Work Babble

Good hiring news from India

By Tony Deblauwe

Tech is showing signs of growth. India based HCL Infosystems plans to hire 2000 employees over the next few months. No easy feat to any technical recruiter, but fantastic news to job seekers. The India tech job market has not slowed down in the same way as in the US and Europe.

Demand has barely inched back; with most companies using India based operations to backfill headcount. Ratios are typically 3-1 (3 hires in India for every 1 hire in the US ). While merit increases and cost cutting is the norm these days for most US workers, India has had little need to par back programs in these areas. Regardless, there is work to be had and the hiring bump in India may be a global sign of recovery. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Alignment of Personal and Work Values are Key To Retention and Engagement

Today’s post from the Take time to Lead newsletter from my friends at Glowan Consulting…

The match between your employees’ values and the organization or team’s values is a more powerful factor in keeping good people than even money.

How satisfied are your talented people with their everyday tasks?

Do you know enough about your employees’ values to answer that question?

Values are not difficult to uncover, but they are powerful forces in an employee’s decision to stay or leave. Imagine your employees as your customers.

What do they value most? How can you help them attain it, and sustain it? The risk of losing employees because of conflicts over values is far greater than the risk of losing them because of compensation. Values define what we consider to be important. They are the standards by which we measure our bottom-line needs. The more your employees’ work incorporates their values, the more they will find that work meaningful, purposeful, and important.

When values are left out of the work equation, the work may still get done, but without the energy and commitment. Eventually, either you or your employees will notice. Today’s employees across all generations want to find value and meaning in their work. Our lives aren't as compartmentalized as they once were, and more employees are demanding a better blending of work and home life.

Organizations have vision statements, mission statements, and values statements, but they rarely have a process that helps employees determine the link between those statements and their own values.

Any of the following can help you start a conversation about values:

-What do you need most from your work?

-Does the job deliver?

-What makes for a really good day?

-What would you miss if you left this job?

-What did you like best about other jobs you’ve had?

-Tell me about a time when you really felt energized at work.

 

These questions can be asked during any one on one conversation that you have with your direct reports.

Another reason to learn more about values is to insure smoother functioning of your team. Organizations are more team-based than ever, yet the failure to understand one another’s values can lead to discord on teams. The team that cannot draw on its members’ values may end up arguing, wasting time, and failing. Team members lose heart when organizational values and their values do not mesh.

Diversity of values will build strength in your team. Those who value creativity will be your innovators. Those who value independence will work productively for long stretches without prodding from you. Those who value order and routine will be your dependable, solid citizens.

Don’t try to make the solid citizen into a creative innovator.

Recognize what each person values and mine those values for the sake of the whole team.

Here are some questions that might stimulate a team discussion about values:

-What are the values of our work team?

-How are we similar?

-How are we different?

-How might our differences get in the way?

-Under what circumstances or pressures do we find our values colliding? What can we learn from someone whose values are different from our own?

Finally, be aware of your own values — and their impact on your employees.

About Glowan
The Glowan consulting Group was formed in 1993 on the premise that individuals and organizations needed more that just pre-designed, prescripted "training" to meet their human development goals. Organizations and our societies are changing at a rate never seen before in our experience and we need tools, techniques and support systems to meet those new challenges. Glowan has been meeting those needs via our broad and deep offerings of Leadership and Management Development Services and Products. Visit www.glowan.com for more information.

How To Stop Hating Your Co-Workers In Five Easy Steps

By Tony Deblauwe

Most of us have had a reason to hate a co-worker. The reasons behind the lack of appreciation for another person are too numerous to count.  Sometimes they make sense; other times, there is something indescribable that fuels ill will.

A recent survey found that an incredible 93% of respondents admitted to hating their co-workers.  Of those, one in four confronted the people who drove them over the edge.

The simple fact is that some people are just hard to get along with.  They might be pushy or have annoying habits.  Sometimes just the sound of a particular person’s voice is enough to send you home with a migraine.  Even worse are the people who try everything they can, to avoid actually doing their job – these are some of the worst offenders. 

No matter what the situation, there are things you can do to create a change in ways of working. 

1. Determine The Cause For Hating Your Co-Workers

First, stop to think about why you hate the other person.  If you have to make a list, it is advisable to do so mentally, rather than committing it to paper.  If another person shares your feelings, you might have a discussion about why the hated co-worker bothers both of you, without resorting to a bashing session.  This is a good opportunity to consider solutions that will improve the interpersonal dynamics of the workplace.  The overall atmosphere is certainly more enjoyable when everyone can interact comfortably.

2. Are Your Feelings Based In Reality?

Once you have determined a specific reason for hating your co-worker, think about whether it is fair to hold them in contempt.  If they have an annoying personal habit, perhaps it is better to just open your mind a little, and realize that people are individuals.  If the habit is unsanitary, perhaps you can take it to the boss and make a case for healthy working conditions.  Some people do not understand that the things they do or the way that they are is an irritant to others.  Taking the higher ground to confront your perspective against what might be a root cause is critical.

3. Do Others Feel The Same Way You Do?

If you feel that your reason for hating a fellow employee is valid, there is a good likelihood that others share your feelings.  Unless, the reason is deeply personal (failed office romance or friendship gone astray), talk to others you trust about the reason for your disenchantment.  One reason some employees are unpopular is that they aren’t engaged or motivated about work. Certainly not your problem, but worth investigating.

If a co-worker never takes on his or her fair share of work and is a source of grumbling among the employee population at large, there is a good chance that you can help that person to either improve or find their way out the door.

4. How To Tell Your Boss That You Hate A Co-Worker

Usually, poor work performance is measurable in some way.  Gather any documentation that you may have and make a beeline for your supervisor.  Be sure to present your case in a professional manner.  Avoid emotion, and use the facts to your advantage.  If there are other employees who feel the same way you do, perhaps you can meet formally with your supervisor to discuss the problems caused by the substandard work performance of the person in question.

5. Last Resort: Turn The Other Cheek

If this does not work, you might consider turning the other cheek and simply avoiding interaction with the person you dislike.  While it may not be the best solution, it can reduce stress and even improve the way others perceive you. 

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Three Ways You Can Help Your Child Find The Best Career

By Tony Deblauwe

The competitive world we live and operate in isn’t slowing down. Companies are looking for talent and younger ages creating pressure for children to know what they want to do earlier and earlier. Helping children find the best career is one of the most important things parents, teachers and other people who play a role in their lives can do.  A retrospective study of adults aged 40-55 showed that 23% of them had made decisions regarding career choices, while they were still children. (Trice & McLellan, 1994)

This may be a relatively small number, since children do develop skills and interests at an early age.  However, the trend is changing and the next set of data to emerge will show a significant increase. So how do parents help their kids? Making the most of a child’s abilities can be difficult. Parents and educators can do things that help to impact a child’s success by focusing on three key factors.

1. Take Note Of Skills And Interests

Most children begin to display particular skills and interests while they are still very young.  Some may display spatial intelligence, while others may be more skilled at reading or speaking.  Others pick up computer skills right away, and some show amazing musical talent. Work the child and try to gauge whether the interest is a passing phase or a deeper rooted talent that could be the basis for a longer term career interests.  

2. Help Children Understand Careers Related To Their Abilities

Young children and even older pre-teens have a tendency to focus on careers that are highly visible, or careers that are related to the jobs that family members have.  Parents and educators need to find information related to the various careers that utilize the special skills that young people display.

Parents, teachers and others who help make the decisions that impact children’s future’s can make a world of difference by providing plenty of information about the jobs that are available in a child’s area of interest, especially jobs that receive less publicity. Informational interviews with the parent network at school is a great way to touch a broad range of careers and making learning about them fun. Career day is often used as a way to this.

3. Provide Educational Opportunities To Emphasize Talent

According to the National Center For Education Statistics, enrollment in public schools increased by 26% -  from 39.4 million to 49.8 million from 1985-2008.  High student to teacher ratios increase the need for parents and others to be involved in providing education and other opportunities that will help children to develop their skills properly and find satisfying careers.

The United States Department of Education, along with individual states, has set up standards for learning.  These basic standards of learning include reading comprehension, standardized mathematical ability tests, and other educational standards.  While a complete and well rounded education is important for social development and educational achievement, tailoring a plan that makes the most of a child’s special abilities is crucial to his or her future success.  Be sure to focus on the individual, rather than just meeting set standards.

By paying attention to children as individuals and ensuring that they are afforded the opportunity to learn about the careers that make the most of the skills and talents that make them who they are, parents and educators can take an active role in ensuring that every child finds the right career.

When people do what they are best at, everyone benefits.  Using goal-oriented strategies is the most effective way to help children find the career that is best for them.

Five Ways To Enjoy Your Commute

By Tony Deblauwe

I read a recent Gallup poll that showed the average US commute time is over 45 minutes.  That rings true for me. In California, driving is a must and often where you work and where you live is quite a distance. Of course in Silicon Valley much of that problem is due to housing costs so people have to live farther out in order to have affordable housing. Regardless of whether your commute is above or below average, we’re spending a lot of time in the car and in traffic—that can lead to stress and other troubling behavior (i.e. road rage). So what do you to make the most of it?

Below are some tips for helping you make better use of your time while driving to and from work.

1. Put Down The Phone

Recent news reports have highlighted the ongoing battle on talking on the phone while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver inattention is to blame for 80% of traffic collisions.  Talking on the phone or sending text messages while driving is one of the riskiest behaviors that drivers engage in.

The National Safety Council is calling for a legislative ban on these activities and claims that the distractions caused by using a cell phone for texting or even talking while driving is more dangerous than some other distractions, such as talking to another vehicle occupant.

Ok truth is – we all talk on the phone in the car. Bluetooth keeps are hands on the wheel, but the mind is still distracted in the conversation. It’s so productive though – just like texting in dead stop traffic or at red lights. I can point to many people that have mastered the driving-while-talking art. Don’t talk to them about phoning and driving – it may be the most efficient use of their time all day!

But we have to look at it from another angle. Certainly receiving calls or making important calls is going to happen, but is it truly as much a benefit as we think? While some people enjoy using their time in the car to talk on the phone, others feel that being constantly connected is a burden they would rather not have to shoulder.  It adds to the notion of 24/7 connectivity that we live in today. We may see it as the norm because everyone is doing it but are we sacrificing “think time” in the process. I know for me I think through things while driving and would rather have that 60 minutes to do that than chat on the phone or dial into a meeting.

Basically the idea of giving up chat time while driving might be unwelcome, but more states are implementing laws that restrict or forbid the use of phones while behind the wheel.  Believe it or not, some companies have started to forbid employees from using handheld devices while driving company cars. Not because of a work-life balance issue, but for liability. If the company culture or “mandate” is that people are always connected (including in the car), if I get into an accident, is my company partially to blame?

2. Carpool

We all know the carpool stories. Some people it’ perfect, others would like to but either nobody goes their route or the timing is off. Clearly sharing the journey with someone saves money. Taking turns driving saves wear and tear on your vehicles.  All of these are great outcomes, but if you can’t find a carpool schedule that works for you, try a staggered approach. Even once a week gives you some time back to concentrate on other things while someone else drives (like you take that phone call).

3. Listen To Music

This touches again on the idea of “think time.” Listening to music can reduce stress levels as well as reduce chronic pain and depression.  It has also been suggested that listening to certain types of music, especially classical music, can increase focus and even enhance the brain’s ability to predict events. 

Whether you are enjoying something relaxing in the background while you let your mind wander or you sing along to your favorite tunes, listening to music is a pleasant way to let the miles go by. The calming effects can help you concentrate, and help you with problem solving work matters.

4. Use The Time You Spend In The Car For “Reading”

I’m talking about the electronic variety. You can get books on tape, books on cd, and even download books to your iPod or mp3 player.  Publishers have made an amazing array of best sellers, classic literature, and nonfiction available and new titles come out frequently. If you spend an hour a day commuting, listening to an audio book is a great way to enjoy those hours spent staring at the same old scenery. I know many people who do their professional business development through CDs. Executive Book Summaries has a great line of key business books condensed into 30 minutes of audio highlights.

5. Take Varying Routes To Work

There are normally more ways than one to get to a specific destination.  Some ways are more scenic, others take less time.  Occasionally finding a different path can help you to increase brain function, possibly reduce your risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease in later life and takes some of the blah out of commuting. Breaking routine in your commute contributes to energy levels and brain activity. Especially on the drive home, varying routes can help disengage you from the zombie highway stare.

Ideas around commute productivity are aimed to keep you alert and focused on the task of driving. Sometimes it’s about work, but most times an effective commute is measured by your personal sense of good time management. You don’t need to get angry or bothered; you just need to change things up a bit. That way you’re more refreshed and ready to handle a new workday.

Please leave your commute tips for the community.

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