Onboarding and Talent Management: It’s a Lot Like Spring Gardening

After all the horrible weather that we had this winter, a 70 degree March Friday changed the attitude of almost everyone on the streets of New York City.

Everyone seemed to sparkle as they walked the streets. Everyone had a smile; you could hear the laughter in the conversations. Everyone was talking giddily about the outdoor projects or impromptu events that they would be doing.

One of my other passions (besides HR) is gardening. My thoughts were about going to the nursery on Saturday morning to begin my ritual of finding new plants or shrubs to prepare for the onslaught on my yard.

For anyone that gardens, the spring is nirvana.

HR and Developing Talent: Just What is Your CEO Thinking?

“Criminal neglect.” “We’ve gotten way too comfortable poaching.” “No one wakes you in the morning and says they want to go work in the advertising business.”

Brash statements you might say, particularly when they refer to recruiting talent. Are these from disgruntled employees, or a managers roundtable, or maybe from focus group findings?
If you picked any of these, you would be wrong.

CEOs Critical of their own organizations

Those were statements that came from three CEO’s of the largest advertising agency holding companies.

The CEOs that made these statements:

• WPP Chief Executive Martin Sorrell: “Criminal Neglect.”
• Omnicom Group CEO John Wren: “We’ve gotten way too comfortable poaching.”
• Interpublic Group of Companies CEO John Wren: “No one wakes you in the morning and says they want to go work in the advertising business.”

What an Orchestra Can Teach Us About Employee Engagement

“My first concert will be a special one; it will be in front of a private audience.”

That was the response from the recently hired conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel. His approach to classical music is taking the classical music industry by storm. He was (and is) the youngest conductor of a major orchestra in the world. He was only 29 when hired by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

There was discussion among the board that maybe he is a little too young and unorthodox to hold such a prestigious position. That first statement about the first concert had everyone on the edge of their seats. The question that was twirling around in their mind probably was, WHO is this special audience he’s talking about?

Public television has some of the most amazing documentaries that are always a staple in our house, even if I am the only one watching. I am always partial to classical music and opera. When I saw this special, I knew that it would be one that I would not multi-task while watching.