Hills Associates

20 Nov 2020

Thanksgiving weekend has typically been a time to gather with family and friends, indulge in sumptuous festive meals and enjoy time off from work, school and the usual day-to-day grind. But this year, our Thanksgiving tables will most likely include a laptop with our loved ones joining via Zoom instead of by our sides. Yet amidst […]

13 Aug 2020

Summer is rapidly drawing to a close and Labor Day is approaching without our typical end-of-summer rituals.  No big barbeques with friends and neighbors, no back-to-school shopping sprees, and backyard socially-distanced cocktail hours are no longer novel.  Our zoom creativity is waning and virtual get-togethers have lost their luster.  As a result, you and your […]

22 Jul 2020

A recent Gallup workplace poll of over 10,000 employees identified four basic needs that people look for in their leaders:  trust, compassion, stability and hope.  During these unprecedented times of uncertainty, providing hope is your most valuable leadership asset.  But in the midst of staff reductions and deep budget cuts, how do we support our […]

22 Jul 2020

We’re four months into our new work from home reality, with no clear end in sight.  Our employees are exhausted, distracted, overwhelmed by uncertainty and anxiety about what the future holds.   Management skills have been tested as we’ve all been thrust into a new work paradigm with little warning or time to prepare.  A new […]

22 Jul 2020

Planning an off-site for our teams is a summer ritual for many.  It’s a chance to kick back at a scenic spot, reflect on the past year, thank everyone for their hard work, learn together, and plan for the year ahead.  In our new remote work world, should we still plan a summer retreat or […]

19 Dec 2019

My father was a brilliant example of a highly skillful and effective leader. In his quiet way, he led by example, was a strategic thinker and could redirect groups to explore and, ultimately, approve alternative decision paths. Listening intently, appreciating nuance, considering both spoken and un-spoken reactions, analyzing all dimensions of an issue, my father […]

01 Nov 2019

Apple picking, harvest fairs and everything pumpkin spice. Autumn is in full gear and that means the winter holiday season will soon be upon us. Stretching from Thanksgiving through January, it’s an important time to acknowledge your team’s hard work and have some fun. Working with my colleagues, Nanette Fridman and Faun Zarge, we’ve found […]

18 Oct 2019

Changing leaves, harvest fairs, apple picking and pumpkin spice lattes are quintessential autumnal traditions. But, if you’re the parent of a high school senior, autumn is the season of college applications. This rite of passage, anxiously anticipated since your child’s first day of preschool, is finally here. The stress level around your kitchen table reaches […]

24 Jun 2019

1. Plan. Plan. Plan. Tee your retreat up for success by thinking through the logistics well in advance. Create a small retreat planning committee and assign roles for pre, during and post-retreat follow-up. Be mindful of personalities, generations, and work styles. 2. Set clear goals. What is your team hoping to accomplish? What topics are […]

21 Jun 2019

Summer is finally here. This means longer days, better weather and….any day your boss will ask you if you’ve planned the summer retreat! For many, retreats conjure images of ropes courses, poolside drinks with coworkers or long days spent in windowless conference rooms. The pressure to deliver a day that is both productive and fun […]