by Triangle Performance Staff | Jul 28, 2009 | Kevin Berchelmann, Organizational Effectiveness
I frequently hear a discussion around this topic. Most wail and moan about employers today, about how “they” show no loyalty, about how “they” will lay anyone off at any time…
Personally, I believe too many answer this one-sidedly.
It’s not just employers who are not “loyal” anymore; employees seem to always be on the prowl for something new as well. Go to monster.com or careerbuilder.com, and do a search on your current company as employer.
Prepared to be a little surprised. Many — or most — have their resume out there, and are trolling for their next better opportunity. This is neither good nor bad, necessarily, but it does bear further investigation. (more…)
by D. Kevin Berchelmann | Jul 21, 2009 | Executive Improvement, Kevin Berchelmann
Ok, I don’t usually obsess with these things, but the morons in charge of California may very easily qualify for idiot(s) of the year.
$26B deficit facing them; handing out “IOUs” like they were playground buddies to responsible vendors, and now patting themselves on the back for finally agreeing to a budget compromise that doesn’t fix a damn thing…
Is anyone in charge there? Hello? Bueller? Is this thing on???
First, never mind that through all this hoopla and pseudo-effort, they still didn’t do enough (even using their funny math) to eradicate the deficit. (more…)
by D. Kevin Berchelmann | Jul 9, 2009 | Executive Improvement, Kevin Berchelmann
California can’t pay its bills. It’s begun issuing IOUs to companies who have provided products and services, and to individuals due refunds and payments.
Everyone repeat after me: You’ve got to be kidding me…!
How does this happen, you ask? The same way every organizational failure occurs: Ineffective, incompetent, or dysfunctional leadership.
You hear crap like “real estate values,” and “proposition 13,” and “unemployment is high…” It’s all subterfuge. Smoke and mirrors at its very best.
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by Triangle Performance Staff | Jun 27, 2009 | Kevin Berchelmann, Organizational Effectiveness
OK, I’ll admit it. I didn’t graduate from an ivy league institution. Probably closer to coastal bermuda league, but that’s beside the point.
Harvard University has just announced severe cost reduction moves as its endowment loses another 30%.
Cue violins… no, wait, kill the fiddles, guys.
Lest we fall into alligator tears here, realize that this endowment is now worth a paltry $25B (yes, Billion) dollars. I used to work for a man, Jerome Robinson, who would say “well, isn’t that just a nice, round number??” He was talking about single-digit millions, of course, but the concept holds true. (more…)
by Triangle Performance Staff | Jun 26, 2009 | Kevin Berchelmann, Organizational Effectiveness
Catchy title, eh?? Saving Your Way To Prosperity…
The bummer fact, of course, is it can’t be done, so stop trying.
“We have to accept what we all know to be elemental — that taking a defensive position can, at best, only limit losses. And we need gains.“ (emphasis added)
— Peter Drucker, HBR 1961
Written in 1961 — almost FIFTY years ago — by one of the most brilliant management minds of our time.
Ok, we’ve had some economy missteps; I get it. Financial markets continue to be unstable, at best; I get it. Uncertainty seems to be the order of the day for many; I get that too…
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by Triangle Performance Staff | Jun 16, 2009 | Kevin Berchelmann, Organizational Effectiveness
I’m a Verizon customer. Have been since I got my first cell phone in 1992. They were GTE when I first signed on, I think.
Loyal? Hell no, just practical. They have the network that seems to support me best in my locale and travels. I’d dump ’em in a second if someone — ANYONE — came along with just a modicum of customer service or concern. I’m searching for the proverbial “iota” here…
I won’t give a litany of examples of my thoughts and opinions on Verizon’s poor customer service; after all, this is a blog, not a whine. I’ll just use the most recent…
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