Use Talent Assessments To Find Future Leaders

By T.S. Field

Why use a talent assessment to find future leaders? An organization that promotes from within will have very little trouble recognizing potential leaders because a past job performance is usually a good measurement of leadership skills and abilities. But what if the company is seeking to hire recent college graduates who will be developed into future leaders over time? The human resource manager can use an asssessment to determine the best candidates for a leadership position.

If the organization is planning a new leadership training program owned and sponsored by the company then developing its own assessment or utilizing one that already exists would be a valuable first step in determining likely leadership candidates. Such an assessment would be an easy addition to the psychometric assessment given to applicants to determine aptitude and personality. The talent portion of the assessment can be directed toward the twelve traits found in good leaders. Those twelve traits are:

1. Carefulness - a tendency to plan and think before speaking or acting.

2. Cooperation - the ability to be likeable and genial in interpersonal relationships.

3. Creativity - the ability and willingness to think "outside the box"

4. Discipline - a tendency towards being dependable, responsible, and able to follow through in order to complete tasks

5. Goodwill - able to be forgiving and to think of others as having good intentions

6. Influence - ability to impress others by speaking with authority

7. Optimism - tendency toward a positive attitude and having confidence in favorable outcomes

8. Order - naturally neat and has good organizational skills

9. Savvy - ability to read people to know their needs and intentions

10. Sociability - enjoys being with other people at work and at social gatherings

11. Stability - ability to remain calm and rational during stressful situations

12. Striving - abiity to keep pushing and working hard to obtain goals

There are hundreds of assessments to choose from if the organization wishes to use the talent portion of the overall assessment process. It is advised that the company compares several different assessments and their benefits before making a final choice. The talent assessment can help an organization save time and money by helping the company find leadership potential among job applicants. If a company's senior leaders are retiring within a few years, this assessment can be given every time there is a job opening in the company so that new potential leaders can be trained and transitioned smoothly into the vacated positions.

About the Author:

Talent Q enables employers to recruit and manage talent through sophisticated assessment of the personality and intelligence of its people. Visit us for more information on psychometric testing and talent assessment.

Is Your Home In Need Of Basement Waterproofing?

By Cooper Waldstein

If your area of the country experiences any significant amount of rainfall every year, then you should certainly worry about the possibility of flooding in your basement. Having your home inspected for proper basement waterproofing is very important.

It's unfortunate, but the fact of the matter is that most people who call contractors with basement waterproofing concerns do so after a flood has already happened. Even if you think your home has never had flooding problems, you may still want to have a basement waterproofing inspection.

It's unfortunate that more homeowners don't realize that basement waterproofing jobs aren't necessarily expensive. There are always more affordable options for stopping water damage in you home if you have a smaller budget.

There isn't one single method that can be used by every basement waterproofing company, but rather many ways to stop flood and water damage in a home. Depending on your budget, waterproofing companies can consider exterior and interior options.

One way to tell if a basement waterproofing company is legitimate and professional is to ask if they offer free estimates and inspections. Additionally, make sure that you ask about previous examples of work and customer testimonials.

Always ensure that you ask for customer testimonials or referrals from any basement waterproofing company that you contact to work on your home. While the vast majority of contractors will treat you with respect and professionalism, it's important to make sure that your choice can be trusted with such a significant home improvement project.

Don't think that basement waterproofing problems are limited to only older homes. Due to environmental circumstances, weather and even poor construction, newer homes can experience flooding and water damage, too.

Regardless of whether you have a brand new home or a century old dwelling, you will eventually experience some sort of basement problems if you live in a rainy area. By taking steps to ensure that your basement is properly waterproofed, you could prevent serious water damage and save yourself a good deal of time and money.

About the Author:

Cuyahoga County/Lorain County Sewer and Drain is your resource for Independence Ohio Basement Waterproofing. Visit our online forum to exchange Interior Basement Waterproofing ideas with other visitors.

Lies and Love

By Dr. Arlene G Krieger

This holiday season many may find that they are without someone to enjoy the holidays with. There are many options available with lots of parties and events to engage in fun and cozy times. For those that are single or in between relationships there are many social choices to make. This brings us to the subject of expectations. As I have mentioned in previous blogs the dating process is not for the faint of heart. It is important to go into this arena with the right attitude. I have heard so many horror stories from friends, family, and acquaintances of the trials and tribulations of dating. (Especially internet dating!) In order to travel this treacherous and yet wonderful path of meeting and greeting, which can be both exciting and nerve-racking, one must enter the entire process with the right attitude.

Lets start with internet dating. This process certainly begins with expectations. I was talking to a male friend of mine the other evening and he had a particularly on the mark view of how this dating drill needs to go. From this perceptive males point of view, too many people begin the process with expectations that lead them down the slippery hill into dating hell. He believes that if you spend more time than two phone conversations before you actually meet, that you then fall into the jaws of the false expectations pit by building up in your mind a fantasy person. Although internet photos are exchanged and some of your deepest, darkest secrets are exposed to one another, you still have no clue who you are really dealing with until you meet face to face. My male friends answer to this false expectation dilemma is that one must absolutely meet if not for anything more than a cup of coffee and a half hour of each others time by the end of the second phone conversation.

With busy work schedules for both men and women, long distance relationships have become more popular. A good friend met a guy online and after countless emails and phone calls they just had to meet each other. After all of their conversation on the phone and via email she thought he was different, but by the end of their day together he was acting cold because she would not go back to his hotel room. To his dismay, no exotic holiday cupcakes on the menu that evening. The evening will go down in history as one of her most distasteful dating experiences ever. What were the red flags for dating disaster here? In this case, both parties expectations failed. She was expecting a well-educated gentleman; he was expecting a POA (piece of ass).

Dating is an exercise to get to know new people, it is imperative that you properly portray yourself and let the other individual know your agenda for the relationship. By being upfront with the other person it starts a good foundation for a relationship that will hopefully blossom over time. As long as you know that you have truthfully posted recent and accurate photos (both parties), are within three years of your actual age posted online, and don't have a current or ex-lover in your closet at home you should be able to enjoy this wonderful season with a date or two that wont end up in the Guinness Book of Records for worst holiday date ever.

About the Author:

Check out Dr. Krieger's Website at Boca Therapy