Managers: think “friendly” not “friends”
When Mediabistro published “How to Stay on the Right Side of the Boss/Buddy Line,” reporter Joel Schwartzberg consulted Deb Hornell for professional perspective. You can keep your boss hat on and still take your employees to lunch once in a while, or ask how their weekend was. In fact, getting to know your employees on a personal level—while not getting too personal—has advantages. Deb Hornell, president of the Chicago-based workplace consultancy Hornell Partners, said a manager needs to “spend time with staff—get to know them and uncover their talents and...
Read MoreWho’s in your network?
What do you think of when you hear the word “networking?” Swapping business cards with another person? Making small talk at a company event? Going to a conference to get business? Cultivating relationships with other professionals? Last week, I hosted a networking breakfast for executives who mentor in the Midwest WOMEN Unlimited LEAD program. Jeff Fischer, an executive from Chubb Insurance, says he asks everyone he mentors, “Who’s in your network?” because he considers networking a critical skill for emerging leaders. Instead of focusing on the number of business cards you collect or...
Read MoreWest Suburban Living recognizes Deb as local author
Deb Hornell and her book earned a spot in the West Suburban Living magazine’s May/June 2013 issue. Page 18 of the print magazine and page 21 of the digital version describe the practical, story-telling approach behind Good Things for a Full Life: “Drawing on her successful experiences working with various people and organizations as a business consultant, Hornell reveals 40 lessons on how to make the most of one’s life. The book contains dozens of short stories based on Hornell’s own experiences as well as lessons learned from role models along the way.” Read...
Read MoreCan kids be financially independent?
As a regular contributor to the Equifax blog, I’ve been asked to write monthly posts about the good things that contribute to a full life. This month’s blog targets parents who want to guide their children to financial independence. There’s no need to wait until your children are graduating from high school or leaving for college to begin talking about money management. As parents, we want our children to be successful and happy in life, but teaching them financial independence often gets put on the back burner. Here are three tips to help your children forge a path to...
Read MoreWhere to find the book
Good Things for a Full Life is now available in paperback from Amazon.com and Indiebound.org. We also encourage the support of local, independent booksellers, like Deb’s favorite bookstore in Glen Ellyn: justthebookstore.com. If your local bookstore does not have Deb’s book in stock, please ask if they can order it for you. A Kindle version will be available soon. Preview & discuss the...
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Deb Hornell is a visionary whose personal brand of “Cultivating Environments for Growth” extends into her consulting practice, her family and friendships, and her book: "Good Things for a Full Life."
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