By Mel Kleiman A magnetic manager is someone who easily attracts and retains STAR* employees and one secret that separates them from other professionals is feedback (and not necessarily the glowing kind). In 2014, Harvard Business Review contributors surveyed 900 employees to get their opinions on feedback. What they found was pretty remarkable: employees want…
What Will You Say?
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics Do you know what you’ll say when one of your STAR* employees asks for a raise, or are you going to be blindsided? Will you be able to grant their request or at least be able to tell them exactly what they need to do to earn one? (And if…
Not to Point a Finger, But…
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics I recently read an article entitled: “85% Believe an Insightful Interview Question Is More Important Than the Application or Resume.” Sounds reasonable enough on the surface, but the suggested interview questions that followed were so commonplace that any prepared jobseeker would have canned answers at the ready, while others were…
Vive La Difference!
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics Although they are often used interchangeably, there is an important difference between responsibility and accountability. Responsibility is something you are given or that you assume. For example, while your employment makes you responsible for getting your job done, parents assume responsibility for the care of their children. Accountability, however, is…
Unexpected Rewards
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics Do you dread the thought of dealing with an employee’s unsatisfactory performance? If so, I think you may be surprised to find that, when you stop procrastinating and actually work with the person to help them improve and move to the next level, it can be one of the most…
Interview Tip
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics Have someone else sit in on the interview as an observer because that person will be able to do a better job of listening and noticing body language and then be able to give you an invaluable second opinion. This is also a great way to train others to become…
How Long Should an Interview Last?
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics This is a question I’m always asked during the programs I do. I was asked again just yesterday so, it’s clear to me, the answer is worth repeating here… The interview should last until you are 95% – 100% sure this is a person you want to hire — or don’t want to hire.…
Adopting Ways to Obtain the Best Hires
Hiring managers often make the mistake of hiring the best applicants instead of the candidates who in the end make the best employees. By Mel Kleiman Six years ago, Convenience Store Decisions published an article I wrote that began: “Just two short years ago, anyone who wanted a frontline, hourly worker’s job only had to…
Want to be Known as a Great Place to Work?
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics The best way to do it is to create a culture/work environment that makes you an employer-of-choice in your area. Another way to do it is to apply for the honor. Your local paper, your industry, accounting firms and national magazines love to make lists of “The Best Places to…
The Cost of a Bad Hire
By Mel Kleiman, President, Humetrics What does it cost you if you hire a non-productive, disruptive employee who adds no value? What does it cost you if you hire an okay employee who does the job, but who is not exceptional, and only marginally helps to maintain value? What does it cost you if you…