The Boss who is always too busy for you. The Boss who stops your conversation to take a call. The Boss who walks past head down in case anyone catches his or her eye. Enjoy the video!
Continue readingCategory Archives: Leadership
Reward Strategy
How do you reward someone for a job well done? How do you explain that one person’s reward is smaller than another’s reward? Never has a management tool been used so blindly!
Continue readingNational Minimum Wage Hikes
The National Living Wage is due to increase by 6.6% from April 2022. The media always claims the impact of the April rise in the minimum wage “ramps up” costs. Although it’s not so easy to fill a job paying the minimum these post-pandemic days. Even then we would be behind our erstwhile friends in Europe. What effect does this 2022 6.6% increase in minimum wage have on your business?
Continue readingTraditional Benchmarking
This was very much the fashion in the 80s. It’s still a useful technique with a 21st Century twist. Enjoy the video.
Continue readingRighteous Robots And Erroneous Executives
Let me be extreme to make a point. The Executive View People work for money People do as little as possible for it They don’t follow instructions The Employee’s View
Continue readingA New Book – Not Called ‘Getting Stuff Done’
My first book ‘The Manager’s Guide to Conducting Interviews’ is seven years old now! It seemed like a good idea to write the next one. Sufficient time has passed to erase the memory of the excruciation pain of creating a new book. The blank page, the flashing cursor, the ticking clock and the rumble of approaching deadlines. But as Douglas Adams said “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by” – with apologies to my future Editor!
Continue readingNew Year’s Resolutions
I am a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions. (My Editor complains I write about this every year – I know but I think it’s important!) It isn’t just that they help you achieve something you might not otherwise; they make you review the last year and form a wish list for the next. In the “good old days” we had more time. First thing you wandered around and made sure everything was running well. The post arrived at 11 so time to sit down and respond before lunch. You could start work on that long term project straight after lunch. Doesn’t describe a typical working day in 2021 does it? It is a good thing that we are more connected with what is going on. We are on the “front-line” much more of the day. The blessing of email means that every fifteen minutes there may be something important buried in the “CC” mail, so you have to check don’t you.
Continue readingA Seasonal Tale
Like everyone else, the World Elf Service has to consider adapting to today’s conditions. The disappearing ice cap at the North Pole is obviously a major environmental threat and the Strategic Wellie Reserve is being expanded aggressively. However, world economics need careful thought to ensure WES continues to provide its unique brand of Christmas service for ever. In every organization the question to be answered is managing the Balance sheet. Can sales revenue be maintained or are cost cutting measures necessary?
Continue readingA Day In The Life
A survey of motivation management at the UK Division of US Jan We interviewed the UK CEO to find out his views. What is your view of the people that work for you? Our people are our greatest asset. There are a few backsliders, there always are. I care about everyone so we never act hastily. A good bunch and I always tell them that. How do you reward people who shine? Our HR department has a highflyers’ programme – the HFPs. Our HR manager always picks them. I know the choice is right because a lot are headhunted soon after completing the programme. Do you have any other reward schemes? Yes. The bonuses are good. I do not just give that away you understand, I have to get value for money. Sadly, it seems that our people are not prepared to put in that extra effort to make the bonus. All I hear from our Ops manager is a constant string of excuses.
Continue readingThe Inspirational Art Of Motivation Management
There is a world of difference between the “administration of things” and the “management of people”. Managing people is about the management of people’s motivation, to make them more willing to behave in a way that supports the organization. It is about the performance of the organization. Good motivation management changes the business relationship between employees and employer. It changes it from doing as little as possible for the pay, to the person wanting to do as much as possible. Of course, people come in all shapes and sizes, all varieties of willingness. It is true that an unwilling person can be made willing through good management. Sadly, the reverse is also true and much more prevalent.
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