Tag: Work
Workplace Goals in 2014
A 2014 Goal Increasing Workplace Skills (c) R Dennison December 2013
James Sproule soon takes up post as chief economist and director of policy at the Institute of Directors (IoD). He has a vision of the UK economy in 2014.
Interviewed on the IoD website by the outgoing chief economist, Graeme Leach, Mr Sproule talks about cautious increases in consumer spending next year. This new spending will trigger a response from companies that can demonstrate they offer value to consumers.
Companies that can respond in an agile way to digital, tech, or big data innovation will do especially well, Sprouse believes.
If this is even partially true then there will be a premium on staff with computing, coding, or analytical skills in the coming months. It might also mean enlightened employers will encourage their staff to be flexible in gaining those broad skills, whatever their background.
I was thinking about the issue of confident and skilled staff when I read a call for advice from a demoralised 51 year old in the Guardian newspaper. He is a strong performer in a hostile working environment. His health is suffering; he is looking for other work options, and doubting he has skills to offer. I believe he’ll do fine, once he embraces his opportunities.
I Tweeted my views on the situation as follows (by the way, how are you going to take action on your workplace goal for 2014?)
Contact me – by Friday 20 December – to discuss the coaching support you need to achieve your goals from January 2014.
Work: Do You Stay Or Do You Go?
A Difficult Decision To Stay Or To Go – (c) R Dennison November 2013
In my experience unexpected events can highlight the value of keeping an up-to-date life-plan. In fact the life-planning topic came up recently when I talked to someone whose work situation took an abrupt turn, for the worse, over the summer.
Things changed to such a degree that they needed to decide whether to stay with their organisation or go, within a couple of days. Having clarity over their work goals – and the operating values guiding them – would have helped reach that life changing decision speedily.
A query in the Guardian Newspaper’s Work blog has echoes of this scenario. My thoughts – shown as RogerAD – are straightforward. The decision hangs on whether the correspondent knows they would be more comfortable:
- Staying in a job with prospects in 2014 – but little rapport with colleagues
- Returning to a familiar – but small – organisation next year
Employment is such a significant part of life now, this is not an easy decision to contemplate. Drawing on inner reserves of wisdom will help. Seeking coaching support and taking the time to think the decision through will help too.
In the same situation what would your answer be?
http://www.theguardian.com/money/work-blog/2013/nov/15/go-back-old-job-career-stagnation
Stock Take Part One: Work
Looking Through Rose Tinted Glasses (c) R Dennison October 2013
It’s that time of the year. British Summer Time ended on 27 October. Stand by for Argos Christmas gift offers; wintery warming recipes on television; Top Ten lists of the year.
Meanwhile, if you are reviewing your Work-Life-Everything Else list in 2013 here is the first three posts which might help. This part looks at actions you can take to help yourself if your focus is work (well-being and wealth will follow).
Work
Research commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development suggests that ‘trust between employees and senior managers is more likely to be weak (34%) than strong (29%)… and that trust is particularly weak in the public sector (43%)’.
Seemingly some senior managers wear rose-tinted glasses when they look at their teams’ performance. Their junior colleagues feel they can’t speak up. That could make for unhappier workplaces. If so that’s an unfortunate outcome, as demographic trends seem to show people working for a greater proportion of their lives before retirement.
So a couple of good stock-take questions to ask are:
How can organisational leaders display honesty and integrity to build more trust into their relationships with their employees?
What else can staff do to voice their concerns in a way that captures leaders’ attention?
Hopefully thoughtful answers to those questions can produce more trusting, and productive, workplaces.
For more on the CIPD you can visit them online at www.cipd.co.uk
Related articles
- Less than a third of workers have faith in top bosses (telegraph.co.uk)
Experience Your Life 