Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Measurement & Star Quality

By Leave a Comment

star qualityCharles Handler of Rocket Hire spoke at the July ATD Baton Rouge Chapter meeting. His presentation about talent assessment woke up my inner quant-geek because I don’t often encounter other I/O psychologists.

His talk and our chat before and after the presentation brought back memories of the SIX stats classes I took in grad school (my PhD program was deeply rooted in measurement) and of the famous (or infamous) faculty who taught those classes. I was reminded too about varied assessment work I’ve done for organizations including surveys, 360s, and employee selection. He even knew my former boss, a selection expert, from whom I learned much. Finally, I told him of teaching Employee Selection and Placement at LSU. Because selection is measurement based, it can be less than exciting. However, I did mix it up by teaching several sections using a service-learning model that benefited local nonprofits.

This stroll down memory lane started me thinking a lot about measurement and here’s Today’s Real Message:

Our house is 88 years old so home improvement projects are always in the queue. A lesson from years of renovation is that the most skilled craftspeople who produce the finest work are the ones who know how to take and use precise measurements.

Are people your most valuable asset? Do you truly understand the knowledge, skills, and abilities your recruits and employees possess? Are you looking for star quality but falling short? Good measurement can help you identify the right people, place them in the appropriate role, and provide the developmental experiences they need.

Here is an interesting example of how the FBI uses measurement data to figure out who belongs in the most important jobs. Note that the Assistant Director of HR says they “rely on other information and not exclusively on the surveys when promoting employees.”

The finest outcomes result from appropriate, reliable, and valid measurement.

I can help you with that.

Are you using assessments to identify, place and develop talent in your company? How’s that working for you? You can comment here.

Know Your Peeps

By Leave a Comment

IMG_0663Business coaches stress knowing your target customer (aka ideal client). True true true. You really need the full picture. Who are they mentally and physically? What motivates them? What irritates them? What do they value? etc…

Several times recently I have been reminded how important this knowledge is:

1. A part broke on our six month old Samsung washing machine. To get help, I had to find the serial number located on the back. I’m not tall enough to lean over, the machine has a glass top preventing a climb on top, and it is wedged in the laundry closet so I couldn’t pull it out. It’s probably too heavy for me to move anyway. Why not put the serial # in a place easily accessed by people of all strengths and sizes?

2. A local beer bar sold about 250 tickets to a special craft beer event. Beer fanatics generally show up when the doors open. Only two bartenders were working the bar serving the most desired beers resulting in a line that was initially a hundred plus but always at least fifty people long. Don’t annoy the hard core lovers of your product.

3. Being in my 50s, I am experiencing both declining vision and increasing eye wrinkles. Just got some eye wrinkle cream in a light blue box with white lettering. The instructions are in a teensy sized font. No possible way I can read that info.

Really know your peeps and make sure their experience with you fits who they are.

If you are grappling with this or other small business questions, I can help you with that. A couple of people have expressed interest in my small biz coaching group and I’d like a few more to join. Contact me if interested.

Ever felt like a company didn’t know you? Comment here.

Hope and Dreamers

By Leave a Comment

Tomorrowland_posterMy husband wanted to see Tomorrowland today so we did. I had only vaguely heard of the movie and thought it had something to do with Westworld which it does not. I liked it a lot for several reasons.

First, Tim McGraw is in it. He’s a Louisiana guy and I’m a fan. His movie career continues to surprise me. Also, it was not exactly a kid’s movie but the story included some likeable kids and I think kids would enjoy it. Wish I had known that as I would have invited our niece.

Recruiting was part of the movie. Because I do talent development with organizations and taught HRM and Employee Selection for years, I always appreciate a good pop culture reference. In Tomorrowland, recruiting was the creator of the future and the strategy to achieve the highest good. (Trying not to give much away so pardon the broad generalities.) This is how today’s organizations need to recruit as well.

Finally, hope and dreamers were identified as being of the utmost importance in desperate times. This message is particularly relevant to anyone facing a professional or career challenge. You must keep hope and continue to dream of that best outcome. A couple of times, the story reminded me of what I know about conscious creators.

We left the theater feeling good which is the way to start a new week. Hope you feel good as well.

Have you seen Tomorrowland? What did you think? You can comment below.

Just 1 in 10

By Leave a Comment

1 in 10Gallup reports fascinating research in their State of the American Manager Report though I wasn’t surprised by the finding that only 10% of workers have the innate talent to be really great managers. My experience certainly aligns with that. I would love to share other highlights but there is a very specific copyright and trademark statement so I won’t, but do urge you to download and read the report.

Other worthy management research I’ve come across recently examines hypocritical leaders and finds more evidence that failing to walk the talk is related to undesirable employee outcomes.

Understanding the current state of management is critical because managers influence everyone’s quality of life. If you have a manager, you know this. If you don’t, your spouse or child or best friend has one. And when their work quality is rotten, their life is affected and so is yours.

Not to mention, managers run our defining institutions – schools, hospitals, government services – and literally everything else.

Good and decent management is fundamental to the well-being of our world.

If better management is important to you, stay informed. Awareness and knowledge are first steps in the management development process. Keep up with the research and best practices that are available to grow those in this key role. I love to talk about developing managers and leaders so give me a call if you’d like to know more.

What is your experience with managers? Share your thoughts in the comments.