Jo McDermott

Personal Change

  • Are You A “Flat-Tire-HIPO?”

    What Is A Flat-Tire-HIPO? You know those people, those really, really talented people? Those people who REALLY get things done or those people who can spot the 2 numbers in a 20 page spreadsheet that have issues. Or those who… Continue reading

  • Look At Your Organization Through New Eyes. Every Day.

    Get Out Your ‘Spidey-Sense’ Remember when you were new in your organization? Remember the things you noticed? Remember the things you thought? You noticed what worked and what didn’t seem to be working. You notice who had the power. You… Continue reading

    Look At Your Organization Through New Eyes. Every Day.

  • Think Your Job Is Secure? Think Again. PLEASE.

    Think They Can’t Do Without You? There are lots of reasons that we think we are indispensable at work.  We know more than anyone else.  We’ve been there longer.  We have a close interdependent relationship with the boss.  We’re way… Continue reading

  • What I Know Now That I Wish I Knew Then

    I have a very clever friend, Deb Graham, founder of ACTStrategic.com, who recently wrote a great article.  She asked several women to tell her what they wish they had know at the beginning of their career, and then she synthesized it… Continue reading

  • Twenty Years Ago

    Twenty years ago tomorrow the worst thing that I could ever imagine happened to me.  My husband died.  Twenty years provides great perspective.  When it happened, I couldn’t imagine surviving one year, let alone twenty years.  I was in shock… Continue reading

  • What If Today Were ‘The First Day’?

    As a consultant, I’ve had lots of first days.  I start with a company and I have an open mind about what the problems are and about what it will take to solve them.  I am excited and ambitious about what… Continue reading

  • If You’ve Been In Your Job 10 Years, Wake Up. Read This. In Fact, Read This Even If You Haven’t Been In Your Job 10 Years.

    You’re too expensive If you’ve been in your job 10 years, you’re too expensive.  For the company.  I don’t mean that you personally aren’t worth the money you’re making.  I mean that you aren’t worth it to the company.  Think… Continue reading

  • Do You Ever Think About Your Legacy?

        This has been a tough week.  A dear friend’s husband had a stroke.  A young acquaintance died.  A friend lost a job.  Another friend had a baby girl. The juxtaposition of all these events has made me think… Continue reading

  • Fat People Aren’t Good Workers.

    I don’t really believe that fat people aren’t good workers.  In fact, I am a fat people (or at least I used to be) and I happen to think that I am a good worker.  There are a lot of… Continue reading

  • Reactions To My Discrimination Post

    Reactions to Reactions To My Discrimination Post I had readers respond to my Are They Discriminating Against You?  Probably. blog post in a couple of different ways.  First, one reader challenged me about “accepting” discrimination.  He believed that I should… Continue reading