Blogs

Building Your Stanley Cup Winning Organization Via Free Agency Or The Draft

It seems timely to ask the question of how employers can best build a winning organization,  since the past couple of week’s have witnessed the National Hockey League’s annual draft for 18+ year olds and the window opening for free agent signing of veteran players with expired contracts having taken place. Many organizations struggle with whether to build their winning organization from within (by hiring and developing new talent) or by signing proven veteran talent from the marketplace. The reality is that like the National Hockey League, organizations can and should employ both means, when the situation calls for this.
Below are some thoughts on when to hire proven talent, and when to build from within, and some pros and cons for each approach…

Search Engine Marketing 101 -  How to Influence Clicks in Organic Search

In paid search you are in complete control of your ad wording. So you can say precisely what you want to say, to attract the most qualified visitors. In organic search, the task is a little more complex.

Candidate Alert !!  It’s NOT over when you get the offer

We were recently involved in a search assignment in which our client extended an offer of employment to a candidate only to withdraw it after the candidate asked ‘a few innocuous clarifying questions’. The incident illustrates a key misunderstanding about employment offers.

When Re-Allocation Of Responsibilities Amongst Various Functions Makes Sense

When business conditions deteriorate and Companies lay off staff, there is more pressure on employers to re-allocate responsibilities within and amongst departments, in order to attempt to get the same work (or more) done with fewer resources. While an obvious strategy to undertake, this may just make an unfortunate situation worse, assuming that remaining workers are being fully utilized,  unless coupled with other initiatives, such as work productivity initiatives (automation, simplification, reduction, elimination of work processes); reduction in work distractions (e.g. meetings volumes/frequency), talent initiatives (e.g. hiring of students, interns, co-ops, less expensive contract staff), and incentives (e.g. profit-funded bonuses; paid leave; training)...

Women reach the top, a new leadership model

Taking advantage of positive emotions could help more women (and men) reach senior leadership positions, according to recent research by McKinsey.

Drawing on interviews with over 85 top female leaders over a period of 4 years and specialist literature, the research initiative has developed a leadership model called “centered leadership”.

While it can be applied to men, the model is especially relevant for female leaders who tend to carry the double burden of parenthood and management more often than men and experience work more emotionally. “Women start careers in business and other professions with the same level of intelligence, education, and commitment as men. Yet comparatively few reach the top echelons”, warn the authors…

Post-Click Marketing Insights - Are Shorter Forms Better?

I read a great article from Marketo recently, that dealt with the question of landing page form length. They asked the question, “Do short form convert better?” and carried out an experiment to find out. The results were quite compelling and confirmed my own much repeated mantra about how long your form should be.

Articles

Power Equations - Tech Capital Partners Blog

Recently I was asked to speak at a TechAlliance / Ernst & Young event in London, Ontario about valuations. I was speaking after Bill Armitage who was clear and understandable so there seemed little point in my getting in an arm wrestle over the finer points of valuation theory. I thought I would try to address some of the questions that I perceived these and many other entrepreneurs have been asking these days: 1. How do I find money? and 2. How do I get the best price…