What We’re About to Experience
To say that what is happening politically and socially in the US right now is unprecedented would be a gross understatement. Established and reputable research organizations are signaling, as Pew Research does here, that America’s national politicians and those who are deep into domestic and foreign policy are extraordinarily polarized. Unsurprisingly, we’re seeing this reflected in...
Respect for You as a Human Being
Last week, I had an somewhat loaded discussion with a new friend who had contracted COVID while on a holiday trip that involved a lot of flying. When I asked if they’d worn a mask while at the airport and on their flights, they indicated that they hadn’t because they didn’t believe that masks actually worked to protect us from viruses. They cited a research study that supported this belief...
An Even More Challenging Year Is Coming
Before delving into a more somber subject, I would like to extend my heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year to everyone. Throughout the past few years, we repeatedly highlighted the unsettling surge in what we call “public disrespect,” incivility, and discord within American society, reaching levels not seen since the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War. However, unlike 56 years ago, the...
Are You Being Handcuffed?
Last year I got an all-too-familiar call from Trevor, the head of HR at a mid-sized accounting firm in Virginia. He’d been recruited into the role six months earlier and, shortly after starting work, found what he called, “a culture of disrespect.” “The senior managers have been playing favorites for years,” Trevor told me, “And everyone knows it.” When I asked him about how this was impacting...
Dear Corporate America: By Not Talking About It, You’re Sending a Clear Message
Shortly after the death of George Floyd in May of 2020, corporate statements and earnings call mentions of support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) jumped through the roof. At that time and for at least two years afterward, it seemed that everyone was talking about the importance of DEI, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and Sustainability. Corporate leaders had finally...
3 Strategies for Giving & Receiving Feedback
An overwhelming number of human resource professionals find that giving critical feedback is one of the most challenging conversations they routinely have. Maya Hu-Chan, one of CRL’s esteemed advisors, has also found this to be the case. However, she takes that conversation a step further and examines not only giving, but also receiving critical feedback. If you are reading this article you...