Articles and Research Results
As an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine, I regularly write about leadership and career topics.
I am also sharing additional research results I have been conducting to get better insights on trending leadership topics.
The Power Of Saying No
August 2022
Who enjoys saying no? If you raise your hand, then you are one of the few! Most people don’t enjoy saying no, it’s even fair to say they dread those moments. They might end up agreeing to something as it seems easier than saying no in that moment. Afterwards, it leads to feelings of frustration, resentment, or disappointment to name just a few. How can we turn this around? We need to turn saying no into a conscious act and leverage the power of saying no instead! The power of saying no allows us to live in our values and integrity.
Career Guidance – How To Change Your Job Function
June 2022
Dear Coach Hanna,
I have been working in accounting for about ten years and want to move into HR as I feel very passionate about people. I also think this would suit me better. My HR experience is rather limited; I interviewed a few people for accounting roles and took an online course but never worked in an HR role. Now, I wonder if I am just a dreamer. On top of that, I cannot afford to start with the lowest entry position as I have kids and a mortgage. Should I just let it go?
Thanks so much for sharing and being open about your fears. First of all, I need to applaud you for being a dreamer! Isn’t it wonderful to have dreams? If I granted you one free wish, what would you wish for? I believe there is only one way to find out whether dreams can come true. To quote Nike “Just do it!”.
Ask Leadership & Career Coach Hanna ‒ Why Am I Not Happy At Work?
May 2022
Dear Coach Hanna,
I’m always stressed about work and am unhappy in my current position. I feel drained at the end of every day. I don’t seem to be able to pinpoint, though, what makes it such an awful experience for me. Can you help?
Thanks, Sarah, for sharing. What a reflective question! I acknowledge you for not jumping to conclusions, e.g. “I need to change jobs asap”, and being open to reflect on what’s working for you and what’s not. Understanding the drivers of your unhappiness will allow you to build a sound game plan to improve your situation sustainably going forward.
Leadership Spotlight: Insights and Potential
December 2021
This international survey of leaders with staff responsibilities was performed in August-September 2021 by Hanna Herbst and Andrew Mountfield to get insights on leadership during a global pandemic. Results indicate a high level of positive leadership behaviors, aimed to increase engagement, delegate and distribute responsibility and recognize and reward performance.
However, the survey identified factors that point to staff considering quitting:
Individuals complaining about work more than usual
Falls in performance by otherwise productive staff members
Leaders’ intuition that a member of staff may be questioning whether they’re in the right job
The survey concludes with a structured offering to address the challenge of a far higher level of resignations than before the crisis.
Why Company Values Matter More Than You Might Think
October 2021
As a management consultant and life coach, I had the opportunity to work with many companies across industries on the one hand and with individuals suffering from toxic work environments on the other hand. The correlation between company values and employee satisfaction stood out time again and again and it directly impacts whether employees resign and look for new opportunities.