Thought Leadership Articles | Kuczmarski Innovation

Finding a Balance Through Disciplined Freedom

The phrase “disciplined freedom” may at first appear to champion a set of two inconsistent ideals. When people think of discipline, they usually think of rigidity, both in rules and structure. Freedom elicits thoughts of bountiful choice and independence – almost the exact opposite. However, there is a middle ground that exists between the two.

Leveraging Mentorship as an Inclusion Method

When bringing together a diverse and inclusive workforce, a great way to encourage professional development is through shared experience programs such as mentorships. Mentors can help bring inclusivity to the forefront of the workplace by providing a support system to mentees who might feel alienated from the rest of their team, or need help with

New Leadership Guide Unearths the Benefits of ‘Peopleship’ in the Workplace

Article Originally Published in Independent Publisher BY CRAIG MANNING / AUGUST 2018 Unemployment in the United States is currently hovering around 4 percent. As tends to happen, this recent trend of low unemployment has created something of a job seeker’s market. In many fields, there are more jobs than there are qualified people to fill

Tom Kuczmarski named one of StreetWise’s “20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans”

StreetWise, a nonprofit that empowers people and provides resources for the homeless and at-risk populations throughout Chicago, announces this year’s honorees for a new award created to recognize and honor the “20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans” who are making the city a better place to live and work. The honorees, selected by a committee of Streetwise

The Benefits of Deep Listening

In an increasingly digital world, the prevalence of face to face conversations and even phone conversations have decreased. As the norm changes, the need to be an active, deep listener has become more important than ever. While it is the role of the speaker to convey the message that they are trying to communicate, the

Here are six signs that it’s time to quit your job

Article originally posted in Fast Company Stephanie Vozza.

Most of us are open to new job opportunities. In fact, a survey by the specialty recruitment firms Accounting Principals and Ajilon found that 80% of people are passively or actively looking. But how do you know it’s time to stop window shopping and pull the trigger and quit? “Quitting and finding new work can be terrifying,” says Jill Gugino Pante,

Know Your Strengths and the Strengths of Your Team

The ultimate goal of a leader is to give the people in your organization the tools to perform the best they can. This means providing the appropriate resources to individuals and teams, and delegating the right tasks to the right people so that everyone has what they need to succeed. To do this effectively, leaders

WorkWise: Job hunters and compensation

Article originally posted in knox news

Increased compensation, career advancement and a desire to relocate are a few of the many reasons that people job hunt. However, increased compensation appears to be today’s dominant motivator among millennials. Recent online research conducted by The Martec Group on behalf of MRINetwork (mrinetwork.com) shows that professional, managerial and executive candidates, contract and permanent, value increased

What Soft Skills Do Employers Want?

Article originally posted in TalentCulture

Most jobs have specific requirements. But beyond technical skills, employees also need more general soft skills to get the job done. According to the Job Outlook 2018 Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a team are the top two soft skills that employers seek in job

Activating an Innovation Culture

What does it mean to have an “Innovation Culture?” For some, it can mean open floor plans and shared desk spaces, beer in the fridge and casual dress. For others, a culture of innovation is found in workplaces where people are constantly building the next cutting-edge technology or software to disrupt their markets. In my