It's that time of year.  Holiday music is everywhere we turn, malls and grocery stores are adorned and glowing, and you've already tweaked your gift giving list twenty seven times.  Let's take time to remember that the holidays are a special time to spend with family and reflect on your own personal heritage.  It's fun (and easy) to get caught up in the materialism-side of the holidays, but it's especially important to instill in our children the true purpose of our traditions and the passing down of generations.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for shopping, gift wrapping, and baking – but my husband and I had a personal awakening two years ago when we celebrated the first night of Hannukah.  As we light the first candle on our Menorah, sang our ceremonial songs, and gladly distributed gifts to our three children, my husband received a phone call that interrupted our joyous mood.  His paternal grandfather whom he had a close relationship with – died right then, on the first night of Hannukah.  We continued allowing our young children to bask in the delight of their gifts, but the true message of the holidays rang true in our hearts.  We lost a link in our chain – a connection to our previous generation and heritage – and a dear family member.

This holiday season – enjoy the materialism, but remember the meaning behind it.  Take that extra moment to explain the meaning of your holiday to your children.  Tell your spouse, sibling, or loved one how much they mean to you and how important it is to spend time with them. 

Let's allow the music, decorations, and baked goods help to lift our bodies and spirits – but let's also remember that the holidays are a time for family, love, and peace for all.

Being a good boss is way overrated.  It's time...to be a bad boss.

That's right, forget the stress-management courses, axe the communication training seminars, and cancel the mentoring-buddy system.

Looking to really stress your employees out?  Here's how:

• Role clarity – Don't let anyone know what they are supposed to be doing then punish them for not doing it!
• Job Demands – Just keep upping these as you reduce resources and increase stress!
• Control – Don't give employees any control!
• Change Management – Keep people guessing! Never tell them about your many changes until the last minute.
• Support – Do not give this and provide structures which discourage it amongst employees. Divide and conquer!
• Relationships – encourage conflict and bullying every chance you get!

The following factors have been shown to be significant traits and skills for increasing the stress in direct reports and sending people insane:

• Low Integrity – Don't build trust. Be dishonest.
• Poor Emotional Management – Be moody and panicky to build workplace stress. Make sure to pass on your own stress.
• Dictator Style – Employee engagement is for wimps! Gives negative feedback or non at all.
• Reactive Work Management – Don't plan or monitor workload.  Have poor time management.
• Problem Solving Skills – These are also for wimps.
• Conflict Management Skills – There is no stress when your enemies are dead! Unresolved and aggressive conflict is what work is all about.
• Company Resources -  Hoard or ignore these and treat other departments as idiots and competitors.
• Personal Responsibility and Accountability – Also for wimps. Lie, back-stab and get away with things.
• Inaccessibility – Be anti-social and aloof.
• Uncaring – Never give empathy it only encourages stressed people!

These tempting and exciting ideas were created by Mark Walsh, a UK-based integration trainer who specializes in stress-management tactics in corporate settings. 

Note:  This is a creative message to ensure managers practice the OPPOSITE of each noted idea :)  If you didn't get that hint and found these ideas truly inspiring - well then, I guess you truly are a bad boss and not just pretending to be one.

As always with today's economy, there's good news and bad news.  The good news is that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings are up 45 percent since the official end of the recession in July 2009.  Although an increase in job opportunities is a positive stride for our recovering economy, it can pose great difficulty in the areas of retaining and maintaining talent.  Hiring managers are seeking well-qualified talented individuals to contribute to their companies – not bodies to fill desks and cubicles. 

How do we bridge the gap?  Do we want more jobs or more talent?

The answer:  We want both.  Jobs and talent do not have to be mutually exclusive when appropriate training is practiced. 

It is crucial to ensure that the appropriate skills and base knowledge are in place prior to hiring an individual, but training plays a large role in a new employee's performance.  Soft-skills training contributes largely to employees' engagement, productivity, and overall level of performance.  In other words, it's not an empty slot that creates the job – it's the talent coupled with appropriate guidance and training that creates the job.  

Even companies performing at full capacity with no open job opportunities are concerned about retaining talent – and jobs.  According to a global coaching and leadership development firm, a recent survey of 174 organizations found that 68 percent of organizations are worried about retention and are taking active strides in ensuring stability for their top executives and managers, pipeline prospects and front-line workers.  Here are their concerns:

• 90% are worried about losing high-potential talent
• 72% don't want to lose front-line workers
• 60% are concerned about middle managers leaving
• 45% are afraid about senior executives leaving 

How are these companies addressing their concerns?  Yes, they are offering enticing compensation and benefits packages along with flexible work schedules and tuition reimbursement, but they are also offering coaching, mentoring, cross-training, and professional development opportunities.  Clearly, convenient work schedules and increased paychecks create an incentive to stay with a company, but so do training, development, and professional growth opportunities.

In summary, training plays a monumental role for companies with or without open job opportunities.  Whether your company is looking to attract new talent, or retain its current talent, do not underestimate the power of training and professional development.  It can mold new employees into effective and happy performers and it can retain current employees by assisting in advancement and professional growth. 

Most importantly, when training is offered in an array of formats ranging from audiobooks, online training, and downloadable materials – employees are bound to stay happy, engaged, and well-rounded.    

As Meg Ryan stated in “You've Got Mail” – “Don't you just love a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils?!” 

It's back to school week for most parents.   Are you ready?  Are your kids ready?

Here are 5 helpful back-to-school hints for parents with returning students: 

• Ease into Bedtime:  Sure, those 9:00 pm bike rides are fun in the summertime – but you should start buckling down on bedtime one week before school starts.   This way, the kids will be acclimated and well rested when school begins
• Discuss the Homework Routine:  If your children had homework last year – encourage them by reminding them of a great job they had done the previous year.  If homework is new to your kids, explain the homework schedule by outlining the time and place homework will be done.  Some good rules of thumb are trying to finish homework before dinner – and not allowing TV until all homework is complete.
• Visit your New School:  If your child is entering a new school or new building, be sure to swing her by for a visit before school starts.  If this isn't possible, try to schedule a playdate with another child who will be entering the same school as your child.  Beginning the year with some familiarity with the building or with fellow classmates can be very helpful.
• Get those School Supplies:  Hey, school supply shopping could actually be enjoyable!  Make a special date with each child individually.  Perhaps you could even schedule a special lunch date with that child after buying all of their school necessities.   This makes kids feel special – and completely obliterates sibling rivalry.
• Talk About It:  While you're out school supply shopping, discuss with your kids some of their expectations or fears about starting the new year.  Share some personal memories of your own!  Remember to be honest, but positive.

As for those without kids – or those with grown kids, don't fret we have some pointers for you as well.

As everyone shuffles into the “back to school mode” try to maintain a fresh perspective on your job functions as well.  Be a better communicator, stay positive, and try to give a helping hand to your colleagues.  Whether or not you have fond memories of going back to school yourself – it's always encouraging to have a fresh start and a positive outlook in whatever you are doing.