If we're honest with ourselves, we can admit that each of us has a hot button word, phrase or action that simply sends us off on a tizzy.

Ensuring employees have positive approach a key job

While the last few years have found baby-boomer retirement issues holding top priority, the latest human resource surveys are showing that employee engagement is now taking over the primary lead. In fact, one survey reports that 94 per cent of survey participants indicated that employee engagement was the most important workforce challenge they were currently facing.

Find the right motivational mix for your employees

Employee motivation, an individual's internal drive to achieve a goal is now one of the most studied areas of human resource management. Over the years, multiple theories have been put forward.

For instance, the popular Maslow theory suggests that employees are motivated to first look after their physical need, then their safety and social needs and, finally, they are motivated to seek satisfaction for their own ego and self-gratification. The Skinner theory on the other hand, suggests that if an employee's behaviour is positively reinforced, this will lead to ongoing positive outcomes.

HR problems don't go away, they just get worse

Have you ever heard of the concept of a psychological game? This usually refers to a conscious or unconscious communication tactic that plays out like a game with real live winners and losers. It's really a type of psychological one upmanship that people engage in while trying to gain the upper hand in a situation. You can recognize you've been inadvertently involved in a psychological game because at the end of it, you'll probably feel angry, annoyed and/or simply exhausted from your efforts.

It's the most challenging time of the year... for business owners juggling their needs, staff hopes

How does one know the Christmas season is upon us? While it's easy to suggest the carols and decorations at the mall, I think the real evidence lies with the Black Friday shopping frenzy.

According to a recent human resource survey, the level of stress among Canadian business professionals is rising, with approximately 63 per cent of survey participants blaming their work as the main source of stress. Survey participants also suggested that the continuing instability of the world economy was a contributing factor, as well as personal finances and customer relationships.

Employee motivation -- an individual's internal drive to achieve a goal -- is now one of the most studied areas of human resource management. Over the years, multiple theories have been put forward.

For instance, Maslow's popular hierarchy of needs theory suggests that employees are motivated to first look after their physical needs, then their safety and social needs and finally, they are motivated to seek satisfaction for their own ego and self-gratification.

I remember a situation years ago when a parent asked for help with his daughter. Although she was a business school graduate with some university, she couldn't seem to get a job.

I'm confident it would be a rare situation to encounter a senior executive who hasn't had to deal with poor leadership within their ranks. Part of the problem is that the most challenging leaders often exhibit a Jekyll and Hyde personality-- they seem to have two conflicting personalities that show themselves at different times.

There has certainly been a flurry of activity in the job market these past few months. We've heard announcements of new job-growth opportunities juxtaposed with announcements of significant budget cuts and employee layoffs.

As a woman reader, can you imagine not being able to vote?

Can you imagine not being considered a "person" by law? Can you imagine not being allowed to attend a college of medicine to become a doctor or to earn a degree of your choice? Can you imagine a married woman not being allowed to have her own bank account, but instead having to lump all of her resources under her husband's name? Can you envision a situation where you are not being promoted because you are a woman?

The 2011 employee satisfaction survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the United States found that only 54 per cent of employees were concerned about their compensation. Although I haven't seen a 2012 survey, I am predicting this number will rise.

Many of us have spent the traditional Christmas and New Year holiday season celebrating the accomplishments of our 2011 goals and looking forward to the many successes anticipated for 2012.

While many business leaders have that well-known graduate degree called the MBA (master of business administration), there aren't many leaders that I know of who have achieved the degree called the MPM (master of people management).