I recently read in a LinkedIn business blog (December 2014) that employers are having great difficulty filling specialist slots these days—even with new college grads. I find this ironic. During the Great Recession, most businesses had no choice but to require specialists to stretch themselves to do more and different work as team sizes declined. In the process, the business world developed a culture of generalists. Apparently, business schools noticed and responded appropriately—or so they thought. Even if this didn't happen, individual student no doubt took note of the trend and opted for a more generalized business education. Now that the economy has recovered, no one wants more generalists. Jacks of all trades remain useful, but we also need masters of specific functions—like … [Read more...]

Have you noticed how one negative person at work can infect an entire department? How has your attitude been at work and life lately? And how can cynicism impact productivity? Some things you just can't legislate. But you can change yourself and how you perceive your situation. Most workers are not terminally cynical, but I've seen enough to explain the 17-20% job disengagement rate repeatedly reported by business pollsters over the last decade, and the much higher semi-engaged rate. The difficult economic times we're still emerging from may have made you feel betrayed by your company, as many employers pressed their advantages over workers who didn't dare quit in an uncertain economy. For many workers, this hurts still lingers, which can get in the way of enjoying or at least … [Read more...]