News

March 2012 SRA Update

Measuring the “Unmeasurable”

Most managers thrive when it comes to evaluating an employee’s success related to the hard skills of a role. Achieving measurable quotas, meeting quantifiable objectives, or directly contributing to profit or cost savings are black-and-white and leave little room for subjectivity or interpretation. The challenge most face is in evaluating the soft skills of every role; regardless of the behavioral profiling tools, the interviewing forms, or the qualification summaries utilized, the key is to define what those desired soft skills mean to you.

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January 2012 SRA Update

Creating a Culture of Retention
Offices everywhere are full of eager employees poised for fresh starts!

There is recharged enthusiasm for conquering previously unconquerable projects. Time with family and friends has allowed for the creation of elaborate dreams to assist in the accomplishment of elaborate goals. In corporations around the world, the New Year brings a revived optimism for all of mankind.  

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November 2011 SRA Update

Silver Linings
Despite Economic Uncertainty, There are Opportunities Out There

As 2011 draws to a close, there is a lot of angst, uncertainty, frustration, and negativity regarding the economy. With so many negative headlines dominating the media lately, it is easy to become pessimistic. However, it is important not to lose sight of some of the positive events of 2011, such as strong corporate earnings, increased M & A activity, emerging global markets, and an increase in hiring both in the United States and abroad.

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September 2011 SRA Update

Interviewing Tips for Employers

An interview is part of almost every hiring process. Interviewing can be expensive and time consuming for a company. Typically, the interview is one of the final evaluations of a candidate. Yet, many people believe that they can just “wing it” when conducting an interview, and many organizations do not take the time to prepare or train their interviewers. Improving the interview process can lead to higher quality new hires, which will certainly pay dividends for the company.

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July 2011 SRA Update

Why Employee Engagement Matters
Engaged employees can make a difference

The May/June 2011 edition of the SRA Update explored non-monetary factors that motivate employees in their career decisions. These factors may also play an important role in combating another problem facing many organizations worldwide – disengaged employees. Beyond increased turnover, apathetic and disengaged employees create a host of other issues for companies, like decreased productivity and employee morale.

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May 2011 SRA Update

What really motivates employees?
By understanding what is important, companies can attract and retain talent

There are numerous local and national surveys naming the “Top Places to Work” or “Most Admired Companies”. These publications are usually fun to read because the focus tends to be on the perks offered by employers. Unusual or unique perks make for interesting conversation and allow companies to grab the spotlight momentarily, but do they result in improved employee retention long term? Other organizations take the approach that monetary rewards are the only real motivators. Consistently, employees list certain nonmonetary factors as primary motivators in their career decisions, and this edition of the SRA Update focuses on several.  

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March 2011 SRA Update

Always Available, 24/7 Connectivity
Do smartphones, laptops, and other wireless devices really increase productivity?

Many executives believe that the 24/7 connectivity and accessibility that comes with their smartphones, PDAs, laptops, tablet computers, and other wireless technology increases productivity. Increased responsiveness and availability and the ability to work effectively when outside of the office are benefits that these modern devices afford. However, recently, there have been a growing number of articles, blogs, and studies in which the authors question whether the 24/7 connectivity and increased work hours that frequently accompany wireless devices actually decrease the productivity and negatively affect the overall performance of the employees using the devices.