Thought Leadership Articles: 2019 – 2020

• • November 17, 2019
    The Case for Developing Quiet Professionals
    By: Lorraine McCalmley
    The leadership team is huddled around the white board that has a 3×3 grid drawn on it, with boxes labeled from 1 – 9. The two axes are potential and performance for an employee’s ability to transition laterally into new areas with broader responsibilities and the degree of mastery of a role. The leadership team is discussing Joan and Charlie, two of their employees, to decide on where to invest development dollars. The group unanimously places Charlie in that coveted Box 9, as he not only has shown great performance, but he shows the leadership skills the team thinks will make him successful at the next level—engaged and vocal in meetings, great at keeping his boss updated, enjoys a vast network within the organization, and is always walking the halls saying hi to people. When the leadership team begins discussing Joan, the story is a bit different. “She is pretty quiet,” one leader says.
    View More »
  • November 1, 2019
    Marijuana Legalization the HR Playbook
    By: Brisilda Doma and Brian Madalion
    Marijuana legalization is one of today’s hottest topics, which raises questions for the Human Resources community. HR professionals have questions about marijuana; if it is legal can we still test for it, can someone be terminated for use, or can we refuse to hire someone with a positive test? Other concerns include how to handle the effects of this substance and the risk that it poses on workforce performance. These were just some of the questions addressed at the “Marijuana Legalization and the HR Playbook” workshop on October 17, 2019. 
    View More » 
  • October 10, 2019
    No Way Out: A Returning Citizen’s Nightmare
    By: Dennis Paris
    On the day of my release, I walked through the gate with my wrist watch, 3 public transportation tickets, and $20. I felt both elation and fear. I also realized that I was still in the system and with the slightest infraction I could find myself back inside. View More » 
  • September 10, 2019
    How Disney Creates a Magical Experience
    By: Arend Boersema
    “What is your favorite Disney character?” This was the opening sentence to Chuck and Lauren’s presentation on Disney’s approach to quality service. The energy was immediately felt throughout the room as participants connected with each other over their favorite character. And that was exactly the point they tried to make; offering quality service and creating a culture of excellence cannot be reached without creating emotional connections, whether it is with your customers or with your employees. View More »