Connecting – not “Hooking Up”

Here is a terrific example of generational lexicon and ever-widening communication schisms.

NOTE: It can be persuasiely argued that “hooking up” today means a casual sexual encounter /1. So, this can be a problem for a legitimate business perspective.

Here is an extreme example… We recently presented an candidate to Google for an Quality Assurance Director level position. The candidate was 45 year old male and was progressing well through the typical Google gauntlet interview process. But, when he attempted to confirm a meeting with a female manager who happened to be 32 years old, the candidate suggested that they “hook up” off campus. This was completely innocent. But, a generation schism occurred and the female manager (who is actually very bright) was offended. Although she understood the situation for what it was, she quickly came to the conclusion that the candidate would not be a cultural fit at Google.

So… My opinion is that its best to say “lets connect” if you want to meet with someone (especially if you are within hearing distance of someone 35 years of age or younger).

Brian Patrick Cork

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1/ “Unhooked”, a book by Washington Post Columnist Laura Sessions Stepp

Filed under: Articles By Brian Cork, Business, Coaching

Corporate Culture: Thought 42

One of the reasons Steve Jobs is the entrepreneur of the era is because he has missionaries inside his company as well as outside. Apple Computer’s customers are missionaries, too.

Jobs is successful because he is true to his personal mission and demands the same from his staff. Jobs’ mission is at the core of Apple Computer.

Brian Patrick Cork

Filed under: Articles By Brian Cork, Business, Coaching

Entrepreneurs, Intrapreneurs, and Them Corporate Fellas Revisited

I was recently named by Catalyst Magazine as a Top 25 Entrepreneur here in the southeast.

I am getting a lot of questions around what it means to be an entrepreneur. And, some recent articles I wrote on “Entrepreneurs, Intrapreneurs, and them Corporate Fellas” are getting a lot of circulation.

The people at the Wall Street Journal asked me to come up with a good sports analogy in 30 seconds or less… So, even though I favor the elegant game of Lacrosse, I came up with an analogy around Football. It goes something like this…

Kick Returners /1 are Entrepreneurs; Wide Receivers are Intrapreneurs; and, Defensive Units are them Corporate Fellas.

Lets be part of the Solution, not the Problem.

Brian Patrick Cork

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1/ There is, of course, an argument here for Field Goal Kickers as well.

Filed under: Articles By Brian Cork, Business, Coaching, Entrepreneurs

Growth or Sustainable Growth?

Question: How should a Job Seeker view a potential employer’s growth?

My perspective is that of someone that has built several companies that made the Inc. 500 (including my current brian cork Human Capital), a Recruiter that faces this very question daily, and, executive coach.

My experience in working with candidates up-and-down the food chain, from CEO’s to Customer Service personnel, is that growth is only viable if it appears stable and sustainable. I think the word “sustainable” needs to be the operative word here.

First, a company must get past its sophomore year (most are walking dead at this point but might not know it). Then you need to look for the “magic formula” of Product, Timing, Management, Cash, and a Plan. Then, the appearance of growth is often defined by the obvious – revenues and head count.

This is where it gets interesting…

My point is that candidates (“job seekers”) have become more sophisticated and discerning in the way they evaluate a potential employer. A real fear of candidates is familiar scenario whereby a company led by an overzealous CEO that appears to be growing (hiring lots of people and issuing press releases) misses its numbers. The Board of Directors and/ or the management team loses its nerve, and people are laid off.

For example, take a “big” (Fortune 500) company like Coke that hires a bunch of people, and then lays a bunch of people off depending on an analysts view of it’s stock (less revenue; lower price). A large company might be less attractive to a potential employee than an Inc. 500 company that has recently proven that it has realized at least three successive years of revenue growth. This indicates it has a product or service that enables sustainable growth.

So… In summary, what I have learned as a recruiter and an executive coach is that savvy job seekers today are focusing on companies that appear to be positioned for sustainable growth.

NOTE: After sustainable growth, savvy job seekers want employee investment in the form of “best-of-class” benefits, and a well-defined career-path (this includes consistent 360 evaluations).

Brian Patrick Cork
Cultural Architect | brian cork Human Capital
www.bchcroi.com

Filed under: Articles By Brian Cork, Business, Coaching, Economy