Archives

Halloween Tales from the SBT Crypt

Here are a few of our most popular Halloween-themed articles from the Strange but True! archives. An Employer’s Worst Nightmare—A few years ago, we reported on a bookkeeper who was charged with stealing $6.9 million from her employer. The prosecutors presented a list of goods that the woman allegedly bought during a shopping spree with […]

SPIFs Are Like Whalewatching … and Heroin

You have to be careful of SPIFs, says consultant Joseph DiMisa, CSCP. It’s like whale watching, he adds. (“There’s a whale on the left” and everyone runs to left; “There’s a whale on the right” and everyone runs to the right). Reps start chasing the SPIF programs and forget about the basic plan. SPIFs are […]

Are Your Managers Making Rookie Hiring Mistakes?

Bad hires sap time, training resources, and emotional energy, says Susan M. Heathfield, blogging on About.com. Here are her top eight “rookie” mistakes (often made by experienced pros as well). 1. Failure to Prescreen Candidates Prescreening applicants is a must, Heathfield says. A half-hour phone call saves hours of your time and other interviewers’ time, […]

Finding Best Incentive/Base Mix—The 13 Job-Specific Factors

DiMisa, Senior Vice President, Sales Effectiveness Practice Leader for Sibson Consulting, is author of the best-selling business book, “The Fisherman’s Guide to Selling.” He offered his tips in a recent webinar sponsored by BLR/HRhero. Use the chart below, DiMisa says, to evaluate the job factors in the middle column and decide on the appropriate mix […]

Recertification: It’s Easier Than You Think Webinar!

Newly certified and tackling recertification for the first time? Or, maybe you have been certified and you still have questions about the process and policies surrounding recertification. Join us for our Recertification: It’s Easier Than You Think Webinar to learn all you need to know about recertifying. On Monday, October 29, Tonomi Marbley, Recertification Specialist […]

13 Factors for Determining Incentive/Base Mix

Organizations are putting more emphasis on incentive compensation, says consultant Joseph DiMisa, CSCP, but not every job is equally suited for more incentive pay. DiMisa offers 13 job factors that effect the pay mix. DiMisa, Senior Vice President, Sales Effectiveness Practice Leader for Sibson Consulting, is author of the best-selling business book, “The Fisherman’s Guide […]

Now Is the Time for HR to Become a Business Leader

By Seth Kahan HR’s responsibility to recruit and develop the right team of leaders is critical to business success—shirk that responsibility at your peril, says consultant Seth Kahan, author of Getting Change Right: How Leaders Transform Organizations from the Inside Out. This article is an excerpt of Kahan’s coming book, Getting Innovation Right, due out […]

Leadership Training Creates Competitive Advantage, Career Paths

The company’s CEO believes that, ideally, Convergys “leaders should spend 50 percent of their time coaching employees for performance,” Handy says. Consistent with that philosophy, the company piloted a third leadership program this spring. The day-long Leader as Coach program is geared toward managers at the director level and above. If you are looking for […]

How Would a Court Rate Your Safety Training Programs?

“Brendan” worked for a chemical company for 30 years before he was injured. A mechanic, Brendan was hurt when he and another employee tried to replace three broken drive belts on a blending blower. Three fingers on Brendan’s right hand were injured when they were pinched between the drive belt and a pulley. The incident […]