It is easy to get caught up in the hype of catch phrases that travel around the conference room. As business people, we tend to want to use a flashy term that is fresh to gain attention and perhaps put a fresh spin on an old idea. Sometimes, we simply want to use a term that we have continuously heard used in corporate settings. In particular, one phrase I hear too often misused is Emotional Intelligence. It is one of the most frequently inadequately defined terms I hear, especially when used to describe either sales or management techniques. Most commonly I hear people using and defining EI as nothing more than simple self-awareness. The term Emotional Intelligence, sometimes called EQ or Emotional Quotient, has been in use for well over 20 years now. However, it continues to gain in popularity in corporate settings. The time seems ripe to provide a bit of a background and overview. Read more…
ECI® Blog
Regrettable Losses
October 27th, 2008 by The ECI Team
I wish I could tell you that we at ECI have the answers to every organizational issue you can raise, but this is simply not the truth. From time to time, we have to let people go and we have people we wish would have stayed, move on to other jobs. In each instance, we always wish our former team mates well, and try to assess what we could have done differently to maximize the individual’s potentials.
As one of our writers pointed out a few posts ago, the reason most people start looking for a new position is that they are feeling as if they don’t “fit” within the roles to which they are assigned. The easy “misfits” to recognize are the people who can’t seem to understand what the assignment is, or they can’t get things done, or who dive too deeply into the complex details of their work, thereby missing the “forest for the trees” at the end of the day. Sometimes, this is a matter of coaching and teaching to build the confidence needed to get the job done. Other times, this is a matter of egos, and something you probably won’t be able to resolve. Read more…
Diversity and Cultural Fit
October 23rd, 2008 by The ECI Team
We often hear about leaders of companies who avoid the use of assessment tools because they believe that these tools could screen out diverse candidates and could expose their organizations to lawsuits. Is this true or false?
The answer to that one is, it depends….If you utilize a tool that is not well constructed and tends to score populations or groups differently, then the answer is probably true. This is why you need to do some diligence before instituting the use of any tools within your talent management systems. Avoid the use of tools that must be hand-scored or interpreted by an individual, as these may generate rater bias. Styles inventories are fine for development and team building, but should not be used for selection purposes. Tests that are easy to fake, such as word inventories (which statement/term is most or least like you) should also be avoided, unless the test documentation can provide high reliability and validity. Read more…
"Fit"…a Two-Way Street
October 21st, 2008 by The ECI Team
What does it mean to find an employee that truly “fits” your organization? What does a good “fit” look like from the perspective of the applicant? Organizational fit, job fit, and motivational fit are key factors that drive how new employees will assimilate to the work environment, mesh with the corporate culture, as well as how the individual will perform in their role. Read more…
What is my company’s culture and why does it matter?
October 21st, 2008 by The ECI Team
The culture that exists within a company is something that many people may not pay attention to on a day to day basis. However, it is an element of your organization that should not be overlooked. It is an element that can make all of the difference when introducing your company to a potential hire. A targeted description of the values and practices your company ascribes to as it conducts business can be very illustrative, time saving, and cost effective. A lack of fit between an employee’s work preferences and goals and a company’s culture can cause an endless stream of discord. Discord leads to a lack of productivity at best, and high turnover at worst. It is easy to see the financial implications of both.
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