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Carl Nielson

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Managing Principal, The Nielson Group

26 points

Organizational Development
Talent Assessments
Executive Coaching
Talent management
Performance management
Team development
Individual Development Planning
Management, Leadership, Team Workshops
18 years Human Resources Management
10 years management consulting

WEB: Success Discoveries

March 16, 2012

Carl Nielson and 9 other people answered this question at this roundtable

Inside Look at Workforce Mobility [3/13 @ 4 pm]

Why do many companies spend so much more on external recruiting fees than on internal hiring & a focus on retention?

The question referenced "recruiting fees", not "consulting fees" so I went a different direction in my thinking about the question. One assumption I always make is that most people in management are very smart people and most employees are very smart as well.
Internal hiring ... more

Human Resources

Nov. 8, 2011

Carl Nielson and 3 other people answered this question

To what degree do you think companies staff HR and L&D roles with generalists vs. specialists?

Hi Sheryl,
Your question resonated with me for several reasons. I went from 18+ years of HR generalist/HR management into consulting because I felt being a generalist/HRM wasn't satisfying enough for me personally. Now that I have been consulting in the Learning/Development, organizaionatl development, leadership development ... more

Human Resources

Aug. 15, 2011

Carl Nielson and 7 other people answered this question

Do you tie performance reviews to compensation awards?

I've seen the cycles just about every way you can imagine (no bias/preference for any):
1. Pay increase on a hire date/last promotion date with performance review done in mass annually as part of company ritual. This meets Compensation's need to plan annually (estimate merit and ... more

Human Resources

Performance Appraisal

Performance Review

June 13, 2011

Carl Nielson and 10 other people answered this question

Should general management training be required for all 1st time managers?

I like that Mr. Sovie has recognized one of the biggest barriers to companies offering supervisory training: if it smells and tastes and looks like "mandated generic management training" then it will have very low value. How do you offer "mandated generic management training" that ... more

General Management

Human Resources

May 19, 2011

Carl Nielson answered this question

When should a business get a dedicated HR specialist?

TriNet and others like it are fulfilling the administrative or back office needs of an organization. You will not receive quality strategic HR support from these types of firms. A firm with 100 to 300 employees may look at outsourcing the backoffice administrative work. It ... more

Human Resources

HR Professional

Feb. 13, 2011

Carl Nielson and 13 other people answered this question

Do you think HR needs to take up the role of the "coach" to the organization?

So much agreement in all of the great comments. My immediate response to the post..."before HR is a coach to their client groups (or manage the outsourcing of such), HR needs to learn and apply coaching within their own organization". I think the same can ... more

Human Resources

Performance Management Process

Talent Management

Jan. 12, 2011

Carl Nielson and 3 other people answered this question

It is assumed that strategic HRM improves performance. So why don't more organisations implement it?

There are a handful of "talent devlepment strategy providers" that HR and OD in companies adopted at great expense to their company. The higher the price, the more HR "perceived" the value for the organization only to find their internal clients weren't valuing and thus ... more

Human Resources

Jan. 12, 2011

Carl Nielson answered this question

How will your Human Resources department help your company accelerate growth in 2011?

I think the answer will be found, not in an annualized list of activities owned by HR and expected to be accomplished by line managers, but in a systemic approach to total talent management. This means having a seamless talent management systems (tools, strategies, methods) ... more

Human Resource Management

Dec. 28, 2010

Carl Nielson answered this question

Where can I get HRIS certified?

Speak with Lynne Mealy at Int'l Association for Human Resources Information Management
http://www.ihrim.org

Human Resources

Hris Certification

Nov. 12, 2010

Carl Nielson and 5 other people answered this question

What are the best talent management programs for start-ups?

Hi Catherine,
I'm all for "Lean" solutions regardless of the size of company or situation. Start ups are particularly vulnerable to ineffective and over priced solutions that take the focus off the work required to launch and build a company beyond the pull of gravity. ... more

Talent Management

Talent Management Companies

Talent Management Program

Talent Management Systems

Nov. 12, 2010

Carl Nielson and 19 other people answered this question

My team is rebelling against me – what should I do?

The fact that you asked the question suggests a sensitivity to your team and desire for cohesiveness. Without much to go on here, the first thought I had based on some past client situations is that you might have a narcissistic person within your team ... more

General Management

Human Resources

Employee Relations

Aug. 12, 2009

Carl Nielson and 2 other people answered this question

Does anyone have any evidence that drug testing in the workplace “works”?

I think random drug testing using a qualified and "quality" testing service is a good deterrent. Ironically, for pre-employment use, a drug test (and criminal background check) is only a "backup" to something that is more effective - assessing for work attitudes. I have supporting ... more

Human Resources

July 29, 2009

Carl Nielson and 5 other people answered this question

What’s the current thinking on psychometric testing – Myers-Briggs and the like?

The U.S. government actually sees "talent" assessments as a good thing if used as one third of criteria for considering a candidate. The assessment needs to be "job-focused". Specific to your interest in MBTI, it is not an assessment that I see appropriate for much ... more

Human Resources

July 29, 2009

Carl Nielson and 2 other people answered this question

I have an applicant that was convicted of a felony about 4 years ago. What can/can't I ask about it?

This doesn't help your present situation (my sincere apologies, I avoid offering legal advice) but the question behind the question is "does this candidate have the appropriate character and attitudes that I desire in my company?"
I strongly advise my clients to use an assessment ... more

Human Resources

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