Entries by Shannon McKain

2020 Vision

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October 1st crept up on me.

Ahhhh, October. The leaves are changing. Pumpkin spice flavors appear on every menu. School is (usually) in full-swing. Football games consume our weekends, and annual trips to the pumpkin patch and apple orchards pepper our social media pages.  It’s also the beginning of the last quarter of the calendar year…a subtle reminder that we’re running out of time to cross things off our “goals to finish this year” list.

I remember October 2019 like it was yesterday. My friends and I were enjoying pizza at Sixty Vines, a popular spot in Dallas. My event planner friend told the group how excited she was for her 2020 conference titled “Vision 2020.” It was going to be a huge conference with all the bells and whistles, and her company was planning an awesome celebration to culminate the event.

Building Great Teams During a Pandemic

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Building great teams under normal circumstances can be challenging.  Building great teams during a pandemic can feel down right impossible. Many of us are struggling to find a work/life balance while operating with remote workforces, a myriad of distractions, added pressures and uncharted waters.

How can we use these (often uncomfortable) circumstances to make our teams better?

When to Hire a Recruiter

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People are your greatest asset. They’re your brand
ambassadors and the lifeline to help build your business. According to a recent
study
by Paycor, labor costs can account for up to 70% of total business costs, which
means they’re also your biggest investment, both in terms of finances and time.

It’s true that headhunters, recruiters and staffing agencies
can come at a premium cost difficult to digest for a small or medium size business. That cost is the reason many businesses shy away from seeking help outside of the organization. But remember what I said in the first paragraph, that people are your biggest investment? That’s the main reason why you should consider spending the extra money. Wondering when is the right time to make that decision? Let’s dive in to why
and when the cost to work with a headhunter or professional recruiting
firm makes sense.

Top Tips for Recruiting Top Talent

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It’s that time of year! Spring has sprung, graduates have graduated, and businesses are kicking it into high gear.

Each year at this time, I see an uptick in consulting and
recruiting questions directed my way. However, this year is particularly different with unemployment being the lowest since 1969. According to the United States Bureau of
Labor Statistics on June 2, 2019, unemployment is still sitting at a record
low of 3.6%.

Trying to recruit top talent in this economy is going to require
a strategic, multi-pronged and thoughtful approach. Here are my top six tips for employers to recruit the best talent in today’s candidate-friendly climate.

Intrinsic Motivation

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A couple of years ago, I traveled to Barcelona for a trip with two of my girlfriends. We were having the time of our lives exploring the city, enjoying new experiences, and dining on great food. Unfortunately, I had packed the wrong shoes for walking around this beautiful city and by day three my feet […]

What does Patrick Mahomes have to do with Emotional Intelligence?

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I’ve been studying emotional intelligence for nearly two decades and the more I research, the more I realize no matter how “emotional” one is, we all have an opportunity to grow more “emotionally intelligent.” Specifically, a key factor to the EQ formula includes managing our emotions. It’s not enough to simply have awareness of our […]

Do you have this one key attribute?

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I was recently leading a two-day workshop for the leaders of various divisions across a company. We were having a blast talking all things leadership, emotional intelligence, generational differences and personal development in the workplace. I love having opportunities like this to spend so much time with corporate or student leadership teams, helping them grow […]

Advancing Your Career After a Break

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Last month, I was on CBS KCTV5 Better Kansas City TV Show for my monthly TV segment. These segments explore a variety of topics that align with my keynotes. From emotional intelligence and leadership to this month’s topic: getting started in the workforce or advancing your career after a break. The job market can sometimes […]

Interview Spotlight: Liz Murray

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If you’ve heard me speak or read my past blog posts, you may know I have a few themes that apply to all audiences. Dream big, then make a plan to reach your goals We are all just one mentor away from becoming our best self Your success is heavily reliant on your personal brand […]

KCTV5 | Generational Communication Differences

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Earlier this month I was on CBS KCTV5 Better Kansas City TV Show for my monthly segment. These segments explore a variety of topics that align with my keynotes. From emotional intelligence and personal branding to this month’s topic: personality and generational differences. Thanks to technology, there are many ways we communicate with loved ones, friends, […]