High-Stakes Leadership Recent events (the coronavirus pandemic, the lockdown of global economies and civil unrest) have intensified the spotlight on leadership in situations of danger and high stakes. These circumstances have clearly highlighted the need for good data, objective analysis of facts, the courage to make decisions in the face of pressure and incomplete information […]
A New Look at Employee Engagement – Some Things DON’T Change
As of this post, we’re coming out of a pandemic that will probably have lasting effects on the way we work. All of us have had to be more flexible and innovative to meet the dual goals of staying healthy and continuing to provide services and products. Front-line people are continuing to work at physical […]
Yes, things are a mess. No, you didn’t cause it. What will you DO about it?
As of this writing, there are signs we’re slowly coming out of the twilight zone of a once-in-a-century virus pandemic and global shutdown. Of course this is frustrating and frightening. But there are valuable lessons and insights from such experiences if we discipline ourselves to see them. This can be a time of great opportunity […]
The Laws of Influence
Research and observation tell us that the hard skills (quantitative, data-analytical, technical, specialized knowledge) are important early in a career but that the soft skills (influence, relationship building, political savvy) are crucial for later success, especially in leadership. This is clearly the case in technology companies which are heavily populated with smart people who have […]
Intelligence and Arrogance
The Intersection of Arrogance and Intelligence It’s good to be competent. Being arrogant, not so much. But they’re often related. Being smart, bright and clever often leads to business success. But having these intellectual gifts also means that one gets used to being right, being perceived as a good problem-solver and being valued by others. […]
Introduction and Launch of the New eTest Platform
Many readers of MPG articles and newsletters are also users of the eTest online testing platform. Having been incorporated in 1996, eTest was one of the first online pre-employment testing companies. It was created to offer affordable and valid assessments to augment the services of MPG. Over the years, it has grown by providing assessment reports developed […]
Millennials and Motivation
“How do we motivate Millennials?” It seems every client has asked this question recently, and you can’t pick up a business magazine without seeing some article related to this question. In an attempt to separate wheat from chaff, we looked at some of the recent research to see if we could glean a few insights […]
The 3 x 5 Conversation: A Simple Aid for Growth and Leadership Development
We all need feedback but few of us get the kind to really help us be successful on the job. And few of us do a good job of giving other people similar critique. The 3 x 5 conversation is a simple but effective way to communicate and to make sure we are focusing on […]
3x5 conversation, communication, hodge golson, leadership development, mpgActive Leadership 10: For the CEO
Wrapping up his first year as CEO, Eric feels that he’s just beginning to get his feet wet. He expected surprises and for the most part was prepared for them. In general he is pleased with the company results although there’s always room for improvement. His board has been cooperative and he has managed to […]
Hodge Golson; Active Leadership; CEOThe Three Worst Mistakes in the Use of Selection Tests
Although there are potential risks in the use of pre-employment tests, they continue to be one of the most popular and effective tools to help managers make good hiring decisions. If you currently use them, or are considering doing so, here are three things you really need to know to help you avoid legal trouble […]
Michele Mobley; Hodge Golson; Employment tests; mistakes in testing; legality of testing