Dr. Ira Wolfe is a speaker and adviser on workforce trends, social media and employee assessments. He is president of Success Performance Solutions, which advises companies on hiring and retention. He is also the author of "Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization" (2009), a look at how to bridge the generational gap in the workplace, and "The Perfect Labor Storm 2.0: Workforce Trends That Will Change The Way You Do Business (2007)." Contact Ira.
Content
Where Art Thou, Leaders? Management Lessons from the Gulf
By Ira Wolfe Thursday Jun 24, 2010The disaster in the Gulf has been a disaster of leadership. As a result, leadership lessons seem to be gushing from the incident faster than Deepwater Horizon is spewing oil. Where art thou, leaders?
4 Social Networking Personalities. Which One's Yours?
By Ira Wolfe Wednesday Jun 23, 2010It’s been said that if you ask five lawyers for their opinion, you’ll get at least six answers. Well, the same might be said for social networking except that behavioral preferences narrow the list to four likely responses.
A Future Without Offices? 6 Things to Consider First
By Ira Wolfe Tuesday Jun 22, 2010Can you see an office-less company in your future? Estimates of how many people telecommute and how often they do it vary widely, but the result is the same: telework is growing rapidly.
Rehiring an Employee Who Quit Can Be Smart Business
By Ira Wolfe Monday Jun 21, 2010Just a few years ago, using the axiom “time heals all wounds” and boomerang worker in the same sentence seemed so… contradictory. Today, many employees who have left a company to pursue opportunity elsewhere have shed the label “traitor” and have been ordained “alumni.”
3 Common Pitfalls of Pre-Employment Tests
By Ira Wolfe Wednesday Jun 16, 2010Hiring managers, seeking the special ingredients in what makes a top-performing employee tick, are turning to pre-employment testing more and more. But like a promising recipes, the proof is in the pudding. Many employees don’t work out even if they “pass” a pre-employment personality test. How can that be, you ask?
Why Rewarding Employee Loyalty Can Be a Mistake
By Ira Wolfe Tuesday Jun 15, 2010Which is better: employee retention or loyalty? The answer isn’t as obvious as one might think.
The High Cost of Hiring the Wrong Person
By Ira Wolfe Monday Apr 26, 2010pHiring managers are missing red flags when it comes to interviewing candidates. The result is both organizations and candidates are guilty of making bad choices.
Why Your Employment Test May Not Be Legal
By Ira Wolfe Thursday Jun 10, 2010Every employer wants employees who have a positive attitude and will stay on the job so they often follow the hire-for-attitude, train-for-skills approach to staffing. To identify candidates with the right fit, many employers administer employment tests — including ones they've designed themselves. Unfortunately, the design-it-yourself path is laden with legal landmines.
The Pitfalls of Banning Tattoos at the Office
By Ira Wolfe Tuesday Jun 8, 2010We make hundreds of judgments about people every day, many of them based on personal preferences. Personal prejudices don't stop at the office door either. This poses a particularly compromising situation for employers.
Putting Today's Jobs Report in Perspective
By Ira Wolfe Friday Jun 4, 2010According to a recent report published by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, we’ve just lived through ”The Katrina of Recessions.” While some might argue that we are still living in the recession (as Friday's jobs data on private-sector hiring suggest), few would disagree that American attitudes toward work are forever altered.
Expert Answers
The BP Gulf of Mexico Crisis is just gushing with leadership lessons.
Thursday Jun 17, 2010What do you think are the most important lessons leaders can learn from this?What's your favorite "ice breaker" team building exercise?
Thursday Jun 17, 2010A client of mine is looking for a 20 to 30 minute exercise his manager's can use at their department meetings. What are your favorites?Re: Will the iPad be useful as a business tool?
Wednesday May 26, 2010My wife and I both have iPads and, for most of our day, the iPad is a great combination of our iPhones and Macs. We are using them for fast speech writing and delivery, note taking in conferences, and email management as we work on our program here inRe: What's the worst thing that a CEO can do to company employees?
Tuesday May 25, 2010One of the worst things a CEO can do to company employees is "lose their trust". CEOs can destroy the trust of their employees by demonstrating employees are not important. How does this happen? Tolerating dysfunction in the culture NotRe: Will the iPad be useful as a business tool?
Friday May 21, 2010I suspect so as long as someone has a want/need. I just came across a situation with a client who has a manager whose dying to use his iPad to help improve productivity. I can see his side. What most people aren't considering, however, are the securityRe: What should we consider when hiring interns for training?
Friday May 21, 2010Another thing to consider is to make sure your interns are aware of what's expected and acceptable when using your business computers. I'm seeing it in action and hearing from my customers that college students and recent grads are all about havingRe: Marketing/ Pricing question Russell R,Kevin B, jay F, George M & Al S. I need your help!
Friday May 21, 2010I would take the lead from Seth Godin. I would offer it for free for the first X number of people who sign up, or for the first number of days. How you attract should be based on who your target (tribe) is...do they read a trade journal, have FB orRe: What's the worst thing that a CEO can do to company employees?
Friday May 21, 2010Disconnect and be unavailable. Many CEO's stay separated from their people - secured offices, remote offices, too much time in meetings.. Employees are the eyes and ears of the company; they are connected to their networks. Employees haveRe: What are some simple ways to get the most out of your employees?
Friday May 21, 2010Jack Great comment about the role or management "showing up" for their employees. The way I like to think of it is "constant contact" and connection. I find it easiest to explain this way: To perform at their best, employees must be connectedRe: What's the best way to ship supplies as a small business?
Thursday May 20, 2010I have had better luck with FedEx than UPS in the past, but the last couple of times I have been in a UPS Store, they have tried to sign me up for a Small Business Account, so they may be trying to be more competitive with FedEx. I would recommend
