04 Dec, 2016

Many of us in the consulting world have had the idea to sell educational offerings to help clients through small and more informal engagements. From tips on getting your business off the ground to leadership techniques, there are a lot of topics we can share with others. Assessment Criteria To create a great experience for both our clients and ourselves, we need a platform to both build and distribute these offerings in an engaging and seamless way. To that end, I assessed the vendors as

19 Nov, 2016

This week's podcast focuses on the story of a program that educates middle schoolers on identifying purpose in their lives, covering topics like who they are, what's important to them, and how they select friends who support meaning in their lives. His program is based on how important this time period is in developing who we will become as adults by helping provide personal reflection and thoughtful decisions about where they are headed. I recently watched the film Arrival, in which the main

14 Nov, 2016

Let's face it. No matter where things fall for you politically, last week was a doozy. Social media and our cities' streets are a buzz and it seems like the world is imploding. So, when #WorldKindessDay came up on my Twitter feed yesterday, it was a much needed reminder that people can be kind, thoughtful, and giving. It was a respite from the spite. According to the Kindness foundation, "Part of what distinguishes us as humans is our natural capacity for compassion and ability to be kind to

06 Nov, 2016

The guest for this week's Be Verdant podcast is Allison, a Scrum Master who leverages servant leadership to creatively drive change. During our conversation, we discussed the application of Agile concepts within a Human Capital context. This is not a new concept, having been a topic of discussion from Bersin and others. That said, there are still many opportunities to explore how to implement agile within HR. Here are few tips for those who would like to understand this further: 1. Get to

13 Oct, 2016

This week's episode of the Be Verdant podcast celebrates the uniqueness that is us and the journey of finding the most fertile place to be our best selves. Kim shares a story of shifting industries from a fast-paced technology organization to a more sequenced energy company. Her story of identifying our own change styles (and the styles of those around us) highlights how one change style can be a "cat walk" in one organization but a "fashion don't" in another. The Change Style Indicator, as

02 Oct, 2016

This week's episode of the Be Verdant podcast is a fascinating interview with Randy Mayeux in which we discuss his favorite books on driving change and innovation. As a companion to that (and in celebration of those if us who enjoy listening to our learning), I wanted to share my favorite podcasts for driving change and thinking about talent (other than my own, of course!). There are a lot of HR and talent development shows out there, but my favorites are those that come across as a show: they

18 Sep, 2016

Having worked for several high tech companies, I am familiar with the concept of disruption, in which outsiders spawn new thinking, incumbent approaches are challenged, and markets and pathways are created. In many cases, the approach is centered around technology, but the concept of disruption has spread to more process and people-based areas. Human Resources is no exception. Which brings us to DisruptHR. Putting on events around the globe, this organization has provided provocative and

11 Sep, 2016

After having interviewed several guests on the Be Verdant podcast (available on iTunes, Stitcher, and by clicking "Podcast" above), I had the opportunity to switch seats as a guest on Debbie Sardone's "Cleaning Up" podcast. In this episode, we discuss many talent challenges small businesses face, as well as emerging trends for them to consider.  Click here to listen. I hope you enjoy!

30 Aug, 2016

We have all been there. You thought a new product would be amazing and it failed. You made a pitch for funding and were denied. You held a meeting that didn't go well. When taking risks, it isn't a matter of if we make mistakes, it is a matter of when, how often, how big and what we do when they happen. It is during our moments of challenge when we really get to know who we are and who we can become. That all sounds good afterwards, but what are some tips for when we are in the thick of it?