"I Don't mind that our boss is so young, but I do object to mandatory testing" This of course is just one version of what could have been going on. I would love to here what you think they were saying, add your one liner below! … [Read more...] about RapidBI Daily Business Cartoon #1
Top five trends from CES 2014
Las Vegas is not just home to bright lights, glittering casinos and stunning coastlines. Every January it plays host to the International Consumer Electronics Show (commonly referred to as CES), which unveils a host of mind-blowing gadgets, clever updates and crazy concepts to the people. It's an exciting display of imagination, creativity and competition, so what were the top five trends from CES 2014 and what can we expect throughout the coming year?Convertibles and hybrid laptopsThis … [Read more...] about Top five trends from CES 2014
Breaking News… It’s Performance Review Time
Appraisals.. I thought it time I mentioned... In thousands of companies around the world its performance review and appraisal time again. That annual ritual where the objectives are often dig out deep from in a draw, the dust blown off, and the one-to-one meeting held to review recent history. Strange…but true... There is something strange about most performance reviews or appraisals, no matter how well you know your boss or team member there is a certain nervousness or anticipation about the … [Read more...] about Breaking News… It’s Performance Review Time
LinkedIn groups and your reputation or goto jail!
This week I came across this post, which neatly summarises some of the difficulties you can get into using LinkedIn. Did you know for example that making a "mistake" in one LinkedIn group can cost you your ability to post in ANY group? Interestingly there are some site wide implications for actions, and its worth a read for anyone using LinkedIn groups. You are in the hands of group owners and moderators! Pay particular attention to this part: SWAM’ed: You posted something somewhere in some … [Read more...] about LinkedIn groups and your reputation or goto jail!
Securing the Workplace with a Unified Video Management System
Security is undoubtedly one of the foremost considerations when starting up a business, regardless of nature and size. The main purpose of having efficient video surveillance storage and management solutions is protecting the business and the area it encompasses. However, customers and site workers can also benefit from being assured of their safety. Business owners and executives can also monitor their employees’ work-related activities more effectively through a functional video management … [Read more...] about Securing the Workplace with a Unified Video Management System
How Thin Clients Help Streamline IT Management
Desktop virtualization opens up a new world of IT flexibility as far as businesses are concerned and thin client technologies play an important role in streamlining many of the associated processes.Thanks in part to thin clients from Dell, managing desktop computers and the applications being used within an organization need no longer be the power-hungry, data intensive, costly and often time consuming processes they once were.Thin Clients – the AdvantagesThin clients function as … [Read more...] about How Thin Clients Help Streamline IT Management
70:20:10 an effective learning strategy?
In recent years the 70:20:10 approach to workplace learning has become increasingly popular. But is it about more than just blending on and off the job training?Common descriptions say that it is 70% on the job, 20% coaching and 10% from courses, but is that really the case? And is it a universal tool? History of the model The 70:20;10 model is usually credited with developing or popularizing this approach were Morgan McCall and his colleagues working at the Center for Creative Leadership … [Read more...] about 70:20:10 an effective learning strategy?
If you think training is expensive
"“If you think training is expensive, try ignorance”. Peter Drucker" Training can be in many forms, on-the-job, off-the-job etc. But not doing that training can have costs that as a manager and business we could be paying for many years. For example, if you have a small team, having one person trained to help and support people, may be all that is needed. But what happens when that person is sick or worse, they leave! How do you train your people then? If you do not train, then using systems … [Read more...] about If you think training is expensive
New Year Resolutions, into 2014 and beyond
New years resolutions, many of us make them, but do we keep to them? Are they realistic? Recently i case across this cartoon on mashable, from DogHousediaries, and it reminded\ me that often we set New Year Resolutions based on "The Plan", and not on the considered reality According to Forbes 40% of us will make a New Years Resolution, and of that only 8% of people that make a resolution, keep it. Looking forwards, according to research by University of Scranton. Journal of … [Read more...] about New Year Resolutions, into 2014 and beyond
Organisation is the Route to Success in the Business World
Businesses are regularly swamped with customer details, deliveries, product information and accounts, as well strategies and future plans. It is so easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer volume of information that surrounds a company, which is why organisation is essential.How can a business function properly if its data is a mess and its employees are basically working blind?As soon as poor organisation skills take hold the mess it creates begins to grow and becomes a difficult job … [Read more...] about Organisation is the Route to Success in the Business World
Credibility of a facilitator or trainer #leadership #trainingtip
One often cited phrase in train the trainer materials is the phrase “Establish credibility of facilitator”. What does this mean? At one level it asks the facilitator or trainer to “showcase” why they should be there, their credentials, experience etc. At another it is a justification or excuse as to “why you should listen to me”. Sure we need to trust and believe the person at the front, but is that for us to establish credibility, or is that for the participants to do? This reminds me of the … [Read more...] about Credibility of a facilitator or trainer #leadership #trainingtip
Bell Curve for Performance Management – effective tool or poor #leadership let out?
What is a “Bell Curve”? A bell curve is the shape of a statistical set of data that results in the shape resembling a “bell”, sometimes known as a “normal distribution” curve. It is a way of displaying data to understand strengths & weaknesses in terms of frequency. It is used in many situations, not just performance management. How does Bell Curve performance management work? If you have 10 people in a team, you rank people compared to others in the team on a set of common objectives or … [Read more...] about Bell Curve for Performance Management – effective tool or poor #leadership let out?
Aligning HR to the Organization
We have a perception problem in HR the world over. We are often seen as the function internally that is used to “outsource” the hiring and firing of people from the operations side of the business. Some would say doing the dirty work of managers. Human Resources is supposed to add value to an organization. Sure undertaking tasks that one manager may not do very often can help improve consistency, but it's about much more than that. If a manager hires their own people, they have a vested … [Read more...] about Aligning HR to the Organization
Blogging for Leaders
Recently I have been involved in a number of discussions about blogging in the context of leaders and managers, and what it is and is not. This got me thinking on how many people should be blogging (internally or externally) but are not. I will start by saying that there are as many forms of blogs are there are bloggers (people that write blogs)… so there is no right or wrong. What is important is for each writer to be authentic and honest to themselves and their readers. Write from the … [Read more...] about Blogging for Leaders
Crowdsourcing, risk and the new rules required
or what to do when crowdfunding goes wrong?If anyone has seen the news over the last 12 months, there has been a raise in a new phenomenon – crowd sourcing. This is where the power of the crowd is used to help fund projects, that often conventional funding would not support, or for people without the connections to conventional funding. Definition of CROWDSOURCING : the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of … [Read more...] about Crowdsourcing, risk and the new rules required
Tip for Trainers – a recent compendium #trainingtip
Over the last few months I have been putting short tips for trainers up on twitter, I thought it was about time I collated them here. Not in any particular order, there I hope will provide some reflection in your training practice: #trainingtip Tips to be a more effective trainer http://sfy.co/tJPn #storify #trainingtip #greatlearning #trainingtip when covering technical material:regularly stop, ask specific questions to named participants to confirm understanding #trainingtip … [Read more...] about Tip for Trainers – a recent compendium #trainingtip
Raising Awareness: Do Awareness Months Work?
One recent example is Hearing Awareness Month, which took place in September. Championed by hearing care provider Hidden Hearing, they offered 20,000 free hearing tests in an attempt to raise awareness of hearing loss and encourage anyone unsure of their hearing ability to seek help. Hearing loss in the UK affects one in six people in some way with varying degrees of impairment, but many can be treated using hearing aids or other medical treatments. The biggest hurdle is getting … [Read more...] about Raising Awareness: Do Awareness Months Work?
The Components of a Good CV
Applying for a new job is one of the hardest tasks you have to do, mainly because it’s so important to you emotionally as well as personally. If you can get the application right, then you’ve done a lot of the hard work that goes into sealing a new job – the rest, obviously, is down to your performance in the interview. The search process can be long and drawn out which often affects your morale, but on other occasions you might find something very quickly, it’s all down to luck. Quite often, … [Read more...] about The Components of a Good CV
They’ll Eat Out of Your Hand – Book Review #Leadership
They'll Eat Out of Your Hand If You Know What to Feed Them, is a new book by Dr. Laura Hills This book looks at what the author says are the "30 Essential Communication Skills that Give Highly Successful Career Professionals Their Edge". Split in to six parts, following a 6 point communications mode, Hills provides a well documented journey for developing professionals. Taking a holistic approach Hills takes the reader on a journey through not just one area of communications skills, but and … [Read more...] about They’ll Eat Out of Your Hand – Book Review #Leadership
Leadership – reality or smoke and mirrors?
Leadership does it exist in the way HR and business aspires, or is it just smoke and mirrors? Let me start by saying that I do believe that leadership is different from management. That there are many Leaders in the world, and they make a big difference to people around them. That in almost every business and organization there are undoubtedly leaders... jut not where business owners, shareholders, HR and others expect them. What do I mean? In politics and public life there are leaders, … [Read more...] about Leadership – reality or smoke and mirrors?
