Author Archives: John Stepper

About John Stepper

Driving adoption of collaboration and social media platforms at Deutsche Bank. (Opinions here are my own.)

“So she posted her solution online, and then…”

Posted on May 18, 2013

If you watch TED talks, you’ll hear this phrase over and over and over again. People who are aspiring to make a difference will share their work online so others can use it and improve on it. Yet it’s a phrase … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Social Business | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A better way to identify and develop talented people

Posted on May 11, 2013

One of the biggest tragedies of modern management is our approach to finding and developing talented people. For recruiting, we use top schools and other brokers to identify the talent for us. For people already inside the firm, we construct … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Social Business | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Posted on May 4, 2013

I’ve worked in banks for over 20 years and understand the range of issues people have with them. This week, though, I participated in an event that was unambiguously good. It was something that made me particularly proud to work … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

The best innovation program isn’t a program at all

Posted on April 27, 2013

Despite 1000s of years of evolution and countless books and studies on human motivation, we’re still using the Innovation Program and it’s cousin, the Suggestion Box, to inspire people to create change. These devices – and the general “let’s offer … Continue reading →

Posted in Management, Social Business | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Social media at work. Really?

Posted on April 20, 2013

Imagine you’re a salesperson at a big global firm and you’re paid well into 6 figures. You’re at your office, about to call a client, and you want to research her first. Who’s she connected to? Where has she worked … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Business | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Working out loud when you’re looking for a new career

Posted on April 13, 2013

Suppose you’re looking to do something new. Maybe you don’t enjoy what you’re doing or you got laid off and want to try something else. What would you do? How would you discover what you like and the relevant opportunities … Continue reading →

Posted in Self awareness and improvement, Social Business, Working out loud | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Solving the recognition paradox

Posted on April 6, 2013

Every year, we send out employee surveys and, every year, we discover employees aren’t as engaged as we’d like. And yet every year we neglect to do one of the cheapest, easiest, and most effective things we can do to … Continue reading →

Posted in Management | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Career Day

Posted on March 30, 2013

Last week, I was at my son’s middle school for Career Day. I struggled a bit as I thought of how to describe what I do and whether it would be relevant to 11- and 13-year olds. Could I show … Continue reading →

Posted in Self awareness and improvement | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Stepping off the hedonic treadmill

Posted on March 23, 2013

Something was wrong. It was a crisp, clear September night. I was walking along the Hudson River, heading home through the park after a nice evening  with friends. And I was unhappy. Instead of focusing on a beautiful walk home … Continue reading →

Posted in Self awareness and improvement | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Working out loud: my own story

Posted on March 16, 2013

“You should tell that story more.” I was having lunch with a friend, talking about how I wound up in my current role. I describe my job as “making work more effective and fulfilling”. But there was no such job … Continue reading →

Posted in Self awareness and improvement, Social Business, Working out loud | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments