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Ditch n’​ Fix The Performance Reviews

By on May 29, 2020 in Employer Guidelines

“Flexible work schedule”, “millennials”, “ping them” “flex time” these are all terms used in today’s office environment that wasn’t conceivable 30 years ago yet with all the changes in the office environment we still hear about the performance reviews.

Managers hate writing them, employees hate receiving them. It is the only time of the year, everyone is walking on egg shells regarding work ethic and money. The larger problem is 53% of employers said they don’t even actively track performance during the year what’s the point? Plus research shows remembering the bad is a basic and wide-ranging principle of psychology. It’s in human nature,

To make matter worse, research has found that more than 9 in 10 managers are dissatisfied with how they conduct annual performance reviews, and almost 9 in 10 HR leaders say the process doesn’t yield accurate information and it’s a waste of their time. So why are they still doing it and…

What is a company to do?

Stop Insisting On Old Methods In A New Age

We all know Millennials want information now and seeing as they are now management material, everyone needs to regularly communicate with their team regarding performance. By doing so they will find their employees nearly three times more engaged. It doesn’t have to be a formal meeting but highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week! This doesn’t have to be written but a “walk by review”.

Good job. When I saw x consider y.”

When a manager “checks in” more often, this will essentially improve employee engagement, reduce turnover and increases company productivity, aggravation and mistakes!

As the New Year approaches if you are a manager, in HR or a CEO step away from annual reviews…if it’s not too late!

Turn over a New Year with a New Snowflake, take different steps to encourage more frequent engagement to ensure your company is heading in the right direction.

If only 8% of companies believe their performance management process is effective and over 50% feel it’s not effective at all, why are you wasting your time and money in the wrong places? 

Jessica Glazer is the Founder of www.MindHR.com a head-hunting and resume writing agency in Montreal. She is a contributor to the HuffingtonPost, can be heard on Montreal’s NewsTalk Radio CJAD and seen on BTMontreal, ABC NEWS, CTV and Global television speaking about employment related issues. Learn more www.jessicaglazer.ca

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14 Small Business, Big Hiring Mistakes

By on October 10, 2014 in Employer Guidelines

Expanding a small company is never easy. Everyone has a role and in a small office a bad hire has a greater impact. Below are 14 of the biggest hiring mistakes small business make:

Hiring A Friend Not A Fit: Your friend is great but unless you already have an established company keep them out of the office. There are studies that less work is completed when hiring a friend plus there is a reason you don’t mix business with pleasure…not everyone can separate the two.

Not Knowing What You Need:You know you need someone but do you know where or how. Write a list regarding where you feel your company is lacking strength from there you can decide where you need to hire but once you decide to commit to hire, hire.

Hiring Someone With Limited Skills: Don’t pin one person into a specific category. When hiring, think of their growth potential as you intend on growing.

Hiring Someone Do To A Bit Of Everything:You don’t want a jack of all trades with skills in none. You want someone who can fill a specific void or strengthen a weakness.

Hiring Someone Who Is Cheap: When push comes to shove if you hire the cheapest option you will get the least results. There are times you need to pay more to get more or at least know the market value of what you are looking for. Pay less and you risk losing that person which will cost you a lot more in the long run.

Hiring Someone To Help Them: You need someone, and yes many people need work but even a non-profit has to be selective and you are not a charity. You became an entrepreneur to run your own business, make your own hours and see success where there were clear issues in the systems out there. Remember that when hiring.

Making People Partners Too Soon:If you can’t afford someone, don’t hire them. Making someone a partner too soon means you will not have control over your own company, is that what you want so soon?? Hire those with potential but don’t make them partners off the bat.

Take Too Long To Take A Decision: Great talent who is interested in your company will get off the market quickly if they decide to interview at other places so don’t take too long to hire your ideal candidate. If you like them, put a ring on it!

Nitpicking: Being overly picky will hinder your chances of hiring the right person. There is no such thing as perfect. You have to make compromises

Over Hiring: Do not hire so many people that you don’t know what to do with them or that you have to train everyone at once. Know what your needs are then hire accordingly. Everyone will have their place but there’s no point in hiring 10 people if there’s only enough work for 4.

Over Interviewing: You need to know the person you are going to bring on is the right person for you. You can interview them, have them interview team members, give them a test and have a trial but after all that, you really need to make a hiring decision.

Not Prepared To Conduct An Interview: When someone arrives at your office, have your questions in hand. Know what you want to know from the person. Respect their time and ask questions about them while giving information about your company. This is not a you show. You do not need to prove why you are worth working for. Let them figure that out through their own answers.

Do Not Do Background Checks: You love the person, they have everything you need and want. They are 11 on 10 but don’t jump the gun just yet. Make sure you or someone you know checks their references or does a background check on them. Just because they appear great, know they might just be great interviewers…be weary.

Don’t Consider Head-Hunters: Small companies work on tight budgets. Shop around as some agencies aren’t as expensive as you think they are and can work with you to ensure you make the right hire. As stated earlier a bad hire can cost you a lot more then a little recruiting fee and a great recruiter will help you through the entire process.

Why Can’t I Offer More Money When They Want To Leave?

By on May 12, 2014 in Employer Guidelines

There are so many reasons why it’s not in your favour to offer someone who wants to leave your company more money.

Here are some of them:

The person wasn’t happy and it wasn’t just about the money.
Money is great, we all need it, most of us want more if it BUT when someone is making a move to another company, money was never the only issues and if twas the only issue why all of the sudden, now that they are about to go, you are able to throw more at them??

If you were able to throw the dollars at them now why didn’t you do it before??
This makes sense of course if you didn’t know it was an issue however if there are unhappy employees, it is your responsibility as a manager and/or an owner to know your people are unhappy. To say “You were too busy to notice” Or you have “too many people to know everything” is just an excuse that doesn’t work. Unhappy employees are less productive employees, they are the one missing work to go out, leaving early, on the phone more and taking lunch more often then before. You can’t know everything but you should be able to catch on and work accordingly.

If someone is about to take an offer now, in three to six months they will take another offer again as chances are it wasn’t about the money, they will still be unhappy but the idea of staying was much easier then the idea of leaving.

We see it all the time, managers/HR/CEO’s saying “we will give you more responsibilities, we will raise your salary” but the chances of this actually happening is truly nil to none…as again, why didn’t they just do it before??

Moving from job to job is never ideal however sometimes people need to leave a company and what that time comes it’s is best to just let them go. It’s hard, as breakups are never easy but once you are down, pick yourself up again and come back/hire stronger!

May Madness

By on May 12, 2014 in Employer Guidelines

They say “Love is in the air” when it’s spring but it’s not just love, it’s leg-working.
May is the time when we get out of hibernation and into the swing of things.
It’s after the holidays and before summer vacation.
It’s the time the ladies kick on their heels and the men relieve themselves of their ties because May is the beginning of Events.
From networking events to neighbourhood bbq’s, to parties and charity events.
May kicks off the two month spree of a social calendar.
You may love it, you may hate it but it if you are human and working, you must go to at least one of them!
It’s your time to show people who you are, what you do and what you can accomplish.
It’s your time to get your face known and your name out there.
Even if you hide near the food the entire evening you will meet at least one good contact…the other person who is also hanging out by the food.
So go enjoy yourself, and the weather, as if you are in Canada it’s only going to last for so long!!

And know that networking tips will follow!

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