Friday, August 30, 2013

The Cynical Girl: If you have more than two people, you need HR.

If you have more than two people, you need HR.

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 03:45 AM PDT

Here is a note from a reader.

Hi Laurie. You seem like a wise and accomplished woman and I just wanted to run something by you. My husband runs a small factory. He’s a brilliant guy but his people management skills could use some work. Recently, he had to lay off a woman. She was an outstanding employee but things have been slow and he needed to tighten the budget. Because of her circumstances, he thought he would soften the blow by giving her the news at a nearby restaurant after work rather than at the company. Needless to say it backfired in a big way and it was last thing she was expecting. I won’t go in to all of the details but she ended the conversation by slapping him and walking off. Don’t worry, he wasn’t really harmed, just embarrassed as it took him a few minutes to regain his bearings as he sat there alone rubbing his cheek. Yet after all of that, he still contends that he handled it properly!! I would love to hear what you have to say about this. Btw, the woman is quite attractive (see attached photo), and I think he is fortunate that she did not fabricate a sexual harassment charge.

tough-woman-199x300 And she sent the picture. (The woman is okay. This is not the real photo, but it’s close.)

So, yeah, uh, here is what I know about life: I have never laid anyone off at a restaurant. After work. And been slapped in the face.

This email feels like a lie. I still think it might be a lie — or there’s another story behind the story — but I am publishing it, anyway, because it’s a good reminder that you probably need HR.

I know there are leaders and entrepreneurs who hate Human Resources, but if you can afford good counsel, get some. And if you can’t afford to hire someone in HR, there are small business resources and local lawyers who can help you with tough employee situations.

Find yourself a good HR lady. If you can’t find one, hire me. I will take your money and help out.

And one more thing: Most men who are slapped in the face deserve it.

A board of directors is not the same as a strategic advisory board.

Posted: 28 Aug 2013 03:45 AM PDT

I recently joined the Vestrics strategic advisory board.

Vestrics is a recognized leader and innovator in learning analytics and big data. I am very honored to partner with brilliant and successful leaders who are interested in the future of human capital and analytics.

Forgive me if you already know this, but for those of you who don’t, here is a quick (and incomplete) lesson on the difference between a board of directors and a strategic advisory board.

A board of directors is ultimately responsible for governing a corporation or a not-for-profit organization. They are responsible and accountable for everything from compliance to compensation.
An advisory board can be similar in prestige, but a strategic advisory board is consulted and informed on issues. This type of board is used to offer advice to key leaders. Strategic advisory board members are not governing members.

Many people want to know how they can accelerate their careers. I say that joining a board of some kind is the best way to go.

For starters, you can look to the not-for-profit world. I joined a board of directors and helped to run a local animal rescue with an annual operating budget of $150,000. In my mediocre career as a Human Resources lady, I would never have P&L responsibility that size because HR is a “cost center” and not a profit-generating center. So I jumped at the chance to learn how an organization governs itself and raises money.

(Boy, did I learn!)

If you don’t want to govern and run an organization, a not-for-profit strategic advisory board might be for you. Many not-for-profit organizations would love to land someone who is passionate, devoted and committed to a cause.

Are you interested in the welfare of children? Are you concerned about poverty and homelessness? Do you want to help returning veterans get back to work? Not-for-profits would kill for business expertise within their organizations.

If you want real business experience, a for-profit strategic advisory board might be more appropriate. Think about local businesses in your area. What can you offer? How can you help a small business owner achieve profitability or exceed revenue goals? Get involved in your Chamber of Commerce. Attend luncheons hosted by local associations. Make great business connections. And when an opportunity presents itself to form a relationship, ask to take it to the next level.

Finally, if you have the aptitude, fight like hell to join a real board of directors. We need more women, men with progressive ideals, and people of color to represent the interests of a changing demographic landscape in America. If you work in Human Resources and want to learn more about joining a for-profit board of directors, talk to China Gorman.

But first things first. Take a look at the opportunities in your area and understand the difference between a board of directors and a strategic advisory board. And good luck on the next stage of your awesome career!

How An Advisory Board Can Grow Your Business

ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

Hydrogen fuel from sunlight
From cancer treatment to ion thruster: The newest little idea for nanosat micro rockets
Novel topological crystalline insulator shows mass appeal
'Trojan' asteroids in far reaches of solar system more common than previously thought
Transparent artificial muscle plays music to prove a point
NASA's Chandra Observatory catches giant black hole rejecting material
NASA's Hubble sees a cosmic caterpillar
Reproducing nature's chemistry: Researchers alter molecular properties in a new way
New sensor is almost as sensitive as a dog's nose
Why electrons pass through very tiny wires less smoothly than expected: Light shed on 20-year-old mystery
Neutron stars in the computer cloud

Hydrogen fuel from sunlight

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 12:58 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a way to interface a molecular hydrogen-producing catalyst with a visible light absorbing semiconductor. With this approach, hydrogen fuel can be produced off a photocathode using sunlight.

From cancer treatment to ion thruster: The newest little idea for nanosat micro rockets

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 12:56 PM PDT

The next generation of micro rockets could be built around a magnetic fluid that appears to defy gravity.

Novel topological crystalline insulator shows mass appeal

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:52 AM PDT

Physicists have theorized that topological crystalline insulators possess unique surface states as a result of crystalline symmetry. An international team of researchers has confirmed that experimental signature and revealed that disrupting the lattice-like structure imparts mass upon previously mass-less electrons. Furthermore, the researchers found manipulating structural symmetry offers a degree of control over the electronic phases of the solid-state material.

'Trojan' asteroids in far reaches of solar system more common than previously thought

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:52 AM PDT

Astronomers have discovered the first Trojan asteroid sharing the orbit of Uranus, and believe 2011 QF99 is part of a larger-than-expected population of transient objects temporarily trapped by the gravitational pull of the solar system's giant planets.

Transparent artificial muscle plays music to prove a point

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:50 AM PDT

In a materials science laboratory, a transparent disk connected to a laptop fills the room with music —- it's the "Morning" prelude from Peer Gynt, played on an ionic speaker. No ordinary speaker, it consists of a thin sheet of rubber sandwiched between two layers of a saltwater gel, and it's as clear as a window.

NASA's Chandra Observatory catches giant black hole rejecting material

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:23 AM PDT

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have taken a major step in explaining why material around the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy is extraordinarily faint in X-rays. This discovery holds important implications for understanding black holes.

NASA's Hubble sees a cosmic caterpillar

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 09:34 AM PDT

The light-year-long knot of interstellar gas and dust, seen in a new Hubble photo, resembles a caterpillar on its way to a feast. Harsh winds from extremely bright stars are blasting ultraviolet radiation at this 'wanna-be' star and sculpting the gas and dust into its long shape.

Reproducing nature's chemistry: Researchers alter molecular properties in a new way

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 08:04 AM PDT

Taking cues from nature, researchers have tested a new method for achieving particular molecular properties: by changing the geometry of the surface to which the molecule is bound.

New sensor is almost as sensitive as a dog's nose

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:33 AM PDT

Using carbon nanotubes, scientists have developed a sensor that greatly amplifies the sensitivity of commonly used but typically weak vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Raman spectroscopy. This type of sensor makes it possible to detect molecules present in the tiniest of concentrations.

Why electrons pass through very tiny wires less smoothly than expected: Light shed on 20-year-old mystery

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:31 AM PDT

Scientists have found an explanation for a mystery that has been puzzling the physics community since 1995. They explain why electrons pass through very tiny wires (known as quantum point contacts) less smoothly than expected. The observations will affect electronics on a nanoscale: 'Our thinking about this has been too naïve so far.'

Neutron stars in the computer cloud

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:30 AM PDT

Einstein@Home discovers 24 new pulsars in archival data. The combined computing power of 200,000 private PCs helps astronomers take an inventory of the Milky Way.