Archive for Article

Two Talent Metrics Matter Most

There are two questions that we ask in our early conversations with clients. Their answers provide us with deep insights about their ability to add value through talent. They also instantly diagnose which talent practices need more attention. The two questions are: 1. Is your organization able to…

The Six Steps to Great Talent Reviews

It’s great news that talent reviews have become almost universal in organizations. This foundational practice can help any organization to build better talent faster. The fact that most companies do them, however, doesn’t mean that they’re done well. We see companies with overly complex processes, vague definitions of…

What Should we Do About Hal?

Hal’s a loyal, friendly and well-liked guy. He’s been with your company more than 20 years. He’s in a big, important role. Hal was a great fit with the company when he joined, but is a highly questionable fit with its future needs. His performance is consistently rated…

The Secret to Setting Great Goals

When we see a client’s failing performance management process, our first question is about how goal setting works in the organization. The client will say that goals are set 5 months into the year. They’ll show us long lists of tactical goals. They’ll explain that managers have no…

HR Operating Model Report 2023

About This Report The 2023 HR Operating Model Report provides specific insights as to how companies are structuring and operationalizing HR. More than 200 companies worldwide participated with strong representation across small, medium and large organizations. All data was gathered in early and mid-2023. This report provides you…

Global Performance Management Report 2023

About This Report The 2023 Global Performance Management Report provides specific insights to the practices companies are using (and not using) today in their performance management process. More than 300 companies worldwide participated with strong representation across small, medium and large organizations. All data was gathered in late…

Why 360s Don’t Work (and how to fix them)

“The increasing popularity of 360-degree assessments seems to rely on a rock-solid stream of logic. Leaders’ behaviors are important to the organization because well-behaved leaders balance what gets done with how things get done. This balance increases their own effectiveness and their team’s engagement and performance, which translates…

Your CEO’s Next Email

Most of our clients want to elevate performance in their organization. Yet many hesitate until they have the excuse of a restructuring or redesign to take the first step. We believe there’s no bad time to start increasing performance and that the process starts with a note from…

Three Reasons HR Transformations Fail (and how to make sure yours doesn’t)

If you’re not in one or finishing one, you’re likely planning one. More than 80% of organizations say they’ve just completed or will soon start to transform their HR organization. Whether it’s driven by a technology upgrade, cost reductions or the desire to improve HR service quality, we…

The CHRO’s 5 Questions to Optimize Your HR Operating Model

Two of our most popular articles have nothing to do with HR or talent processes but with how HR works with itself. “It’s Not the Bricks, It’s the Mortar” directs HR’s attention to how work really gets done in HR not on the boxes and lines of the…