Steve’s Talks

Steven Cesare, Ph.D. has more than 25 years of human resources experience.  Currently, Steven is a Principal Consultant with the Harvest Group, a nation-wide landscape consulting firm, with four regional offices, emphasizing improved organizational performance through operational efficiency, entrepreneurial sales and marketing techniques, and a straightforward approach to human resources excellence. He can be reached at 760-685-3800 or via email.

Performance Management:  How to Motivate, Coach, Discipline, and Terminate Employees the Right Way

Dealing with problem employees is one of the most stressful tasks for managers to perform.  They often lack the skill to do it correctly.  They frequently don’t understand the legal considerations associated with it.  They seldom think about its impact on the employees, customers, and the organization.  They simply don’t want to do it.

But it has to be done; and it has to be done right.  So, let’s do it the right way.

By doing performance management the right way, the manager will experience less stress, the company will be more productive, and the employees will be less likely to file or win a wrongful termination lawsuit.  This presentation provides simple, applied information on how to motivate employees to improve their job performance, how to coach employees in a constructive manner, and how to conduct disciplinary meetings and terminations legally, fairly, and effectively.

A Building Block Approach to Human Resources:  A Step-by-Step Guide for Building an Effective Human Resources Function

Whether a landscaping company has 10 employees, or 50 employees, or even a couple of hundred employees, it must have a human resources function that is simple, legal, and results-oriented.  Regardless of organizational size, the human resources plan must be developed according to systematic best practices that minimize legal liability, ensure efficiency, and promote sustained company success.

This presentation offers a step-by-step guide to build an effective human resources function in any company based on professional fundamentals, legal compliance, and organizational goals.  By focusing on the fundamentals, and avoiding the bureaucratic distractions, the human resources function can have a value-added effect on the company.  The information contained in this presentation is based on best practices from various landscaping companies throughout the green industry, and will be shared in a simple, easy to follow, and applied manner.

The Leadership Hierarchy:  How to Leverage, Develop, and Optimize the Leadership Talent Throughout an Organization

Leadership is the most important aspect of any company.  Effective leadership is solely responsible for achieving profitable goals, making correct decisions, and positioning the company for mature growth.  Ineffective leadership typically lacks a plan, makes reactive rather than proactive decisions, and spends more time working in the business than working on the business.  It’s easy to see how important leadership quality is to a company’s results, status, and viability.

This presentation offers a simple and practical overview of leadership within the landscaping industry.  Whether it be Foremen, Account Managers, or owners, their individual and collective leadership skills must be defined properly, developed appropriately, and evaluated effectively to reach their leadership potential.  The content of this presentation focuses on how all levels of leadership within a company must be coordinated, balanced, and integrated to ensure they each contribute to organizational success in a meaningful manner.