The Chord - Harmonics Blog
June 1, 2023
The 5 Top Fears when Executives lose their job
John Fitzgerald
May 14, 2023
Sustainable Leadership – ‘The Energy Channel’
John Fitzgerald
February 3, 2023
Fired, fearful and fifty. Tips from experience.
John Fitzgerald
January 10, 2023
5 Key Factors that Impact Organisational Commitment
John Fitzgerald
November 11, 2022
Rejection… leads to… Redirection
John Fitzgerald
September 9, 2022
The 3 Core Questions to ‘Future Proof Your Career’
John Fitzgerald
June 14, 2022
Intentional choices instead of Distracting Devices
John Fitzgerald
May 17, 2022
Acknowledgement instead of Acceleration
John Fitzgerald
May 10, 2022
Solving the pain of Hybrid Working
Tania Watson
April 29, 2022
Email Overwhelm on National Workplace Wellbeing Day
John Fitzgerald
January 17, 2022
Harmonics Corporate Video 2022
John Fitzgerald
November 4, 2021
Mam’s Magical Moments
John Fitzgerald
June 28, 2021
One Big Lesson from the Leaving Cert 2021
John Fitzgerald
June 11, 2021
Factory Workers from Home?
John Fitzgerald
April 28, 2021
Well, well!
We are all hoping tomorrow for an exit plan from lockdown restrictions over the coming weeks and months.
April 19, 2021
Future Proofing your Employability as We Age
One Big thing to Learn from Covid…
There are two types of people I know going through this Longest Lockdown Saga.
April 9, 2021
One Big Thing to Learn from Covid..
One Big thing to Learn from Covid…
There are two types of people I know going through this Longest Lockdown Saga.
March 11, 2021
Racing to Get Ahead!
Racing to Get Ahead!
This short video of Steven Bradbury winning an unlikely Olympic Gold Medal
February 19, 2021
Did you know?
Did you know?
*21% said they had called in sick to avoid work when asked how workplace stress had affected them
February 18, 2021
Wright Brothers
“It’s hard to reach a certain stage and have to start learning again”
February 18, 2021
Lockdown Window
Every call I have had this week, the topic of well being has been mentioned.
One client is doing a Well Being fortnight, another has Wellness Wednesdays where no online meetings are supposed to happen…but they still do!
November 23, 2020
Future of Work 2020 Research Study Launched
Future of Work 2020 Research Study Launched
Impact of COVID-19 and Digital Transformation on World of Work Revealed
November 17, 2020
Lunchtime Friday and I’m Happy! Why?
“Freedom to Be Happy” – the business case for Happiness is a new book by Matthew Phelan has landed.
November 12, 2020
Report – Towards a Reskilling Revolution
Industry-Led Action for the Future of Work
October 10, 2020
Everybody Wins
Pre Covid, he would spend 3 hours commuting in his car daily! He used to get up at 5:45am, he and his wife both worked outside the house, they have 3 kids under 10. When he got home each evening it was after 7pm, he was drained and it was soon bed time for the kids. Weekends were catch up times while he tried to refresh for another week’s slog.
May 27, 2020
Words make Worlds
I am struck by the now typical greeting when I meet someone I know in the supermarket.
May 1, 2020
#MayDay Alert
How many of you feel you are sinking deeper each week and wonder when will this be over?
March 26, 2020
Working from Home – keep safe, keep healthy, keep well
Communication is, of course, essential in any working relationship, when you work from home, communicating—and over-communicating—becomes essential. Everyone needs social interaction. Zoom/Skype, email and mobile. Meetings on ZOOM should be recorded – this is particularly important when team members/workshop participants cannot make meeting/workshop but can view recording post event.
March 25, 2020
Future Proof Your Emotions
This week was all about Zoom calls as we changed how we communicated across our local office, our national coaching team and our global business partners.
March 25, 2020
6 Disruptive Changes we are Seeing Now
Family Life and work has collided inside all of our homes in the past week. I want to share 6 things we are seeing and some real life stories which may resonate from across our team at Harmonics
February 21, 2020
It’s Not You It’s Me!
I had a discussion with a friend this week, they said they wanted to break up with their partner, they have been together just over a year now. Why I asked?
November 11, 2019
Future of Work Top Challenges Revealed
Future of Work Top Challenges Revealed
A global survey of HR Directors and Talent Managers conducted by Irish firm Harmonics and OI Global Partners (one of the world’s largest career consulting partnerships)
October 11, 2019
Thanks Dad
Last week my Dad passed away. We were lucky as a family to be by his bedside when he passed, and it was a peaceful ending for him. We cared for him in his later years and we have no regrets. I am back to work this week and reflecting on his legacy, three things spring to mind immediately.
May 24, 2019
Summit Helps Businesses Prepare for Change
Harmonics recently hosted a Mid-West Region Global Summit on Future Proofing Organisations at the Strand Hotel, Limerick.
April 2, 2019
Disrupt Yourself
Growth is cyclical; we have seen this in the economy with boom times and recessions. The mistake many people make is to become over confident in the boom times and believe they are invincible. What they need to do is disrupt themselves and reinvest in their skills to stay in growth.
December 11, 2018
New Online Tool to Prepare Global Workforce for Future of Work
New Online Tool to Prepare Global Workforce for Future of Work
Harmonics Group, an indigenous Irish firm and lead member of OI Global Partners (one of the world’s largest career consulting partnerships),
June 21, 2018
4 Realistic Retention Strategies for HR
The retention of talent is the number one challenge for so many HR professionals right now. Here, I share four strategies to help you address your talent retention challenges.
May 28, 2018
4 Critical Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Job Offer
Diarmuid called me all excited, he had just been offered a new role. I had coached him in the past through a messy time in his career when he was being forced out of a company.
April 12, 2018
5 Great Questions to Ask Yourself If You Hit a Career Ceiling
Career ceilings happen; there are only so many seats at the top table. But, if you feel you have hit a career ceiling where you work, it’s important to firstly ask yourself, could I have done any more here? I would caution before you assume and blame others or the organisation. Start with holding the mirror up and go from there, but change starts from within.
March 21, 2018
The Number 1 Most Common Mistake HR Makes
The Number 1 Most Common Mistake HR Makes
Have you ever looked on in wonder at a young child totally immersed on their mobile device playing their computers games.
February 26, 2018
It’s the Environment Stupid
It’s the Environment Stupid
James Carville, Bill Clinton’s campaign manager for the 1992 Presidential election once claimed “it’s the economy stupid” which proved a highly successful strategy.
January 28, 2018
What’s your next Transfer Move?
What’s your next Transfer Move?
It’s January and it’s a busy month of the year for Transfers in the Premiership Football season.
December 23, 2017
Building a Strong Leadership Team
Building a strong performing leadership team can take time. However, for a private equity-backed business, they often don’t have the luxury of time.
December 12, 2017
Time for a Career Stocktake?
Time for a Career Stocktake?
“It’s the first time you’ve driven me to school Dad!”
November 20, 2017
Do Organisations Truly Understand the Talent Question?
Do Organisations Truly Understand the Talent Question?
At Harmonics we are increasingly being asked to talk to Senior Leaders about Talent Management and why they need to prepare a Talent strategy.
November 19, 2017
Managing and Retaining Millennials
Managing and Retaining Millennials
With the recession behind us and the economy growing, the competition for top talent is intensifying.
November 8, 2017
Trends in Organisation & People Change
Trends in Organisation & People Change
In October, I attended our OI Global Partners meeting in Turin, Italy where over 20 European, Australian and US Partners
October 2, 2017
Time to Revise our Thinking about Education & Careers
Time to Revise our Thinking about Education & Careers
It’s September and back to school season. Every household with school going kids are now firmly back into the routine
June 23, 2017
Interview with Justine Negri on 4 Aces Masterclass
Interview with Justine Negri on 4 Aces Masterclass
Last February, John Fitzgerald wrote a blog called “4 Aces Hold the Key for the Future of Work” which looked at the new rules to succeed in the New World of Work.
June 12, 2017
Employee Engagement During Organisational Change
Employee Engagement During Organisational Change
Veteran CNN Reporter Gina London and John Fitzgerald, MD Harmonics Group, were the guest speakers at a recent CIPD Mid West
June 1, 2017
Watch this Space!
Watch this Space!
Career Transitions take time.
May 19, 2017
Holding Out for a Package to Arrive?
Holding Out for a Package to Arrive?
There are so many among us who have given years of service to one employer and would love a change
April 6, 2017
AP McCoy & The Missing Piece
AP McCoy & The Missing Piece
Hearing that the Aintree Grand National takes place this weekend, I was reminded of this piece which I wrote a little over two years ago.
March 31, 2017
Leadership Role Modeling of Resilience
In a previous post I spoke about how the barriers between work and life have been essentially eliminated, with many studies recognising this shift in the ‘new world of work’.
March 28, 2017
Beat Burnout, Cultivate Resilience
Beat Burnout, Cultivate Resilience
These insightful words by poet Mary Oliver are an invitation to us all to consider our own vitality and wellbeing.
March 22, 2017
Building a More Resilient You
Building a More Resilient You
The stresses and demands of daily life, not just life transitions, can take its toll on us physically and psychologically.
March 10, 2017
What I Learned from Seeing Kinky Boots!
What I Learned from Seeing Kinky Boots!
I confess that I had my eyes opened wide recently when I saw a group of transgender men thrust themselves towards us provocatively wearing Knee High Kinky Boots.
February 16, 2017
4 Aces Hold the Key to the Future of Work
4 Aces Hold the Key to the Future of Work
Career Progression was all so predictable in the past; when getting a good college education
February 7, 2017
Why Women are Finding a New Career Gear
Why Women are Finding a New Career Gear
Could the best time for women’s careers be in their 50’s?
January 17, 2017
Ten Reasons Why People Fear a Start-up & How to Overcome Them
Ten Reasons Why People Fear a Start-up & How to Overcome Them
It’s that time of year when unrealised ambitions come to the fore in people’s minds. It reminds me of that great Queen song “I want to break free!”
December 23, 2016
WHY 60% OF NEW MANAGERS FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR
Commonly cited stats estimate that about 60% of newly promoted managers fail within the first year (Ashkenas, 2015), pointing to a critical miscalculation in the decision process for selecting who is ready for “next level” management.
November 8, 2016
4 Career Strategies for New World of Work
4 Career Strategies for New World of Work
First Mover Advantage in the game of Career Chess
October 12, 2016
Career Success Shouldn’t Be A Pyramid Scheme
Career Success Shouldn’t Be A Pyramid Scheme
I am always struck by how many people think that career success is all about promotion – getting to the next level and an increase in salary.
September 16, 2016
Blind Career Ambition – Caution!
Blind Career Ambition – Caution!
In an executive career coaching session recently, a coachee spoke about their conscious decision to opt out of the global career merry go round.
August 23, 2016
Uber as a model for self-driving careers
Uber as a model for self-driving careers
Uber has just launched their first semi-autonomous self-driving cars in Pittsburgh.
July 13, 2016
Huge Change is Coming: Prepare for Disruption
Huge Change is Coming: Prepare for Disruption
Huge change is on the way. We are living at a defining time in human history.
June 30, 2016
Career Framework Mapping – the Do’s & Don’ts
Career Framework Mapping – the Do’s & Don’ts
Managing the growing career aspirations of a diverse workforce is proving to be a big challenge for HR Departments.
June 21, 2016
Talent Management in Financial Services
Talent Management in Financial Services
Contribute to a Global Report on Talent Management in Financial Services
June 13, 2016
Is it time to reassess your career game?
Is it time to reassess your career game?
The second half of your career is longer than you think.
May 18, 2016
Corporate Career Handcuffs – Are you trapped?
Corporate Career Handcuffs – Are you trapped?
A consistent feature showing up in our coaching practice is that more and more people in the corporate world feel trapped.
April 28, 2016
The World of Work is Changing
The World of Work is Changing
It’s time to future proof your workforce.
March 31, 2016
A Better Model for Talent Retention
A Better Model for Talent Retention
In this ever improving economy, we have returned to the race for talent.
March 7, 2016
Top Trends in World of Work Affecting Employers & Employees
Top Trends in World of Work Affecting Employers & Employees
Here are 4 current and emerging trends in the world of work that are affecting employers and employees.
February 12, 2016
Action Plan for Skills Needs to be on the Election Agenda
Action Plan for Skills Needs to be on the Election Agenda
The amount of jobs created, lack of quality jobs or the promise of new jobs in the next five years appears to be a constant theme across the election debate.
January 27, 2016
How to Attract Top Talent
How to Attract Top Talent
From an early age my daughter realised that toys advertised on TV did not live up to expectations when they came home from the toy store.
January 6, 2016
5 Reasons Why People and Organisations Fail to Change
5 Reasons Why People and Organisations Fail to Change
Helping people and organisations bridge the gap from where
December 11, 2015
Businesses Must Prepare for New Year ‘Brain Drain’
Businesses Must Prepare for New Year ‘Brain Drain’
As a new year approaches, many employees take the time over Christmas to reflect on their career direction.
October 7, 2015
Career Best Insights – Lessons from Las Vegas!
Career Best Insights – Lessons from Las Vegas!
Last year I went to a Career Conference in Las Vegas. Not a bad location for a Career Conference I know, but
