Category Archives: Employee Engagement

Oops! 13 Management Mistakes

Posted on October 29, 2009 by | Leave a comment

13 management mistakesHuman behaviour. Fascinating. And with it comes challenges. In our day to day travels with our client companies as well as with our applicants we get a constant theme about people challenges. Some of these management mistakes were obvious ‘no no’s. Others however were enlightening.

Want an engaged team? Try this formula : Management Excellence = Awareness + Desire to Change.

Every manager will want to review this list of universally used, but ultimately ineffective, management practices—and prescriptions for how to change them.

Read on to learn about a baker’s dozen of widespread misguided management practices and how you can correct them, courtesy of Aubrey Daniels’ Oops! 13 Management Practices That Waste Time and Money (Performance Management Publications, 2009).

~ Sarah McNeill

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Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership and Team Building, Management Excellence

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The 8th Habit

Posted on October 15, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Peanut butter cup heartI had the privilege to see Stephen Covey speak on the topic of Effectiveness to Greatness and how it can apply to the relationship between employee and employer. While a remarkable speaker and author, some of the things he spoke of  were not new so much as he brought our attention to what we should have known all along.

Most employees experience considerable emotional pain working in their organizations, he says, because they are treated as objects, not full human beings. To find full engagement Stephen described this new paradigm as the Whole Person Paradigm:  mind, body, heart and spirit – not just the part that works from nine to five. This paradigm allows an individual to harness their unique ability  and find their ‘voice’. Essentially an individual who finds their voice is in alignment with clarity. Individuals focused with clarity are most able to achieve corporate goals set out in front of them.

And speaking of habits, at McNak we think chocolate is our 9th habit!

~ Sarah McNeill

photo credit: Bob.Fornal

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Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership and Team Building

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Orchestra to office harmony

Posted on October 7, 2009 by | Leave a comment

conductor hat

With my years of ballet training and participating as a board director for the Vancouver Opera I have a natural appreciation for the orchestra and for the magic of the conductor .  Earlier this year I posted the Benjamin Zander’s TED.com talk on The Art of Possibility.  There seems to be a pattern to the creative world of the orchestra and its ability to have a very cohesive, inspired team. On further notice, even one of our team members pointed out that our own Recruiters job titles are named Conductor. Such an appropriate fit as our Conductors are responsible for the smooth running of recruitment engagements! Our team chose this title many years ago when we looked at our business from 150 feet to see what the whole experience should look like.

Below are some of the key lessons Roger Nierenberg learned in his 14 years directing the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Florida.

  1. Lead, don’t cheerlead
  2. Share your perspective
  3. Encourage listening
  4. Say more with less
  5. Verify assumptions

Click here for the entire article.

“Leadership is really about listening and encouraging people to find their own creative way to perform,” Nierenberg says.

~ Sarah McNeill

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Posted in Employee Engagement, Human Resources, Leadership and Team Building

Got Heart?

Posted on April 8, 2009 by | 3 Comments

Yesterday McNeill Nakamoto Recruitment Group had the great honour of receiving the Big Heart Award from Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland at the Big Sisters Spring Lunch.  We truly believe that mentorship for young women strengthens our community.   Sarah McNeill comments, ‘Every young girl deserves to be inspired to their own future greatness. Big Sisters truly offers this opportunity to these young girls.  As both mothers and business owners, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland is the most natural choice for our company’.

McNeill Nakamoto is proud of its involvement with Big Sisters and thrilled to have raised over $50,000 for Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.  We find ways to involve our staff, our clients, the community and especially the Little Sisters themselves.   We do this by raising funds and awareness:

  • through  silver  sponsorship of the Big Sisters Divas Gala
  • ‘McNak Jeans for Big Sisters’ – individual donations by McNeill Nakamoto staff members in exchange for wearing jeans to work
  • Grape Juice, the fun and very successful Wine Auction created and  hosted by Team McNak
  • ‘McNak Career Launcher’ for Little Sisters – a workshop on assisting teenage ‘Littles’ with resume and interview tips
  • Sarah McNeill chairs the Big Sisters Gala, and with her influence and network has created a broad awareness in the community, as well as broken fund raising records for this annual event.

The Big Sisters Big Heart Award is given annually to a business for outstanding support of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.

~ Jessica Rozitis

Cheryl Nakamoto and Sarah McNeill receiving Big Heart Award

Cheryl Nakamoto and Sarah McNeill receiving Big Heart Award

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Posted in corporate culture, Employee Engagement

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Being significant

Posted on January 23, 2009 by | Leave a comment

In the workplace, the key to happiness is not to have a job, it is to have a purpose.

Being successful is not necessarily what we need to focus on.  Being significant is what matters.  With your contributions in the workplace, success automatically happens, and you will be appreciated.     Surround yourself with people who know how great you really are, and this fuels your energy to make a difference.

I consider myself to be a happy person.  I love my job, but most of the time, it does not feel like a job.  It feels like I am meant to be here, and make my contribution, and make a difference.

I feel significant.

~ Jessica Rozitis

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Posted in Employee Engagement

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