aCE talentNET Media Stories - 2009
the professional edge career management November 09
Here is some latest research by Jerry Cahn of Extraordinary Sales Performance (ExSP) in the US. It's worth considering this list to cogently discuss with your team as there is a clear shift in performance figures from 2008 to 2009. (Thank you Elliot Epstein )... The initial ExSP benchmark study was completed during March and April 2009. Seventy-five U.S. companies with $500 million or more in annual sales were represented with the study completed by SVPs, sales directors, and sales managers. According to Jerry Cahn, managing director of the Extraordinary Sales Performance Institute (ExSP), the answer lies in your top performers. Read on
- How to Be Positive … When Things Suck
As penned by Kathrien Ahn for "ChangeThis"
Sometimes life comes up from behind you and kicks you in the rear, which is how it tells you that you're supposed to be moving in an entirely different direction. Maybe you're fighting a losing battle in a relationship or career. Maybe you've neglected your health, and its coming back to haunt you. Whatever it is, we're all born with talents, and some of us have chosen to pursue them and some have preferred to stay in the ‘Safe' zone. In tough times, you have to dig deep because all the extraneous layers are stripped away and you're faced with a decision. Go for it or not? It's up to you. Read on …
- Learning Organisation Curve…
As reported by Rebecca Turner, for the deal magazine October 2009
When Peter Senge first talked about the learning organisation in the early 1990's, information technology was yet to revolutionise the modern office. This episode of BBC Radio 4's In Business shows how social networking is transforming Senge's concept and includes examples from the BT Group and Sun Microsystems. Very interesting listening .
the professional edge career management October 09
Whilst aCE talentNET is not a headhunter per se, many of the questions in this article apply when working with a Corporate Talent Agent such as we are. Therefore we thought there was value in bringing the following to your attention, via Fast Company.
In How to Work with Headhunters…and Make Headhunters Work for You , Corcodilos, a headhunter himself, debunks common fallacies about this breed, including the most common one: that headhunters find jobs for people. Not true! Only a paltry 3% of jobs are filled by headhunters. That said, a good headhunter with an attractive offer, can change your life for the better, so it pays to know how to deal with them for best results. And that is what this book is all about.
Answers, and so much more are included in the article, so Read on …
- Hiring Upturn Survey - Top-Consultant.com
Executive Summary…Hiring Upturn Survey (Published October 2009)
Overall the UK based findings paint a picture of a modest recovery in hiring activity that is only just now starting to get underway. Of greater strategic significance, the levels of hiring activity witnessed during the most recent boom will not be seen again for at least 3 years. Click here to read on.
- Maybe Copy-Catting is the Answer?
Dan Heath and Chip Heath's latest for FastCompany.com certainly gets you thinking… In their article, A Problem-Solver's Guide to Copycatting , they make the point that quite often the answer to a problem is already available, the corporate blinkers (and even ego! heaven forbid) however restrict the sourcing possible solutions…read on …
the professional edge career management September 09
by David Livermore for ChangeThis.com
“You've heard about IQ and EQ. But what's your CQ? CQ, or cultural intelligence , is more than just a kitschy catch phrase for cultural competence. It's a fresh, new approach to leading in our multicultural, globalized world. Cultural intelligence is defined as the capability to function effectively across national, ethnic, and organizational cultures. And research demonstrates a leader's CQ may easily be the single greatest difference between thriving in the 21st century world and becoming obsolete.” Read on…
Downsizing's Liberating Wake-Up Call
by David Noer for ChangeThis.com
“I'm told there is an ancient Chinese curse that translates into, “May you live an interesting life!” That is certainly true as we experience today's global pandemic of downsizing. Layoff victims and survivors alike react to this new reality with a toxic stew debilitating emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety, and depression–what I call layoff survivor sickness.
We can change that; we can reframe the death toll of the old paradigm into a wake-up call that will help us create an exciting world of work that is more autonomous, personally relevant, and more in congruence with our unique gifts. Read on …
another beauty from trendwatching.com
Think ‘transparency' is an established, maturing theme? You ain't seen nothing yet. Sure, we've been harping on forever about the many ways consumers can research, compare and review their way to a more powerful position, but every month brings us smart new examples of consumers and brands intent on making opinions, quality standards and prices even more transparent.
So, it's time for a fresh look at the latest and greatest in the transparency arena*, where savvy consumers (as well as on-trend brands) can score triumph after triumph. We'll look at how reviews are set for even more spectacular growth, how price comparison is getting much more sophisticated, and how the inner-workings of companies will be exposed in pragmatic new ways. We then end this briefing with a countertrend, OPENLY OPAQUE, that raises the bar even higher. Read On …
the professional edge career management August 09
- Is buying an existing business a viable option rather then starting from scratch?
We are often asked this question by consultants looking to get into the consulting industry, and/or looking to build their one-person business into something much larger...It is a question that every person thinking of starting their own business should consider before committing their efforts to starting a brand new business from scratch. Before looking at the pros and cons of starting from scratch verses buying an existing business, Hurst Brokers have tabulated the statistics compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the total number of Australian businesses, including new entries and exits for the financial year 2007 ... read on
Making Flexibility Work
If you are not already aware, new legislation is due to be introduced to formalise employer repsonibilities to requests for flexible work arrangements by employees. Human Capital Magazine reports that the National Employment Standards (NES), to be implemented on 1 January 2010, formalises this system and will create awareness amongst employees of the workplace flexibility options available to them. In the UK, following the introduction of similar flexibility provisions, employees were found to be more aware of their right to request flexible working conditions then they were prior to the introduction of the laws.
For more information of the NES and employers obligations read on.
- Sound of Sales Music…
‘When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad….I simply remember my favourite things and then I don't feel so bad'
OK…that's enough Sound of Music for a business article.When we're under pressure for sales figures, how many of us revert to selling what we like and have sold before, rather than being open to the client's real needs. Pre-sales and consulting people love discussing so called ‘proven solutions' because they know it works, there is less fear and apprehension and it makes their lives easier. Sales people often have their favourites too – favourite products, that all in one package thingy that people tend to like, the left handed Collectimizer 2000 that slots in seamlessly or that favoured hourly rate based service that is an easy sell. All well and good when it works, except there is a downside. They may not want one… read on
the professional edge career management July 09
- Complimentary Guide for HR and Learning Professionals
Given widespread downsizing and restructuring, it's likely no surprise to know that recent research shows by US research company, Bersin & Associates that the HR and learning profession is under great stress. But, you may be surprised to know that the biggest obstacle facing HR and L&D leaders is not a lack of resources, but rather, the lack of support and engagement from business leaders.
You'll find much more information – from professional challenges to compensation to career paths – in the just-published Career Factbook for HR and Learning Professionals – a 130-page report containing in-depth analysis of the demographics and characteristics of today's HR and learning profession. This study was designed with the particular goal of helping HR and L&D professionals and executives understand what really drives success, job satisfaction, career growth, and engagement ... read on
The end of retirement
I've been catching up on my reading and came across this article in the Economist. I've read many articles on the changing demographics of the workforce and it's impact on retirement… but I think this article discusses these issues and more, to great effect. Find out why we will be (willingly) working longer and what governments and organisations needs to be actively thinking about to ensure there are enough resources and pension/super to go around!... read on
- Change your Thinking > Change your Results
by Tony Jeary for ChangeThis.com
“Business as usual is unrealistic in our current economic climate. Leaders must accept the fact that success is likely to become a moving target and their organizations must become faster, leaner and better equipped to compete and change quickly. To embrace speed as a strategic asset requires higher levels of clarity about the real needs and goals of the organization. Clarity means that the value and purpose of every effort must be evaluated and put to the test.”... read on
the professional edge career management June 09
- Talent Tuesday - automatically receive projects in your inbox!
Hello Consulting Talent….yes that's you!
Just imagine receiving all the work you want, right into your inbox… and you didn't even have to make a call…
Let us share with you how… last week in the AdvantEdge we mentioned…
“We have been in discussions with a technology driven DIY version of a Corporate Talent Agent, with the view to being able to offer ALL consultants and consultancies both a DIY service and a full service (like aCE talentNET). We will be rolling out full details as they come to hand, just as soon as all is finalised. AND NOW ITS READY!
Think of this great initiative as another “string to your marketing bow”! read on ...
How do ‘we', the self-employed, profile as taxpayers and business people?
The ATO has conducted some really good research into attitudes and behaviours of the ‘micro business' sector—that's us, self-employed people. Ken Phillips gives an overview of the research in a Business Spectator article . The research will be available on the ATO website soon and ICA will create a link when it's up. Three further ATO links to help prepare for the end of the financial year (on tax deductions, business seminars and rental properties) can be found on our news page .
- Sales Sales Sales…
If you work with a sales director, please surgically remove his/her BlackBerry and place this article under their ubiquitous device of preference.
If you are a sales director, please close your spreadsheet on head count, stop sweating the forecast and read on… If you are the sales director in charge of generating your own forecast, read on…
Here are Elliot Epsteins Top 4 tactics for winning sales in the climate of 09… read on …
the professional edge career management May 09
- The New Face of Talent Management
A new white paper on the ‘Future of talent” (.pdf 1.3mb) by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD), is an interesting read! (thank you Brett Minchington) . Particularly pertinent is the key reference in terms of using supply chain management processes for talent management i.e. skill up internal resources for the organisation specific stuff, and hire in outside resources for the not so specific stuff. Exactly, we say!
Instep: HR - Not being tipped overboard (Deirdre Gruiters) Earlier in the month Craig Mason (Human Capital Magazine) wrote this interesting article regarding the current state of HR roles and the effect the GFC has had on HR redundancies. I tend to agree that, generally HR is in a good position and reaping the rewards from lifting their game over the past decade by aligning HR strategies with organisational goals. This reducing the rate and number of redundancies across HR positions. One of my friends has recently been made redundant from a regional medium sized company but was ‘on the market' for 1 week before landing a similar (quite possibly better) role shortly thereafter. Have a read and see what you think.
- Self Employed in a Recession 1 - Introduction
Lessons are similar for businesses managing through the recession. This video is proudly brought to you by the Independent Contractors of Australia.
the professional edge career management April 09
- What's in a name? Why your employer brand still matters
Alongside L&D initiatives, branding and marketing are traditionally the first casualties of a downturn - primarily because the return on these investments is notoriously difficult to measure.
If marketing costs are tied with the employer brand, the justification for continued spending becomes even trickier. To the uninformed, ‘employer branding' may seem like marketing lingo - raising further doubts about its usefulness. The words attributed to US department store merchant John Wanamaker still linger for many: “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half.” Furthermore, if an organisation has scaled back recruitment activities, why is a focus on the employer brand necessary at all?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that some employers are already licking their lips in anticipation of scaling back all those ‘nice to haves' that have been used to attract candidates to an organisation during the talent squeeze - such as flexible work hours, work-life initiatives, perks, and so on. Is the employer brand set to be another victim of downsizing?
Defining the brand
It is almost 20 years since Simon Barrow, chairman of UK-based People in Business, began selling the concept of employer branding. But only in the last five years has the concept gained traction.
Employer branding, at its simplest, is about how an employer sells itself to current and future employees. The brand showcases the company's personality and values and says: ‘this is who we are and this is why you should work for us'. Note that this definition specifically mentions current employees - a fact that is frequently forgotten in analyses of the employer brand. The employer brand is undeniably at its most powerful when utilised in recruitment but it is equally useful as a retention tool. Indeed, it should mirror an organisation's talent management strategies, which for most organisations in this market are focused on retaining top performers and increasing their engagement and productivity...Read More>>
Healing Recessionary Disengagement
Do your employees seem more reticent than usual? Do they have that empty look in their eyes? Are they doing just enough to get by?
According to Kevin Sheridan, CEO of HR Solutions, these are all symptoms of recessionary disengagement, which is the “collateral damage” from layoffs, hiring freezes and salary cuts.
“They’re what we call the ‘ambivalent employee,’” he said. “You could even call them quit-and-stay employees. They’re in the job. They’re getting a paycheck every two weeks, but they literally quit weeks ago. It’s not that they’re bad employees; it’s just that they need coaching [to] get them re-engaged to their job and the mission at hand.”...Read More>>
- The Story Whisperer
It was an off-site training program for the new hires of a major software firm. The young employees were in their seats early — they were excited to hear from the opening speaker, an executive who held a position of astonishing power. But that wasn’t why the audience was excited. They were excited because he was young — mid-30s, not too much older than them.
Everyone knew the man’s career trajectory, which was characterized by short stints and cross-organizational zigzags, as if he’d taken a Southwest flight to the corner office. Needless to say, they all wanted to live that flight plan.
But the excitement in the room quickly fizzled. The young exec spoke as if he were being paid by the cliche. He urged the employees to “work hard” and to “pursue their passion.” (Presumably this was intended for employees who were chasing work that didn’t interest them — and doing so lazily.) It was frankly a miracle that he didn’t challenge the crowd to “give 110 percent.”...Read More>>
the professional edge career management March 09
- Training your way out of the recession ...
At last a solid academic report that supports that which most of us know… Researchers from the Cranfield School of Management have released a report “Nurturing Talent", which clearly supports the up-skilling of current staff, utilizing online training tools and not cutting the training budget is a smart thing to do in low economic times. If you want to read a summary of the report a great article can be found on UK Edition of Times Online called "Training your way out of the recession". The study conducted has concluded that 'investing in training not only saves money but is more effective than shopping around for talent.' The report is the first to compare the pro & cons of developing current employees vs. bringing in new recruits.
Here are just a few results: 'Three quarters of the 1,189 companies involved in the study felt that training their own staff was more beneficial to their business than recruiting people from outside. Half the companies discovered that training staff made them more likely to stay. One-third found it increased staff motivation, and almost half actually saved money in the process. ' It can't really be said enough at the moment - hold on to your staff, show them how valued they are by investing in their future and you will be rewarded. This also ties right in there with our invaluable Gen Y'ers and the need to keep them interested through on-going learning.
Many of Britain's business leaders are urging employers to follow suit: “Now is precisely the time to keep investing in the skills and talents of our people. It is the people we employ who will get us through. When markets are shrinking and order books falling, it is their commitment, productivity and ability to add value that will keep us competitive. Investing now in building new skills will put us in the strongest position as the economy recovers.”... read on
AIM Survey Results - Business Performance and Priorities in the Downturn
Australian Institute of Management - Survey Results
The Australian Institute of Management's (AIM) latest survey, ‘Business Performance and Priorities in the Downturn' reveals an Australian business sector that is ‘positive' about its ability to withstand the full impact of the global financial crisis. .. read on
Business Performance and Priorities in the Downturn
Tuesday 24 February 2009
- Tax Alert for the Self-Employed/Contractors
ICA brings you the news and updates that others miss. If you¹re an independent contractor or a business engaging independent contractors, these news items are important.
- It's happened again! An independent contractor working through his own company has failed the ‘results test'. The court decision supports the ATO's approach that people working through companies and trusts may have all the company/trust income treated and taxed as if it is their personal income. The ATO is auditing such arrangements, potentially affecting 700,000 workers in Australia.
- ICA is consistently impressed with the Victorian Government's approach to small business. It leads Australia with dispute resolution through its Small Business Commissioner. It has just announced a small business marketing package which is worth looking at.
- Do you have a rental property as an investment? The ATO has just released some information on claiming tax deductions for repairs, maintenance and capital works. The information is helpful and easy to read.
- Tax breaks for independent contractors. Check this government announcement.
- It¹s about time business paid on time. The Small Business Minister sends a warning to big business. Pay up!
- Think about it! How do political trends in the UK impact in independent workers?
For full details of all, click here ...
the professional edge career management February 09
It's a BRAND's New Day - Tom Peters
After the layoffs and budget cuts, now what? Are you living up to your brand promises or are you falling short on customer experiences? This edition of the TP Times focuses on sustaining your organizational brand and the power of values and brand. This lead article is written from the belief that when the focus is only on the bottom line and people are ignored, the organizational brand suffers, as customers lose sight of what you stand for, and they no longer trust what you can deliver.
The 100 Best Business Books of all Time
Caretakers of ChangeThis, are pleased to announce the release of our new book, THE 100 BEST BUSINESS BOOKS OF ALL TIME: WHAT THEY SAY, WHY THEY MATTER AND HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU.
More than ever, business people are looking for books with solutions to problems. The trouble? Thousands of business books are published every year. Far too many for any reader to sift through single-handedly. This book is for anyone, from entry-level to CEO, who wants to cut through the clutter and discover the brilliant books that are truly worth their investment of time and money. This is your guide to the books that can help you weather this uneasy economic climate.
To buy THE 100 BEST, visit: http://800ceoread.com/100best. To learn more about the book, visit 100bestbiz.com to find a free download of the introduction and two reviews, inspirational posters, and a variety of other resources for your use.
- Six ways to make Web 2.0 work
Sticking with the website theme...Over the past two years, McKinsey has studied more than 50 early adopters of Web 2.0 who are using technologies such as blogs, wikis, information tagging, prediction markets, and social networks. They have drawn six insights on how companies can best use these technologies... read on
the professional edge career management January 09
Looking Ahead to 2009: Ten Predictions for Learning and Talent Management
Every year Bersin and Associates provide predictions for the coming year in order to facilitate planning. Last year, they anticipated the tremendous expansion in the talent management market and the evolution toward more collaborative solutions. But no one – not even renowned financial gurus – predicted our current economic state. Obviously, the economy will have dramatic influence on next year's predictions. This article will highlight just a few of the trends foreseen. To get all ten predictions – and suggestions for dealing with their impact - download the complimentary report ...
10 Reasons to Design a Better Corporate Culture
Q&A with: James Heskett and W. Earl Sasser of Harvard Business School
Published: December 22, 2008Organizations with strong, adaptive cultures enjoy labor cost advantages, great employee and customer loyalty, and a smoother on-ramp in leadership succession. A book excerpt from The Ownership Quotient: Putting the Service Profit Chain to Work for Unbeatable Competitive Advantage by HBS professors Jim Heskett and W. Earl Sasser and coauthor Joe Wheeler. Key concepts include:
* Organizations with clearly codified cultures often become better places to work.
* An operating strategy based on a sturdy, effective culture is selective of prospective customers.
* High-performing organizations periodically revisit and reaffirm their core values and associated behaviors... read on
- Generation G - trendwatching.com
Has there ever been more urgency for corporations to ditch the greed and embrace generosity? It's something that countless individuals have already started doing, of course: giving is the new taking, and sharing is the new giving. And yes, we do realize that this month's Trend Briefing is massive, but in this business climate, can you really afford not to spend some time figuring out how to get a little closer to your customers?
GENERATION G | "Captures the growing importance of 'generosity' as a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy—and while that same upheaval has them longing more than ever for institutions that care—the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers. read on ...