Friday, May 9, 2008

Trump Your Hiring Slump

Sometimes new hires don't work out despite hours of exhausting resume reviews, interviews, reference checks, personality tests...you get the point.

This is natural and it happens. Neither the employee or the employer should feel badly.

Food for Thought:
Perhaps "The Donald" has it right. Not that a 14-week interview process is a good idea, but perhaps there is something to having a 'hands-on' interview where the employee actually performs the duties of the job for a day (or a week). It may be less expensive than advertising, interviewing and a potential wrong hire.

http://www.donnamariawalker.com/


Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Vulture Culture

Like buzzards circling a carcass, many co-workers are circling waiting for a colleague to fail (rather than helping them out); waiting for a position to be eliminated; waiting for someone to falter so they can pick the bones clean.

Sick to think about, but it happens all of the time.

Negativity and conflict in the workplace is detrimental to the overall "success" of an organization.

To schedule a conflict resolution training in your office, contact me today.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

LoTo BB with BB

The Mayo Clinic promotes the following tips to reduce stress:
  1. Plan each day.
  2. Prioritize your tasks.
  3. Delegate.
  4. Get plenty of sleep and exercise.

  5. Attend D.J. Urban Kobbb's Lowertown Band Brawl
    May 10, 3-6:30 p.m.
    Texaco station (7th and Madison Street)

(Okay, so #5 is my professional tip...but music has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and increase work performance)!

Hope to see you there!
www.donnamariawalker.com



Monday, May 5, 2008

I Ain't Stewart Smalley

Some consultants offer you little more advice than to look in the mirror and say...
And then they look at you and say..."That'll be $3,000!"

Donna-Maria Walker, LLC is committed to helping organizations achieve higher levels of satisfaction through the implementation of strategic communication and employee/volunteer training & development.

While trainings are fun, they are also hard work.
While speeches are motivational, they are also highly educational and results-oriented.

You're good enough and smart enough to know when it's time for some serious training in your organization. Contact me today.

www.donnamariawalker.com

More Morale


Low morale in the workplace can be a result of many contributing factors including
employee terminations, promotion of incompetent co-workers, unresolved conflict, unstable organizational and/or financial health, unreasonable and relentless workloads, demanding supervisors, unengaged/non-supportive supervisors, poor environmental conditions...and the list goes on.

Let me assure you of one thing...low morale is VERY costly to an organization either in the form of lost productivity or turnover. Have the courage to look at yourself and your organization objectively.

Contact me today to schedule your free 1-hour initial consultation. Let's create a customized plan to increase morale in your organization!

Suggested Reading



Negotiating salary, job duties and other critical aspects of your job can be a daunting task. Typically, organizations provide 6 month and/or annual reviews which usually include opportunities to communicate performance objectives, duties, salary and other critical aspects of your job.

This book is filled with some good tips and ideas that can help.

www.donnamariawalker.com

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Tip for Tips


"Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist, because... I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones."
Dwight Shrewt, NBC's The Office


I have recently received some emails from service-related professionals regarding tips (or the lack thereof). In defense of the patron, many people just don't know what is acceptable.

As a general rule, we should tip 20-25%...even if you are capable of performing the service yourself.