When your employees manage their careers, everyone benefits. Organizations grow and continuously improve when and if their employees focus upon and grow their careers, support their team, and position themselves as the "go-to" persons in their respective fields. I recently lead a "Managing Your Career" workshop as part of this company's onboarding program. There I showed a group of new managers how to think differently about their careers. I demonstrated to them how they could move their performance to the next level, regularly raising the bar, while fostering a spirit of teamwork within their new company's creative, innovative learning environment.

By working in a corporate environment that supports, encourages and grows new "thought-leaders," their career will flourish and the company will enjoy the benefits and value that comes from a fully engaged workforce-higher productivity, innovation, profitability, and retention. The company knows that by developing their employees, they raise the profile of their workforce and their company, expanding the demand for the company's services, and positioning themselves as the only one to call by prospects and customers. They knew that by employing star performers, they elevate their status. When their employees are successful, the company is successful. The onboarding workshop set the tone early. Establishing clear expectations was the first step in the process. All forward thinking companies should include a component like this in their onboarding program.

Beginning today and through the end of the year, you can download Uncomplicating Management (185 pages) at no cost. This is my way of saying "thanks" for a great 2010.

To begin reading, simply send an email to rick@dacri.com
and put "Free Book" in the subject box. I'll immediately send your copy to you. It's that simple.

Begin making managing easy. This book uncomplicates the art of managing people and provides you with a blueprint for your success. You will get practical, easy to understand ideas, real life examples, and ready to use tools to make your job easier.

So get Uncomplicating Management free-and share it with your staff and collegues.

Send an email today to rick@dacri.com and remember this offer will only be good through December 31.

Thank you again for a great year. And enjoy the book.

Belmont (MA) Municipal Light has unique opportunity for a strong, experienced, business oriented General Manager. The right individual will be responsible for all aspects of leading this 27 employee department serving over 11,000 customers, with electrical revenues in excess of $22 million. To qualify, you must have strong financial, operational and management skills; industry knowledge; and the ability to work effectively and with transparency, with town government, citizen groups, customers and employees. To learn more about this position, call Rick Dacri at 207-967-0837 or send a resume and salary history, in confidence, to rick@dacri.com.

If you were given the task of setting up a new Human Resource Department in a small company where would you begin? Such a task would be extremely daunting, but not impossible, if you follow a few tips. To begin, you need to answer some basic questions:

Why do you want to set one up? What's changed to make you or the organization believe that an HR department is needed now? What do you want the HR department to do? How will this function contribute to the success and bottom-line of the organization? Will it add value?

In other words, before you begin the task, you need to have a clear definition of the mission and goals of the department and secondly, what role you will play as "head" of the HR function. Once you have clear direction, there are some key "audit" issues that you need to focus on:

If your group needs a speaker, let me know. I am now booking a number of engagements for 2011. Click below to review my speaker information sheet.

A number of tools and booklets to help you manage your workforce are available now. These include:

• Sexual Harassment Prevention Toolbox
• Preventing Discrimination & Harassment Guide
• Strategies to Survive a Tough Economic Downturn Guide
• Guide To Massachusetts Employment Laws for Managers
• Employment Laws for Maine Organizations

I will be making the following media appearances this month:

December 1: I will be doing a podcast with Jennifer Kruger of Imaging Executives (http://www.imagingexec.com) discussing how to make managing easier & my book Uncomplicating Management.

December 4: I will be on the inaugural radio show "Mind Your Own Business" on Portland's WLOB. The show will focus on difficulties small businesses are facing with managing their workforce.

December 14: I will be appearing on Tron Simpson's radio show in Colorado Springs (KCMN-AM).

Recent appearances included:

1. Nov 28: Conversations w/ Peter Solomon (Philadelphia WIP-AM)
2. Nov 23: The Frankie Boyer Show (Life Style Talk Radio)
3. Nov 4: Bill Kearney's Financial Spectrum (WKXL-AM Concord, NH)
4. Nov 4: Stu Taylor's Money Matters Network