Results Only Work Environment: How ending nine to five can banish wasted potential November 18, 2014 During the industrial age, it made sense, in terms of productivity and output, for employees to be at work for a set number of hours. The workday often revolved around static machinery and, for companies, broken or inefficient machines were the biggest costs. In today’s knowledge-based economy, for many firms, it is now human [...]
With Facebook at Work on the cards, is online networking really useful? November 17, 2014 News broke yesterday that Facebook is set to develop a new version of its social network – for the workplace. “Facebook at Work” will enable users to connect with contacts and communicate with colleagues, rivalling sites like LinkedIn and Google Plus. A report by the FT said the site will look a lot like [...]
Why your expense account could turn into a career-killer November 16, 2014 Don’t jeopardise your position by splurging on that plush hotel room. How tempting is it to claim on expenses for that extra round of champagne cocktails? Or what about expensing an extra night at the Shalimar after that, oh so tedious, conference? Or even booking a cab on the company account without approval? [...]
Leadership goes wrong when you just don’t listen November 13, 2014 Always jumping in with the solution won’t curry favour with staff. Unsurprisingly, some of the most inspiring leaders I have met are also the most skilled listeners I know. They empathise, even if they don’t agree. They make me feel like they care about me and my views, and that makes me care about [...]
Psychometrics: Behavioural tests are a secret weapon for any business November 12, 2014 Behavioural tests are vital to productivity. In the world of work, success comes from the crucial combination of individuals having the right skills for the role, and also a working style that matches their business environment. While a CV is useful for determining the former, how can businesses gain an additional understanding of [...]
Success overkill: Unusual lessons for businesses November 11, 2014 “Last mover advantage” may be the only way to reach the top. We are inundated with advice on success – what it looks like, and how you get there. Famous quotations applied to business range from the frank (“if you’re going through hell, keep going,” said Winston Churchill) to the fanciful (“all our dreams [...]
Why Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has a business case for T-shirts November 10, 2014 His Q&A last week revealed some unlikely lessons for leaders. Facebook staff are treated every Friday to a Q&A session with founder Mark Zuckerberg. And last week, that privilege was extended to Facebook users, with a small crowd gathering to volley questions at Zuckerberg and his leadership team. Holding court for just over an [...]
Lessons from the mentoring experts Credit Suisse November 9, 2014 Personal enrichment and increased job satisfaction are often given as reasons for being both a mentor and mentee. But being either can also have a measurable impact on your career. A 2006 comparative study by research firm Gartner found that both parties are 20 per cent more likely to get a pay rise than colleagues [...]
Playing sport boosts your chances in the City by improving your teamworking skills November 6, 2014 Playing rugby can help to improve your teamwork skills and demonstrate discipline. A huge opportunity is on its way. News that ITV is bumping some of its major shows in favour of rugby World Cup matches next year is an indication of the chance to create a real legacy for the sport. The potential [...]
How to blag a job interview or presentation: Tips for covering up gaping holes in your knowledge November 5, 2014 Cryptic metaphors, analogies and banal facts will help you to blag it. Excruciating, idiotic, shameful and hilarious – some of the words that have been used to describe CNBC host Joe Kernen’s on-air grilling of Martin Shanahan, chief executive of development agency IDA Ireland, this week. “You have euros in Ireland?”, Kernen boomed, before [...]