Blog
Browse thoughtful views and opinions about staffing topics from KNF&T’s perspective.
What to – and not to – do when asking for a Raise
There was a time when American workers were given automatic annual raises, but in our post-recession economy, that’s far less common. According to a 2015 survey by Payscale.com, while half of employers expect workers to negotiate their own salary increases, most of us...
Stepping Out of the Room
Robert Sutton, an organizational psychologist and Stanford professor, often says that “sometimes the best management is no management at all.” I can feel managers everywhere smiling awkwardly when they read that. What many people hear when he says “no management” is...
Tips for Conquering a Job Fair
Career fairs offer a lot to job seekers – recruiters, workshops, information sessions, networking events. Because of their large scale and social nature, navigating them can be challenging. So how do prepare for a job fair so you can take advantage of a unique...
How Staff Augmentation Can Keep Your Business Running Efficiently
No matter how effective your HR team is, they probably can’t hire qualified professionals on a last-minute basis. It’s also unlikely they can quickly locate talent with specialized skills when needed. Plus, the majority of employees your HR team hires need weeks of...
Intrapreneurs
Intrapreneurs? Don’t you mean entrepreneurs? The people who innovate, who see unseen opportunities, take risks and think outside of the box. Yes – that is what I mean - but I’m talking about the people who embody these skills and values inside companies, the people...
Giraffe Language
Giraffes barely make noise (or so my son told me after zoo day at school) so when I first read about “giraffe language,” I was intrigued. Coined by Marshall Rosenberg, a conflict resolution expert, giraffe language is named for the mammal with the biggest heart,...
5 Qualities of a Successful Administrative Assistant
Your role as an administrative assistant involves supporting a manager, team, or company. Serving as the lifeblood for your organization, there are a variety of qualities you need to demonstrate daily. In order to excel in your position, you must remain invaluable to...
Taking Stock of Your Team’s Culture
Why Now? The start of the new year is a time to reflect on the successes and challenges of the previous year, and set goals and expectations for the coming year. How will you monitor progress? How often will you check the status? Will you set specific monthly or...
Why You Should Start Over-Sharing at Work
When Yvonne’s boss asked her to meet with a potential client about co-sponsoring a conference, she was happy to do it. She researched his company, his work and had a clear preliminary path ready in her mind. Except when she walked into his office, he said, “it’s great...
Giving Better Presentations at Work
So you’ve been asked to give a presentation at work. It’s rare that we get training in how to present – and that can make the thought of it intimidating. But we’ve all sat through a lot of presentations and know that the differences between a good presentation and a...
An Entrepreneur’s Journey Back to the Workforce
If you’ve been out on your own as an entrepreneur, the return to the mainstream workplace can be a daunting journey. How will you re-acclimate to regular accountability? What direction will best suit you on this new or revisited path? Why are you returning and is it...
Great Meetings
According to recent research, the average American office worker spends 9 hours a week preparing for and attending meetings – almost 25% of a full-time workweek. And while careful consideration can certainly cut down on how many meetings we have (it’s not necessary to...
Common Characteristics That Separate a Leader from a Boss (Part 1)
Although a leader can be a boss, not every boss is a leader. Although leaders and bosses have many similar characteristics, they are quite different. Whereas being a leader requires going above and beyond the call of duty, being a boss involves fulfilling job...
Unstructured Time – At Work
You may have heard of MIT’s “Building 20.” By the time it was torn down in 1998, it was famous for having been the birthplace of some of the 20th century’s most significant ideas. Microwaves, the first video game, modern linguistic theory, high-speed photography and...
Right Job, Wrong Seat? How to Find a New Organization When Your Job Gets Stale
If you’ve been at your job a while, odds are you’re not feeling as challenged as you used to. You may not have access to as many professional development opportunities as you’d like. You might not be able to cross-train in another department that interests you....