Workplace 101: A Profiles Global Business Blog

Make sure to share with us in the comment section your favorite news story this week, or what you think is “Hot in HR” right now!

Make sure to share with us in the comment section your favorite news story this week, or what you think is “Hot in HR” right now!

Imitation often gets a bad rap. I mean, everybody loves a good impression, from a guttural “Ah-nuld” Schwarzenegger baritone to a pinched Michael Jackson falsetto, but even the folks that can pull off a spot-on impression are never viewed in the same light as “true” artists: the singers, actors, dancers, etc. that create a performance out of whole cloth. So much emphasis is placed on creation and innovation that the positive benefits of good old-fashioned imitation are relegated to second-hand status. The truth is the majority of “true” artists – whether on stage, in the studio, or in the board room – learned their craft first by watching and emulating the successful practices of others. Imitation is how they learned, and imitation can become a powerful tool for the rest of us, too.

“Knowledge is power.” This famous quote from Francis Bacon reflects how important modern-day business professionals find knowledge. Whenever an employee is extremely knowledgeable about a particular topic, everyone is immediately impressed. Many of us read business book after business book in an attempt to become more knowledgeable on particular subjects. As we move up in our organizations, we learn more and more. This is a good thing…. except for when this knowledge gets in the way of innovation.

Make sure to share with us in the comment section your favorite news story this week or what you think is “Hot in HR” right now!

It is only natural to be curious about your competition’s employees, especially if your competitors rank higher than you in your industry. You may think these employees are their secret weapon. You may even believe that these individuals would be perfect for your organization, as they are already equipped with the appropriate industry knowledge and experience.

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Some managers inspire and motivate, but many fail miserably to engage their employees. Some run a highly effective team, yet their employees live and work in fear. Some on the other hand, are just absolute disasters and a joke to leaders everywhere. Have you seen Horrible Bosses? From the man-eater to the psycho (and other names that we won’t repeat), the entertainment industry seems to have created the ultimate formula for the "bad boss" character. With millions of books, DVDs, research papers, and solutions in the business world today, why can’t real managers understand how to be more effective?

Make sure to share with us in the comment section your favorite news story this week or what you think is “Hot in HR” right now!

Every organization needs leaders and leadership is not limited to executives and managers. Leaders are people who take it upon themselves to get a project moving that has fallen off the radar. Leaders are people who take extra time to hear customer concerns and develop appropriate solutions. Leaders are people who propel your company forward.