someone, poor communication skills and expecting too much from staff all add up to make a bad business leader. 1. Expecting employees to be clones Problems emerge when the boss places very high expectations on their staff to provide perfect service or put themselves on the line. Leaders become disappointed when employees don’t demonstrate the same level of commitment, enthusiasm and performance as they have themselves - but it’s safe to say most staff probably wouldn’t feel the same way about their job as the boss does. Failure, and for that matter simple indifference, is often regarded as unacceptable, leading to a breakdown in relationships and communication. [pic] What other qualities make a bad boss? What mistakes do your superiors make? Tell us below. [pic] 2. Micro-managing people Good interpersonal skills are necessary to bring out the best in people. But certain attitudes can get in the way. Micro-managing rather than leading people is a major fault. Entrepreneurs can fall into the trap of getting their hands too dirty, trying to fix everything and overseeing almost all areas of responsibility, rather that delegating responsibilities. As a consequence, leader effectiveness and delivering on a strategy is compromised. 3. Limited communication skills Leadership involves communicating a vision and strategy to staff. Ineffective communication and poor listening skills hinder this process. Managers often...
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