HMK Associates, Inc. Newsletter

 

November 2007

In This Issue

Keeping People . . . Not!

Our Clients Say It Best

Favorite Quotes

PS

 

Quick Links

 

Dear Holly,

 

Greetings!  In keeping with the season, here's a little ditty that provides some details on our hires to date in 2007.

·   12           fine field service folk

·   11           savvy salesfolk

·   10           mighty managers

·     9           enterprising engineers

·     8           astute admins

·     7           still in progress

·     6           technicians tweaking

·     5           hrs hiring

·     4           manufacturing mavens

·     3           astute accountants

·     2           quiet quality techs

And 1 operations expert for thee!

By the way, we've heard back from 32 clients contacted since May 2005 and asked them to rate our services on a scale of 1-5.  Our overall average is 4.69.  Our goal is to match or exceed this in 2008!

 

Lately, we have helped our clients focus on retention issues . . . as well as doing some pre-termination counseling.  It has made us think about what makes employees stay - and what convinces managers it is time for them to leave.

 

Here are some questions that employees ask themselves as they consider a job change:

  • Does my manager want me to be successful in this job? 
  • Do I trust my manager to let me know what he/she wants in terms of a clear timeline and goals?
  • Will my manager give me what is necessary (ample time, and the contacts, training, feedback, and equipment that I need) to enable me to be successful?
  • Will I be rewarded for my efforts in a way that is fair?

Here are some questions that managers ask themselves as they contemplate a termination:

  • Does this employee want to succeed in this job or is he/she just killing time before their next job change?
  • Is the employee able to be clear about what he/she needs in a way that is productive and results-oriented or are they in the habit of complaining without taking action?
  • Can the employee "take in" feedback on his/her work and not be insulted or defensive?
  • Are they contributing in a way that makes me happy to reward them?

 

Our Clients Say It Best

 

We enjoyed working with Jeff Lengel, the President/CEO of Residential Resources' recently.  RRI's mission is to provide quality, affordable, and well maintained residential housing and other facilities to persons with disabilities.  They also provide accessible home modifications, assessments and construction management directly to individuals.  Recently, they hired HMK Associates to update their policies and replace a key staff member.  Here's what Jeff has to say about our services:

 

"I have been very satisfied with the professionalism and quality of the work by HMK Associates, Inc.  I relied upon them to find the right candidate for an important position at RRI and to craft our employee handbook and they delivered.  I recommend them to any organization with human resource needs."

 

 

 

 

Favorite Quotes 

 

We have attended a few great presentations in the past few months.  We thought we'd share our favorite quotes from these sessions with you:

 

Best Tips for Holiday Parties *  

  • In advance, remind everyone (in writing) not to drink and drive. 
  • Don't have an "open bar" or allow employees to pour their own drinks.
  • Specifically instruct bartenders not to serve anyone under 21 and not to serve anyone who is visibly intoxicated.

(courtesy of Tom Smock, Ogletree and Deakins)

*This reminds us of our favorite new word for 2007:  "barguments" - from Daniel Maurer's upcoming guide, Brocabulary.

 

Our Favorite Sales Tip:  "When salespeople overcome their need for approval they become 35% more effective!"  John Rosso from Peak Performance Management said this at a recent Pitt presentation, making the point that in some cases the salesperson's need for approval is greater than the need to close business.

 

Favorite tip for CEO's:   "The single biggest responsibility of a CEO is to guarantee the survival of your company."  Patricia Henriques, CEO of Management Alternatives, Inc. at Chatham's "Think Big" conference, made this point, pointing out the importance of seeking advice and having an outside board of directors.

 

Another good point was made by Gail Blanke, the President of Lifedesigns, LLC:  "Take the ground you've already traveled."  She pointed out that many of us hesitate to stop and acknowledge our successes with a final tip to list the defining moments in your life.

 

And lastly, a fun piece of trivia from the Allegheny Conference Annual Meeting:  Both Bingo and banana splits were invented in Pittsburgh . . .

 

PS

 

Holly was recently honored with a listing on the Society for Human Resource Management's website as a "recommended speaker"  (www.shrm.org/speakers/guide.asp).  Her talk was on extroverts and introverts in the workplace and she would like to speak on this topic again . . . in Pittsburgh!  Call us!

 

HMK Associates Mission

 

To enable executives of growing organizations to recruit and retain top talent through strategically customized HR services.

 

 

 

 


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