The Importance of Employee Engagement Employee engagement is one of the key pillars on modern human resources. Through tools like Employee Engagement Surveys we can measure and note changes for the better.. or worse based upon decisions and actions taken in the way that we run our businesses.The infographic below was produced by the National Research Business Institute Inc (NBRI), out of some recent research into actions and behaviours of engaged and dis-engaged workers.Like the NBRI, … [Read more...] about The Importance of Employee Engagement #HR #CIPD
The Ultimate Test of a Real Business Blog and it’s Value
The ultimate test of a real blog and it's value to its readers is how valuable people find its contents.Do you blog on sites that are not your own? If so, then consider the following questions:Would you copy & paste the entire blog entry on to your own site? Would if you were a magazine editor include the blog as an article in the magazine?If your answer is no to either of these questions, then what you have written is not a blog. Of course, here I am talking about … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Test of a Real Business Blog and it’s Value
The Food Inspectors – BBC1 – How Clean/ Safe is it?
How clean are your hands? How safe is your food? The Food Inspectors Tonight (Wednesday 29 Feb 2012) on BBC1 viewers saw the first in a new series called The Food Inspectors (Available for 30 days to view on iplayer).One of the things the programme looks at is food hygiene, and food safety in general. This was the first of four shows.Dangers for the public when eating and buying food and drink out not only include bugs and bacteria, but fake booze which under some cirmstances can be … [Read more...] about The Food Inspectors – BBC1 – How Clean/ Safe is it?
Human Resources on Social Media in the UK #cipd #hr
Human Resources on Social Media in the UK There are a bewildering array of social media groups for HR professionals, with more seeking to join every day.Why should HR people use social media? Social media spaces/ groups provide a useful way for people often "disconnected" with others in their organisations to connect and share ideas, thoughts and challenges.It can be a great way of networking, but more importantly (IMHO) of solving problems.In her piece 10 Reasons HR Staff Need to … [Read more...] about Human Resources on Social Media in the UK #cipd #hr
Mobile or desk-bound?
Mobile or desk-bound? Some interesting data showing what might be coming...Certainly the way we access and use data is changing, but in light of the pace of change, this suggests not just a revolution in the toys we opt to use - but a change in the way we use them.This will have profound impacts for the policy makers (national, local and in firms), HR teams and IT departments, not least the lawyers looking at data security and IP/ copyright issues. … [Read more...] about Mobile or desk-bound?
Increase Communication Between Your Colleagues
Increase Communication Between Your Colleagues The pace of work is increasing, we have less people to do the same, if not more work, and the irony is that it is in times like this that we need to spend more time on smarter communications between our peopleIn basic terms people throughout organisations do not communicate with each other very well, be that managers, employees or the senior managers/ leaders.For a business (or any organisation) to run efficiently and effectively, people … [Read more...] about Increase Communication Between Your Colleagues
How Blogging can help Business Increase Sales
How Blogging Can Help Business Increase Sales Those of us that blog for business know this stuff works, but it is useful when we come across small prices of research which support and reinforce our actions.Interestingly while blogging for B2B (Business to Business) is not as effective as B2C (Business to Consumer) - it still has a significant impact on traffic and sales.What is not said however is the location of the blog. Is in on the site or off site? I suspect it is on site for this … [Read more...] about How Blogging can help Business Increase Sales
SoLoMo or SoEnCo – Which is the sustainable future?
SoLoMo or SoEnCo? Which is the sustainable future? Is it one, the other or are the very different things?SoLoMo Social, Local & Mobile - is certainly the "next big thing" but is it sustyainable, or a sign of the technology and social/ economic times we are in colliding. Is this just a part of societyies version of the centralise, decentralise approach?SoEnCo Social Media as a Social Enterprise Collaboration/ Co-operative approachNetworks and the way organisations are changing. the … [Read more...] about SoLoMo or SoEnCo – Which is the sustainable future?
Social media – hired or fired because of it?
Social media - hired or fired because of it? Public social media is now a part of many people's every day life, and as time goes by, increasingly it is being used as a tool against individuals. With many organisations publicly encouraging people to "go social" and often their customers wanting the opposite, it is only a matter of time before people are either "silenced" altogether - of firms and organisations will be outed for restrictive inappropriate behaviourThis research from Tribehr … [Read more...] about Social media – hired or fired because of it?
Change Curve Debunked?
Change Curve Debunked? Some time ago I read an interesting post by Rob Robson on the change curve at his blog (Now defunct) .This sparked some thoughts which I share below. Change Curve debunked... really? Rob asks is the Kubler Ross change curve an over simplification - yes of course... all models are over simplifications of reality - isn't that what they were created for, to take a complex theory and enable the PRINCIPLES to be more easily understood?He raises some … [Read more...] about Change Curve Debunked?
Our Technology Work Habits – are workers slack?
Our Technology Work Habits - are workers slack? It had to happen. 20 years ago most people were banned from using the office phone for private calls, then email come in, and only a few "lucky" people had it... then the internet.With many IT teams stopping 90% of users having general internet access. Today it is accessing specific sites that are most often blocked, namely social media related sites, and personal email sites.So we have moved from not being allowed to even use technology … [Read more...] about Our Technology Work Habits – are workers slack?
Why Must your Business go "Social"
Why Must your Business go "Social" Because I have been using social tools both to "do" business and to grow and market my business I believe it is a critical way forward, and yet almost every day and in many meetings I meet people that just "don't get it"They think of "social media" as Facebook and Twitter - but social is more than that - its about collaborating with the right people, at the right time to solve a business challenge of deliver a business opportunity.It's more about … [Read more...] about Why Must your Business go "Social"
Why not to trust an "independent" business adviser or mentor
Is a universal or multi tool as good at performing as individual specialist tools? Convenient yes, a long term solution... no It is true that no man is an island. When starting out in business as well as running and growing your business, quite simply you cannot do it on your own. You need trusted business advisers. But there is a problem. No one is truly "independent" no matter what their beliefs of education. Once a banker... always a banker Some years ago when I was working as a specialist … [Read more...] about Why not to trust an "independent" business adviser or mentor
Business Trend – Talent Management & Engagement
Business Trend - Talent Management & Engagement Whilst looking for some data on the needs of organizations, I came across this visualisation based on some data from Forum. Whilst not comprehensive or universal, some of the key points here resonated with some of the issues I have seen in clients recently.Forum asked business leaders what their biggest challenges will be over the next 2-3 years. This is what they said: talent shortage, ability of staff to lead change and increased … [Read more...] about Business Trend – Talent Management & Engagement
5 ways detect lying clients reading their facial cues
Reading facial cues Whilst looking for some images to illustrate an influencing course I am designing I came across this graphic.From its title "5 ways detect lying clients reading their facial cues" you would be led to believe that reading body language and facial cues is easy, but is it?Are these "actions" real or constructed? If real can they be masked or covered?Take the second image "I'm signing this off today" - maybe this is not because you have lost the deal but because the … [Read more...] about 5 ways detect lying clients reading their facial cues
Public sector sexism and the lost generation
Public sector sexism and the lost generation It's unusual for me to write about political issues, but last week I heard what in my mind is one of the worst cases of potential sexism in an institutional organisation for many years. I'm sure you have other examples, but here is mine.Is there Public sector sexism? Is it institutional? 2 years of her life wasted? "B" is 18, She has just completed a 2 year college course in animal management (diploma level 3 extended). She attained good … [Read more...] about Public sector sexism and the lost generation
Public sector sexism and the lost generation
Public sector sexism and the lost generation It's unusual for me to write about political issues, but last week I heard what in my mind is one of the worst cases of potential sexism in an institutional organisation for many years. I'm sure you have other examples, but here is mine. Wasted 2 years of her life? "B" is 18, She has just completed a 2 year college course in animal management (diploma level 3 extended). She attained good grades. She has a passion for animal of all sizes and off her … [Read more...] about Public sector sexism and the lost generation
Who are your Thought Leaders?
Who are your "Thought Leaders"? .. but before any of us can answer that we need to know What or who is a thought leader?According to the great research "god" Wikipedia:The term was coined in 1994 by Joel Kurtzman, editor-in-chief of the Booz Allen Hamilton magazine, Strategy & Business. "Thought leader" was used to designate interview subjects for that magazine who had business ideas that merited attention The definition I prefer comes from Forbes: "It's a truism that … [Read more...] about Who are your Thought Leaders?
How Small Businesses REALLY spend their money
How Small Businesses REALLY spend their money While looking at habits and buying patterns of business people I came across this small piece of research looking at the spending habits of small business owners - 1-5 employees.Again this is US in origin, but it does show some insights. If meals and entertainment are worth up to 12% of turnover, but marketing is only worth 1% - they tells us something about attitudes to spending ON the business rather than IN the business.For those of us … [Read more...] about How Small Businesses REALLY spend their money
Social Media – its not about you – the #1 mistake many corporates make
Social Media - it's not about you - the #1 mistake many corporates make This past week has been an interesting one for me on twitter, and it has led me to a realisation of where many in social media go wrong.The week started for me last week (I know it sounds mad) - in that I had a major series of problem from a supplier. I had already been in discussions with their social media team about the appalling levels of customer service their call centres made, along with multiple "school boy" … [Read more...] about Social Media – its not about you – the #1 mistake many corporates make
