Category Archives: Human Resources

Are You A Corporate Hoarder?

By Mark Stelzner | Published: November 30, 2011
A close friend recently transitioned from an extremely large organization to a small, fast-paced and entrepreneurial startup. We met shortly after he completed his first all-hands meeting, during which the CEO said something that got his (and my) attention. Namely, that the difference between the new firm and their much larger competition was based on [...]
Also posted in General Thoughts, Research | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Getting HR Practitioners To The Podium

By Mark Stelzner | Published: November 15, 2011
In December of 2009 I made an HR New Year’s resolution to listen more and speak less, stating that: “I believe that there is an answer to every question our HR industry faces. It’s out there. It already exists. That’s not to say that innovation is dead, but instead that HR has done a historically [...]
Posted in Human Resources | Tagged , , | 32 Comments

Two Easy (And Legal) Ways to Gather Competitive Intel

By Mark Stelzner | Published: November 1, 2011
According to a February, 2011 Financial Times article, US intelligence sources estimate that industrial espionage will cost American businesses between $100-250 billion dollars annually. Increased global competition, pressure to rapidly and persistently innovate and pure profiteering are oft-cited motives for both physical and electronic means of securing proprietary information. Even the seemingly benign HR industry [...]
Also posted in Finance & Strategy, General Thoughts, Public Sector, Research | Tagged , | 6 Comments

6 Tips for Stress Free Business Travel

By Mark Stelzner | Published: October 17, 2011
Erin Palmer wrote me in the midst of some of the most horrific business travel I’ve experienced in my career. Cancelled flights. Broken luggage. Stinky rental cars. Overbooked hotels. Terrible food. In other words, I needed some advice. So when she pitched me on the idea of tips for stress free business travel, I jumped [...]
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HR Technology 2011 – Observations and Conclusions

By Mark Stelzner | Published: October 5, 2011
After attending hundreds of industry events I’ve come to rely on a single meaningful measure of a conference’s success or failure – the attendee. Although that seems obvious, I’m not speaking to the post-event survey or paper-based ranking of a given session. Instead I walk the floor, listen to what folks are discussing, join in [...]
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HR Technology 2011 – It’s Personal

By Mark Stelzner | Published: August 25, 2011
It’s my third week in France and I’m writing you from Inflexion’s temporary HQ, a fourth story Bordeaux walk-up with windows overlooking an ancient square. Last night musicians played while couples laughed, danced, clapped and drank. This has been an amazing respite and I have droves of content for future posts, but today I write [...]
Posted in Human Resources | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Orbiting the HR Hairball

By Mark Stelzner | Published: June 30, 2011
On a recent flight to Chicago I happened to be seated next to the CHRO of a large manufacturing firm. After a few pleasantries, he pulled out Gordon MacKenzie’s now legendary management book, Orbiting The Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace. Asking if I’ve read it, I said I had and suggested [...]
Posted in Human Resources | 6 Comments

4 Reasons Change Is So Damn Hard

By Mark Stelzner | Published: May 18, 2011
While flying somewhere over the Midwest I started chatting with a very senior executive from an organization you would instantly recognize. Without taking a moment to assess who I was, he began to lambast his firm and lament how “back-asswards” they were and that they were “destined for failure“. Given that he was responsible for [...]
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Will I Fit In?

By Mark Stelzner | Published: April 27, 2011
For many it begins the moment Mom or Dad first releases our hands, eyes shining as we step into the strange and often unfamiliar surroundings of pre-school. Walking reluctantly away, this trickle of self-doubt may swell into a flood of uncertainty. Will I get along with others? Will I be met with kindness and warmth? Will [...]
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6 Ways To Destroy Your New Hire

By Mark Stelzner | Published: March 14, 2011
Although the economy shows signs of improvement, it can still be quite difficult to gain approval for that all-important new hire requisition. But despite these challenges, you’ve secured the req and you’re prepared to expand your mini empire. And after reviewing hundreds of resumes and interviewing dozens of candidates, you’ve managed to lock down a [...]
Posted in Human Resources | Tagged , | 27 Comments