Tag: disruptive leadership

Does AI make hiring better or just faster? – What are we missing?

Paul Wagenaar

AI can make hiring faster. But faster doesn’t necessarily mean better.

As employers and job seekers increasingly use AI to navigate the hiring process, we may be creating an unintended arms race, one where both sides become better at optimizing for the system rather than discovering genuine compatibility.

The real opportunity isn’t to use AI to replace human thinking. It is to use it to challenge our assumptions, expose our blind spots, and help us recognize people the traditional hiring system might overlook.

The question isn’t whether we will use AI in hiring. We already are. How do we use it better.

The Silence Told Me Everything I Needed to Know – What happens when honesty disappears inside an organization

Paul Wagenaar

Everyone in the room knew the truth. I had heard it in conversations, one-on-one, behind closed doors. But when it was time to say it out loud, to stand behind it, there was nothing. No questions. No pushback.

Just silence. That’s when it hit me: culture isn’t defined by what people say in private. It’s defined by what they’re willing to risk saying when it actually matters.

Shine a Light on the Darkness: Seeing Through Misinformation and Media Noise

Paul Wagenaar

Most of what we see isn’t designed to inform us, it’s designed to move us.

Not toward truth, but toward reaction.

The real skill isn’t knowing everything, it’s knowing when to pause, question, and look a little closer before deciding what’s real.

Inside the Interview – Part 2: What Happens When a Hire Goes Wrong

Paul Wagenaar

Most managers hate admitting when a hire isn’t working out.

So they delay the conversation.

They hope the problem fixes itself.

Or they quietly tolerate issues that affect the whole team.

But ignoring a bad fit rarely solves anything. Sooner or later every leader faces the same reality: not every hire works out.

In the latest article in my Inside the Interview series, I talk about what good managers actually do when hiring goes wrong, and how to handle the situation professionally, fairly, and responsibly.

“Seasonal Home Care Through Attention, Rhythm, and Practical Wisdom”

Paul Wagenaar

Homes speak quietly. This is a longer post, I know, but it’s worth five unhurried minutes. Drawing on witchcraft philosophy and generations of folk wisdom, “Burping Your House” explores how paying attention through the seasons can prevent bigger problems later. Blending practical Canadian home care with mindful observation, it’s a reminder that care, timing, and gratitude are a kind of everyday magic.

Atypical – Just Another Word for Discrimination?

Paul Wagenaar

Point of view … perspective … life experience … and what we learn each day. The more I learn about other people, their challenges, and their resilience, the more I am determined to help illuminate what many of us do not see. Please take a few minutes to read this post and to share it; the people in all our communities who live with disabilities and barriers could really use our help.

Why Our Current Interview Practices Are Unfair

Paul Wagenaar

I believe our current system of interviewing people is flawed. People who are able to answer questions confidently and quickly have an advantage, even though they may not be the best applicant for the position. As an employer or as a job seeker, there are things we can all do differently … this is a short guide to just what we can change.

Inclusive Hiring Series – Part 1 – ASD

Paul Wagenaar

This is a brief guide, the first of a series of guides; this one is intended to help employers learn about and realize how much people who are autistic or otherwise neurodivergent can contribute to their organizations and businesses. It is not a comprehensive research paper; rather, it is a simple guide based on the personal experiences of job seekers, employers who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and other anecdotal information I have gleaned.

Your help, understanding, and willingness is needed.

Job Seeking Series

Paul Wagenaar

Did you know that 70-80% of the jobs available are not advertised online? That means the people who only look online for jobs have a lot of competition.

This is a number that seems to be all over the internet and even if it is only partially true; how do you access them? “Word of mouth,” and networking. What if you don’t really understand networking or would like some tips? Keep reading.