A couple of months ago I was reading a glossy fashion magazine and I was amazed when I came across an article that literally crucified women who do not disclose their pregnancy to their current or future employer when applying for a new role.
Just a few months ago, Lord Sugar reported that pregnant women should disclose this ‘particular’ during interviews. It is the old adage: pregnant women are a burden for a company. Is this really the case? With the changes in the Paternity Leave Regulations and the employment law reforms announced in the Queen’s Speech the rules of the game are changing. However the cultural shift has not taken place yet.
Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Isabella Brusati, managing director, LLB Hons, LLM, FCIPD
I recently spoke at an NHS forum on talent management. I originally didn’t think there would be much in common with me coming from the hospitality sector however I was struck by the similarities in strategy and process irrespective of the skills involved for the organisation.
My presentation reflected on the past two years talent management strategy I have implemented at Hotel du Vin & Malmaison. I had brought along Will Harper, one of our employees, identified as talent within our organisation – someone who has been through the programme. Naturally I was upstaged. The audience really picked up on the pride and passion Will conveyed when he told the audience about his experiences, after being identified as talent and developed as a consequence.
This post was written by Mike Williams, FCIPD
With the expectation that today’s female leaders need to be able to show that they can truly ‘do it all’, Nicky Garcea, director at organisational psychology firm Capp, explores the impact of the need to be a ‘juggler’ has on female talent development and well-being, and highlights ways that ‘doing less’, but thinking more strategically about using strengths can be a women’s secret weapon to success.
In my experience of working with women globally, their feeling of needing to ‘do it all’ and ‘do it all well’ is unanimous. And if the pressure to juggle jam-packed home lives with getting a promotion, wasn’t stressful enough, researchers also believe that this desire to balance home and work causes a significant decline in happiness. Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Nicky Garcea, consulting director, Capp
Interview preparation – it’s pretty daunting isn’t it? As a job seeker, when you’ve secured that all-important interview, what you wear is as much a part of giving the right impression as your skills and competencies.
But what about when you’re at the other side of the desk? If you’re the interviewer, how should you dress to convey the right tone and ensure the candidate walks away with the correct impression of your company?
We recently received the following query from a Changeboard reader:
Q: Hello, I work for a small company. We are currently recruiting new talent. I was wondering, what is the appropriate or recommended attire for interviewers? I’ve found countless articles that discuss the interviewee’s dress, but very limited information for employers. Thanks. Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Mary Appleton, assistant editor
What do the late Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and fashion icon Coco Channel have in common – besides being incredibly successful entrepreneurs? They all have a signature style. An outfit, facial hair or fantastic red lipstick that they have hardly ever been seen without. They are all the poster children for personal branding.
Examples of people with a signature style
I have met a few ‘real people’ who have mastered this art too…like Silla Maizey, managing director of BA Gatwick; whose long bright red nails and completely distinctive make-up and hair cut makes her stand out and still look very much like ‘Silla’ even when she occasionally has to wear the BA uniform. Her signature style screams unique, strong and dynamic. Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Jodi Goldman, image and impact specialist
The cynics of corporate social responsibility (CSR) will say that it’s a waste of time and money; “we don’t have the resources”, “it’s impossible to measure return on investment”, “how can we justify giving our employees time off to volunteer or mentor other people”. But I ask you, what’s the cost to you personally, your business and workforce of not embracing CSR?
Nick Hart, head of CSR for Turner Broadcasting, recounts a story of how he led a group of volunteer employees to Rwanda for a week to help build a school in 2010, but came across a boy with a cleft palate. A boy whose life had been ravaged by this facial disfigurement, lacked self-confidence, and didn’t fit in among his peers. Moved by this scene, Nick, on behalf of Turner, arranged for an operation to take place. A few months later after his visit, Nick received a heartfelt letter and a photo of a joyful, happy boy flashing the warmest smile. At this moment, Nick’s eyes begin to mist and he chokes up. No need for words, his emotional response says it all – a young life, transformed, forever. Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Natalie Cooper, editor
Ever thought about mentoring? According to Andy Coxall, who carried out a year-long mentoring placement with Chance UK, a charity that works with 5-11 year old children who have behavioural problems, it gives you ‘soul food’.
So why did Andy offer to spend a year mentoring an eight year old boy who had been emotionally abused, suffered mental as well as health issues and had mood swings that descended into red mists? Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Natalie Cooper, editor
In this Q&A, author Kate Keenan of ‘It’s All About You‘ outlines her top tips for taking control of your career, how to give yourself an MOT health check to manage your wellbeing effectively and how to pursue your career dream.
Q. Why should I get out of my comfort zone and take a career risk?
A. It’s not so much as getting out of your comfort zone as finding the right one to jump into which will provide you the courage and confidence to take that risk and follow your career dreams.
This post was written by Natalie Cooper, editor
In this Q&A, Sharon Eden, inner leadership coach and psychotherapist talks about how receiving a whack around the head is a deliberate call to make you wake up so you can (re)discover your purpose, passion and power. She also talks about the personal cost of avoiding or ignoring our warning signs or staying within your own unhealthy comfort zone.
Do you need a whack around the head?
People who need a whack around the head are happily unhappily sleep-walking instead of living; robotically going through the motions of their work, domestic and social lives. They’re people like anyone who has fallen into their career rather than having chosen it. Like anyone who stays in their current unsatisfying job because of the mortgage or they’re too scared to put themselves on the job market line.
You might just be plain old fed-up or suffer from stress, depression or the ‘Monday Morning Blues’. You might even get the fleeting idea ‘there has to be more to life than this!’ But that’s all quickly shoved to the back of your mind for the uncomfortable comfort of staying with the status quo; clutching to the familiar which seems not to demand anything much of you. Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Natalie Cooper, editor
The year 1994 was a real turning point for Chris Rawlins. A high flying city trader who had led the hedonistic lifestyle; partying, wearing pin stripe suits and red braces, found himself throwing it all in. He no longer enjoyed the thrill of chasing the money. So, he took himself out of his comfort zone and ended up volunteering for Bridge Partnership for six months, which took him down a totally different, unexpected career path that changed his life forever.
He argues that if you’re finding work a burden, you’re fizzling out, and becoming mentally exhausted – you need to get out now before it’s too late. “Don’t get caught up in a career trap. Fear is all about the imagined of a perceived future that’s not real,” states Chris. “Take control before your career change is thrust upon you.”
If you dare to take a risk in your career, get yourself out of your current predicament, no matter how scary that seems, and lose the fear of walking into the unknown, you’re suddenly presented with new opportunities you could never imagine possible. This is Chris’s story. Read the rest of this entry »
This post was written by Natalie Cooper, editor
Loading ...