What’s the secret behind IKEA’s business success? Swedish meatballs? Perhaps. Those meatballs certainly are part of it. But there’s something deeper. Something brilliant – yet fundamental to its business model – that keeps the company on top.

And that brilliant element is simplicity.

IKEA provides functional, well-designed furniture that is affordable and can serve the many. Plus, buyers assemble the furniture themselves.

Brilliance Point 1:

IKEA harnesses the scientifically proven fact that people are more attached [...]

We’ve spoken here before about how fantastic we think our customers are…that should come as no surprise. We’re particularly impressed by the momentum we’ve seen in our customers forming their own user community that is focused on managing talent – regardless of economic up-or-down turns.

Later this week many of our customers are converging in San Diego – at the world famous San Diego Zoo in fact – to talk [...]

You know the drill. There’s a performance issue that really really needs to be addressed. Not only will it help correct the behavior or competence of the employee in question in the long term, but if it’s addressed properly – like now – then it can improve results that the manager is looking for.

But that difficult conversation…that in-the-moment feedback…it never comes to pass.

Instead… crickets. Followed by internalized frustration and avoidance on the part of the employee, his [...]

Over the past decade we’ve seen the world and the workplace change together – for better and for worse. Technology has swept through our offices and increased the way we perform on the job.

We’re more efficient, accessible and reliable, however it’s not just the way we work that has changed, it’s also who we’re working alongside.

Most of you are well aware that we now have four different generations currently working together: Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen X’ers [...]

Attracting, Retaining, and Repelling Talent

We’re very excited to introduce some great new content to our readers today. Over the coming year we’ll be sharing some fascinating video interviews from HR and management experts on key topics we often get asked about.

We’ve called these segments our HR’s Bold Thinkers series! First up is Lizz Pellet (@lizzpellet), popular SHRM author of The Cultural Fit Factor, Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, and [...]