Is Flexibility on Your CV? The Skills Companies Need Now

Oct 28, 2020 27 min read In: Leadership Tags: communication, company culture, crisis leadership, Success, workplace By: robertkovach 0 Comment

Hiring in 2020 is down. That is hardly a headline in the midst of a pandemic that has impacted millions of people around the world and nearly every country on earth. But, companies do have to find ways to keep operating, and they’ll need to be able to do so in an environment that looks a lot more like 2020 and a lot less like. . .ever before. Let’s not call it post-coronavirus; let’s say post-coronavirus reaction. What do companies need as they hire with an expectation that where we are now is the scenario for at least

Important Changes to Your Workday When Telecommuting

Apr 9, 2020 33 min read In: Technology Workplace Tags: digital era, remote work, Success, teams, technology, telecommuting By: robertkovach 0 Comment

According to a Gallup survey, 43% of the American workforce work from home at least occasionally. Occasionally is of course the key word – the same survey found that only 5.2% of workers do their jobs from home full time. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the vast majority of employees in numerous countries are working completely remotely. It’s an abrupt adjustment, and it can add more anxiety to an already stressful situation. So it’s important to make some changes to

It’s Lonely At The Top — Why Women CEOs Face More Shareholder Activism

Jan 15, 2019 32 min read In: Leadership Tags: diversity, executive leadership, leadership, Success, team leader By: robertkovach 0 Comment

It’s been widely reported that among the FTSE 100, there are more CEOs named David (nine), than CEOs who are women (seven). The problem, of course, is not David (any of them), but Goliath – in this case, not one massive adversary but a number of challenges faced only, or disproportionally, by female CEOs. For example, women CEOs face more shareholder activism than their male counterparts according to an article in the Journal of Applied Psychology. But why?

Shareholder activism is usually a sign of lack of confidence in management, and management’s ultimate leader, the CEO. Assuming shareholders are

High-Performance Employee Burnout: the Cost and the Cure

Oct 30, 2018 5 min read In: Leadership Tags: Career, Development, employees, leadership, Success, team leader, workplace By: robertkovach 0 Comment

Let’s face it – everyone loves a rock star employee. Companies are thrilled to have employees who not only meet, but exceed, deadlines or sales goals or budgets.

As long as there aren’t interpersonal or other management-related issues, employers will usually reward these workers with bonuses or promotions, or at worst, let them run on auto-pilot. But there’s a potential downside with an “ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude toward these workers – the risk of high-performance employee burnout.

To prevent a rock star from becoming a one-hit wonder, it’s imperative that employers try to identify and prevent burnout.

How to Survive your Promotion: 4 Key Questions

Apr 28, 2017 32 min read In: HR Leadership Psychology Tags: Career, career advice, Career Growth, Development, Learning, mental health, peers, physical health, promotion, Psychology, Self-improvement, Success By: robertkovach 0 Comment

You’ve been promoted at work. Hip, Hip, Hooray! And don’t forget the champagne! But do you know how to survive your promotion?

I’ve spent years assessing leaders for promotion. Over this time I have been able to follow many of these executives and see how things played out. I’ve come to the conclusion that achieving a promotion, being successful in the new role and surviving your promotion are entirely different matters. Here are a few things I have learned from observing these leaders.

First of all, what is my definition of survival? For the purpose of this article, my definition for survival

My Year of Thinking Dangerously: A Professional Breakthrough

Apr 14, 2017 46 min read In: Consulting HR Leadership Psychology Teams Technology Tags: Career, Career Growth, Coaching, Conscious Capitalism, CSR, Development, Innovation, IoT, leadership, Learning, listening surverys, mindfulness, Psychology, Self-improvement, Social Media, Strengths, Success, technology, work-life By: robertkovach 2 Comments

About 18 months ago I was feeling pretty good. My team at work was doing well and creating massive impact. We enjoyed the respect of both the business leaders and our peers in HR. Business schools and professional groups were seeking our input for lectures, case studies and guidance. I had more opportunities to co-author books, lecture and research than I had time for…and the headhunters kept calling. Not only were they calling me…but everyone on our team. Like sirens of the lake, each call promised the riches of fame and fortune.

It couldn’t get any better. As they say down

How social media may save your career.

Apr 7, 2017 37 min read In: Leadership Technology Tags: authentic leadership, Career, Career Growth, Development, leaders, leadership, leadership skill, Learning, Social Media, Success By: robertkovach 0 Comment

You’ve gotten this far in your career without having to ‘tweet,’ ‘post’ or ‘like’. Why bother? It’s just a fad and things will soon change again. Won’t they? I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

Unfortunately, I know many senior leaders and ‘rising stars’ that think like this.

Richard Nixon failed to recognize the power that the new medium of television could have and it played a significant factor in losing his first bid for the White House. Could you be making the same mistake? In the early 1990s thousands of high performing and ‘high potential’ business, scientific and engineering leaders found their

Do you know when to fire your executive coach?

Mar 31, 2017 38 min read In: Consulting HR Leadership Tags: Career, Client Relationships, coach, Coaching, De-railers, executive coach, Self-improvement, Success By: robertkovach 0 Comment

You are getting an executive coach (Hooray!) Or, you may already have one. But, could your coach actually cause your career more harm than good? Are you aware of the danger signals of executive coaching?

It’s commonplace these days for a leader to have a coach. In fact, at more senior levels, they may have more than one. Coaches seem omni-present in today’s workplace but many people will spend more time planning a vacation or buying a car than evaluating the credentials of someone who will be giving them guidance for their work or career. Is this you? If so, you

If you think you’ve ‘arrived” you’re in trouble!

Mar 6, 2017 33 min read In: Leadership Psychology Tags: Career, Career Growth, De-railers, Development, Failure, Learning, Strengths, Success By: robertkovach 12 Comments

I could hear it in their voices as they described their work and personal lives.

I could see it on their resume in their list of education and experiences.

They had “arrived!” They had reached a pinnacle in their career … but their story didn’t have a happy ending.

Earlier in my career I was, for lack of a better term, a “hired gun.” A management consultant conducting leadership assessments for companies being sold, bought or undergoing large-scale transformation. I travelled the globe writing leadership profiles on senior executive talent across a variety of industries.

After conducting hundreds of these I began to notice

Dr Robert Kovach