Here’s what I say whenever someone asks my advice on compensation for a new candidate or a raise for a current employee: “Take what feels right, then raise it by 10 percent. Or, if you can figure out what the person thinks is right, raise that number 10 percent.” In other words, pay your people more than…
Experience is Overrated
Here’s a conversation I have pretty often: Client “Hey, do you know any good candidates for this job I have open?” Bill: “What attributes are you looking for?” Client: “Well, of course, I want someone experienced in X. I’d also like them to be…[list of other traits specific to the role].” Bill: “Why experienced?” Client…
Catch Them Doing It Right: 3 Tips for Effective Encouragement
Famed psychiatrist Carl Jung has been credited with saying that criticism has “the power to do good when there is something that must be destroyed, dissolved or reduced, but is capable only of harm when there is something to be built.” Unfortunately, too many of us violate this truth of the human psyche. In fact,…
It’s Not about the Score
Today, we’re going to a college rowing competition. We’ll take my blimp, so we can get high enough to keep tabs on how the 2 teams are fairing in comparison to each other. From far off, we might be able to tell that there are 8 rowers per racing shell, each operating his own oar.…
Overcompensate Your People
I’m often asked for advice on what to offer new candidates, or on what size performance increase might be appropriate for an existing team member. I tend to respond quickly: “Take what feels right and raise it at least 10%. Or if you can, find out what the person thinks he or she should make, and raise that…
Fear Kills Creativity: Leadership Lessons from Cavemen
The caveman and his family were settling in by the fire for the evening. Father and son had enjoyed a successful day of hunting, and Mom had brought a big stack of wood in from the rain. So the family was fed and warm as Dad talked to his son about the prototype spears they’d…
