Human Resources - Category Archive

Ten Signs of a Fear-Based Workplace
Chris Banescu  |  July 10, 2010

7/9/2010 – Liz Ryan -
Reigns of modest but palpable terror are making an unwelcome return at offices all over the country
The U.S. financial crisis has caused fear in the boardroom, and that unease trickles down to every worker. The principal signs of a fear-soaked senior leadership are a preoccupation with looking out for [...]

Lessons From a Blue-Collar Millionaire
Chris Banescu  |  February 28, 2010

Inc.com | by Bo Burlingham | 2/1/2010
When Nick Sarillo launched his pizza business, he had one goal in mind: to create a corporate culture unlike any he had seen.
It’s Takeout Tuesday at Nick’s Pizza & Pub, and the air is thick with the smells of hot pizza crust, peppers, onions, and cheese. Eighteen young men [...]

A Little Less Conversation
Chris Banescu  |  February 25, 2010

Inc.com | by Joel Spolsky | 2/1/2010
Have you ever invited employees to a meeting just so they wouldn’t feel left out? If so, you may be an overcommunicator.
When was the last time you scheduled a meeting and invited eight people instead of the three people who really needed to be there simply because you didn’t [...]

John Mackey of Whole Foods on Hiring Leaders
Chris Banescu  |  January 1, 2010

Inc. | by John Mackey
John Mackey of Whole Foods describes his process for identifying key hires.
Q: What traits should I look for when hiring for a leadership position?

How Aaron Patzer of Mint.com Made $170 Million in Two Years
Chris Banescu  |  October 13, 2009

Inc.com | by Aaron Patzer | October 2009
Aaron Patzer launched Mint.com as a user-friendly alternative to Quicken and other personal-finance software out there. Little did he know that just two years later, Intuit, which makes Quicken, would fork over $170 million for his website. So how’d he do it?

John Mackey of Whole Foods on Hiring Leaders
Chris Banescu  |  September 21, 2009

Inc.com | John Mackey Interview | July 2009
Q: What traits should I look for when hiring for a leadership position?
A: My philosophy about this has definitely evolved over the years. I understand people a lot better today than I did 30 years ago. Back then, I was more impressed with people who were very [...]

How to Work More Like a Start-Up
Chris Banescu  |  May 31, 2009

Inc.com | by Darren Dahl | May 2009
The first thing you notice when you walk into the Chicago offices of Total Attorneys, which provides software and services to small law firms, is the number of people on their feet. Every morning, the company’s 180 employees gather around the office in groups of five to 10. [...]

Google Searches for Staffing Answers
Chris Banescu  |  May 19, 2009

The Wall Street Journal | by Scott Morrison | May 19, 2009
Concerned a brain drain could hurt its long-term ability to compete, Google Inc. is tackling the problem with its typical tool: an algorithm.
The Internet search giant recently began crunching data from employee reviews and promotion and pay histories in a mathematical formula Google says [...]

Making the Most Out of a Bad Economy
Chris Banescu  |  March 31, 2009

Inc.com | by Michael Alter | Mar. 31, 2009
With all this economic gloom and doom, business owners are no doubt finding it a challenge to stay positive. What some might not realize, though, is that along with the challenges of a downturn comes huge opportunity.
When times are good, it’s easy to overlook problems and [...]

Street Smarts: Surviving the Recession
Chris Banescu  |  March 5, 2009

Inc.com | by Norm Brodsky | March 2009
It requires conquering your fears and making the right choices. Many business owners won’t do either
Fear can be a motivator, but it can also lead you into bad decisions, particularly in times like these. I have no doubt that a lot of business owners have spent the [...]

The Employee Whisperer
Chris Banescu  |  November 13, 2008

Fast Company | by Kate Rockwood | November 2008
How Kenexa is blending psychology and technology to create passionate workers.
At the suburban Philadelphia offices of Kenexa, people grin at one another all day long. Sometimes they hug. Bright posters of the company’s guiding principles dot the walls: YOU’RE ALLOWED TO LAUGH YOUR WAY THROUGH A PROBLEM [...]

Should Your People Come Before Your Customers?
Chris Banescu  |  September 30, 2008

InformationWeek | by Rob Preston | Sept. 29, 2008
One school of thought is that if you treat your people right, they’ll be far more motivated and equipped to engage with (and maximize returns from) your customers.
The customer comes first. It’s considered a business management truism. The way to boost profits and market caps is to [...]

Beyond Flextime
Chris Banescu  |  August 11, 2008

Inc.com | by Scott Westcott | August 2008
For Linda Skoglund, getting a pedicure on a busy Tuesday afternoon was a career turning point. It ran against her Midwestern work ethic. And certainly, there was plenty of work piled up at J.A. Counter & Associates, the $2.5 million insurance and investment advisory firm she owns in [...]

Mistreating Employees A Clear Sign of Management Troubles
Chris Banescu  |  August 28, 2007

During the glory days of the Dot Com Bubble I worked as Director of Web Development at Homestore.com (now Move.com). Homestore ran Realtor.com, the largest real estate site on the web. Homestore’s management team was unable to capitalize on the unique position and strategic advantages the company had in the marketplace and squandered the resources [...]

Some Employees Are More Equal Than Others
Chris Banescu  |  July 7, 2007

When I was younger I used to believe that getting a good education and working hard would offer me a stable life. I learned real quick that many companies don’t reward hard work anymore – at least not like I thought they did.
I believe in hard work. I think people should be rewarded on what [...]