Twitter: your CRM & marketing channel. It's about more than just followers...Over the past 12 months in my twitter contributions I have often included tips to help those involved in using twitter for their business (marketing). I often get requests to publish a full set - so here is a list of my current thinking about using twitter as a tool for building relationships for future business. In no particular order (other than alphabetical)...Add value - share interesting or useful … [Read more...] about Twitter as a marketing & CRM tool
Personal and business goal setting – where are the lines?
Knowing the route can be as valuable as the goalThis morning as I sat clearing out the spam from the email box, I noticed an update from one of the LinkedIn groups I am a member of. Its title was: "Why are you running?" In the article the author shared their story of some thoughts they had while out on a regular run, highlighting that this was a great strategy for creating thinking time. This all come about because the individual was reflecting on the question "why do I run?". His own … [Read more...] about Personal and business goal setting – where are the lines?
The Robot will see you now – is your job safe from AI? #HRblog
Artificial Intelligence (AI), meets relatable robot meets human job: The robot will see you now (counsellor) If you missed the stunning documentary from Channel 4 last week, then it is a piece of must-see television if you are involved in HR and business.Jess is an AI robot designed to have human-like discussions and interactions. Her body movements and eye movements appear to mimic a sentient being. In the programme, it appeared that people built a relationship and learnt to trust her … [Read more...] about The Robot will see you now – is your job safe from AI? #HRblog
What is Performance Management? CIPD Research
Performance Management - why do we do it? The term performance management has been with us for some time, developed out of "appraisals", Performance Management remains one of the consistently used phrases in the human resources and management field. Recently the CIPD has conducted some research into performance management recently and the responses from 507 people are interesting.This short article looks at three of the outputs from that research and explores the potential meaning for HR, … [Read more...] about What is Performance Management? CIPD Research
Creative thinking exercise 2
Creative thinking exercise - something to fire the brain cells Switching On The Lateral Thinking There are three switches outside a closed room.There are three lamps inside the room.You can flip the switches as much as you want while the door is closed, but then you must enter just once and determine which switch is connected to which lamp.How can you do it? For the answer to the creative thinking exercise scroll down... ;) The answer to this … [Read more...] about Creative thinking exercise 2
33 Ways to develop an Innovative Culture in your org.
Ways to develop a Culture of Innovation Many organisations strive for a competitive edge, an advantage over their competitors to help ensure their sustainability. Innovation is one such way, but for too long many organisations have concentrated on developing product and ignored the possibilities of innovation as a culture. Having an innovative friendly culture can harness the innovative and creative capacities of the entire workforce (and your customers and suppliers) to your advantage. But it … [Read more...] about 33 Ways to develop an Innovative Culture in your org.
DEEPLIST Analysis – marketing acronym
DEEPLIST analysis – an alternative to the PESTLE analysis Is DEEPLIST better than PEST or PESTLE? or more of the same?DEEPLIST - Demographic, Economic, Ecologic/ Environmental, Political, Legal, Informational, Social and TechnologyIn 2000 Paul N Finlay had a book published called “Strategic management: an introduction to business and corporate strategy”. In this book Finlay used the Acronym DEEPLIST as a way of prompting readers of the key areas that needed to be explored when looking at … [Read more...] about DEEPLIST Analysis – marketing acronym
Twitter as a marketing tool for SMEs
Low cost marketing for smaller businesses on TwitterBudgets are tight, time is short and the emphasis for many businesses is sales, sales, sales. And this is correct - for today... but what about the sales next week, month, year?Gaining sales from existing customers is by far the most effective cost per sale according to much of the research, however gaining access to markets is getting harder. In the UK once upon a time it was easy:2 commercial TV stations Few commercial radio … [Read more...] about Twitter as a marketing tool for SMEs
Fad surfing – the worst form of change management
Chasing the shiny new things Last week in a tweet I mentioned fad-surfing and some of my followers were not aware of this and requested an article - so here it is! Fad surfers are the management or leadership equivalent of the magpie, they love collecting shiny new things from other people. A management or leadership style where there is a lot of sizzle but little substanceWhat is "fad surfing"?In simple terms Adopting one fashionable management style or strategy after another. The … [Read more...] about Fad surfing – the worst form of change management
Bullying at work, recognising it & its impact on innovation
Bullying at work on the increase Or so the reports and surveys tell us. What we do know is that where bullying exists, trust does not. We also know that innovation requires openness and trust. So what do we really have in our organisations - innovation OR bullying?Are you being bullied at work – or are you a work place bully?As employers we have a responsibility to our employees, customers and suppliers for them to be respected and not bullied in any way. To deliver on that … [Read more...] about Bullying at work, recognising it & its impact on innovation
Why can’t people follow instructions? #changemanagement #HRblog
Why can't people follow instructions? Or maybe more accurately why won't people follow instructions?I run an online community group and peoples inability to follow instructions cause a problem recently. It got me thinking about how we implement change, and why change management programs and initiatives often fail to meet expectations.In the worlds of project management, software updates and software deployment (CRM, ERP etc), training and in fact any change management situation where we … [Read more...] about Why can’t people follow instructions? #changemanagement #HRblog
Technology based learning – does it work (e-learning)?
Using Technology based platforms to support learning - does it work? Increasingly the use of technology to support or in some cases to deliver learning is on the increase.While reading a post on one of the forums this morning I came across a debate about the willingness for "trainers" to adopt technology to support or deliver learning.The author of the piece (Martin Addison from VideoArts) cited the following: Trainers don’t have the stomach for more preparation Here, the allegation is that … [Read more...] about Technology based learning – does it work (e-learning)?
A to Z of leadership
A to Z of leadership ideas Over the past few months I have slowly been releasing an A to Z of leadership tips/ ideas/ thoughts. I have been asked a few time for that list to be published in one place. The origional source for the list is below, our role was to find the list, adapt it to the 100+ characters that twitter could handle. A - Accessibility-find out what is really going on by getting out there to talk to everyone at every level B - Brains-half of the brains of the world are female … [Read more...] about A to Z of leadership
Employees leave their boss not their job!
Are our managers leaking talent, or retaining it? While responding to a question on a network group I belong to about employee motivation and engagement, I recalled some research about the fact that people left bosses not their jobs.Then I came across a recently published piece of research carried out by a the Florida State University that clearly suggests employees leave their bosses not their jobs.Matching employees to managers is an element of recruitment which is rarely done (except at … [Read more...] about Employees leave their boss not their job!
Universities prepare people academically but what about for work? #job #jobtips
This week I was the proud Dad watching his daughter at her graduation ceremony. She was one of many that graduated from a Gold rated university, She gained a first class honours degree. Won the faculty prize. To top it all in one of the most difficult subjects at University - Physics.Whilst at the ceremony something very strange struck me. Each graduate entered the stage, they walked across the stage to the centre. Shook hands with the Vice Chancellor. Then walked further across the stage … [Read more...] about Universities prepare people academically but what about for work? #job #jobtips
Strategic development: Are we missing the point?
Strategic development: Are we missing the point?As developers, consultants and change agents, we often talk about strategic programmes and actions, but are we taking the appropriate first steps?This article looks at the steps we take and explores if we can be more strategic and add more value. IntroductionOften we know where we want to get to, or at least have a good idea, but often as the old saying goes: “If I was going there, I would not start from here.”That is a very logical … [Read more...] about Strategic development: Are we missing the point?
SWOT or SOAR? – Strategy and tools in business
Strategy and tools in business - To SWOT or SOAR? Over the years a lot of good and bad things have been said by many HR and consulting practitioners about the SWOT analysis. Certainly it is not the most robust of tools in its basic form. But when used in the way it was originally developed, it is a powerful methodology and framework. Some people have argued that it is time to move on from the SWOT analysis to other tools and techniques. In this piece we explore SOAR an Appreciative Inquiry … [Read more...] about SWOT or SOAR? – Strategy and tools in business
Before Training Needs Analysis (TNA) – Task analysis
Small steps to training needs analysisA "job task analysis" is widely recognised as the foundation of successful training. Before managers can train their employees, they must decide what the individuals need to be able to do.A task analysis breaks down a complex task into its components—that is, its "knowledge that", "knowledge what" and its "knowledge how".Before conducting any training needs analysis we need to understand the task we are asking the individual(s) to do. Often if we … [Read more...] about Before Training Needs Analysis (TNA) – Task analysis
10 steps to building relationships for effective change management
In this article, I will share my 10 steps to building relationships for effective change management. 10 Tips for building lasting business relationships and making change management more effective.Go back 10 years and change management was more about conformance, tracking technical changes and processes. Thank goodness that has changed.Today Change Management is more about preparing the people in the organisation for the change. Working with the psychology of change and … [Read more...] about 10 steps to building relationships for effective change management
What is persona mapping in change management?
What is persona mapping in change management? We can use Persona mapping to help understand the needs and wants of a target audience or market. Persona maps can ensure we meet the needs of our stakeholders. A Persona map is a fictional character. At the same time, it needs to be a realistic profile of our target customer. They reflect characteristics like job or role title, personal attributes, goals, motivations, attitudes etc.For any given product or service there … [Read more...] about What is persona mapping in change management?
