Management Blog

The home office of the future

An award winning British building is being lauded as the future of the home office thanks to its ability to morph from a residence to an office of various sizes and configurations, Co.Design reports.

The Live Work Home building by Cook + Fox Architects is described by the post as being a sturdy, perforated box that features sliding doors and mobile partitions to accommodate changing needs.

Sustainability is embedded into the design with passive heating and cooling systems in addition to building materials that ensure the structure is cheap and simple to maintain.

And in a departure from the traditional notion of a front door, a large garage style entrance can be turned into an open-air porch or loading dock depending on the inhabitants' needs.

No word on the cost, but it certainly seems like a home office owner's dream come true.

Blog your way to a new job

Blogging isn't for angry ranters or hobby enthusiasts, the online publishing platform can also help job seekers get ahead in their chosen fields, according to this PR Daily post. 

While blogging may seem like a daunting task for those who don't currently write on a regular basis, post author Mark Schaefer offers seven compelling reasons to build your writing skills.

In summary, these are:

• Blogs showcase knowledge – regular posts show hiring managers the extent of a candidate's knowledge of an industry or process
• Network building – when a reader appreciates your blog you may be top of mind when they know of a job vacancy
• More compelling than a resume – a resume is really only a list of points, a blog allows you to tell stories that illustrate success
• Profile building – top bloggers can achieve a celebrity-like status in their field, and that means more bargaining power
• Skill up – writing on a subject forces an author to build their knowledge though the processes of reflection and analysis
• Cross platform content – hiring managers who find you through LinkedIn or other social media can be led to your blog for more detail
• Longer interviews – mentioning your blog during an interview means an employer has the option of easily finding out more about you

Article round-up from @aimqld - 23-27 January

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

Setting Realistic 2012 Business Goals (via Dynamic Business) http://bit.ly/yImZzB

6 Simple Ways to Transform Your Business (via Flying Solo) http://bit.ly/yp59lQ

How to Turn a Meaningless Job Into a Meaningful Career (via MonsterThinking) http://mnstr.me/yWjiLW

Visiting the Troops: Why Good Managers Spend Time Outside Their Offices (via John Baldoni at SmartBlog on Leadership) http://bit.ly/z5HDjP

Why Appreciation Matters So Much (via HBR) http://bit.ly/wwKJXq

Fostering Autonomy in a Team: 7 Lessons (via QAspire) http://bit.ly/yAZ7BZ

How to Know When You Need an Executive Coach (via Eric Jacobson On Management and Leadership) http://bit.ly/yHNe6a

A First Step Any Leader Can Take to Improve Employee Engagement (via Blanchard LeaderChat) http://bit.ly/yrL5oj

How Any Company Can Think Like a Startup (via Fast Company) http://bit.ly/xBWU96

5 Ways to Get Better Innovation With Less Money (via 15inno @lindegaard) http://bit.ly/w216w9

10 Management Practices to Throw Overboard in 2012 (via BusinessWeek) http://buswk.co/yoqV86

5 Lessons From a Professional Change Agent (via Forbes) http://onforb.es/ACRoez

2012: What's the Economic Verdict? Catch Dr Chris Caton at AIM events in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Mackay next week http://bit.ly/z9SVGU

Be Kind to Your Co-workers, Or Else (via Inc.) http://bit.ly/zAfChS

Losing Focus? 9 Ways to Concentrate at Work (via CBS MoneyWatch) http://bit.ly/wGR6Pe

A Case For Being a 'Nice' Boss (via You're Not the Boss of Me) http://bit.ly/Ar0HVW

Avoiding Pitfalls to Innovation (via BIA) http://bit.ly/h9dkk2

Is the social networking bubble ready to bust?

A new report by Forrester Research suggests the social networking space is running out of people to convert.

According to CNET, Forrester says the near universal reach of social media and a limited amount of time that users can afford to spend on the medium will result in dramatic changes to the industry.

But that's not to say social media isn't currently making an big impact: statistics suggest the world spends more time consuming social media than going to church, phoning, emailing and exercising.

Consumer research has found 86 per cent of people have now adopted social media with some discrepancies between countries.

For example, 95 per cent of Polish people use social media, adoption has reached 88 per cent in Canada and 97 per cent in urban China.

Impending social media saturation, according to Forrester, means there will be less room for playful niche services like FourSquare and instead revolve around more efficient, time saving new media tools.

When less choice means more business

In order to succeed in a sea of endless choice brands must understand the way consumers process information and make decisions, Sheena Iyengar argues in this TED Talk.

After establishing that the average person makes 70 decisions every day, Iyengar uses a simple supermarket study on buying jam to reinforce the benefits of a less means more approach.

Deconstructing Cricket Australia's success story

Cricket Australia is currently transforming the sport's demographics and revenues in a case study that every marketer and CEOs should be taking notice of, this Smart Company case study suggests.

It's claimed the transformation that is the Big Bash League has seen big crowds and impressive television ratings as a result of a shift from a focus on older males to younger Australians.

While the introduction of a new game may lead to some branding complexities it's claimed Cricket Australia has employed a series of smart tactics to ensure success.

The strategy has seen not just an array of youth and digitally focused marketing activities but also a new club ownership structure.

The art of plugged-in communication

Despite its name the new book The Plugged-In Manager by Terri Griffith isn't about cyborgs but instead describes a roadmap on how to use technology to better connect with staff and other stakeholders.

A recent review by management-issues claims the book reveals three important themes for those managers keen to find contemporary ways of connecting. In brief, these themes are:

• Stronger people skills – managers need to be plugged in to the lives of staff in order to keep communication flowing and engage on a psychological level
• Don't avoid connections – rather than being a means of hiding from the world being plugged in reinforces the need make to social and mental connections that add value to people's work
• Audit information flow – the plugged in manager ensures information flows freely across the organisation and that processes are in place to achieve this

The full review and an interview with the author can be found here.

Daily inspiration for business success

Six simple mantras can help managers stay on top of their game no matter what the working day brings, entrepreneur Lauren Perkins writes in this Inc. blog.

While some might think mantras are the sole domain of hippies or Buddhist monks, Perkins offers a strong argument in favour of inserting a little positive reinforcement into daily life.

Some of the benefits described include the ability to inspire others through a positive attitude, a narrowing of focus to avoid distractions and an increased ability to follow your moral compass.

Positive reinforcement also offers a means of keeping cool in a crisis, or as the author puts it: "Abrupt reactions and decisions that aren't well thought-out don't do you or your company any good. To prevent them, try to plan proactively and keep the big picture in mind."

Here are Perkins' six mantras:

1. Get your head in the game
2. Narrow your objectives
3. Steady your reactions
4. Stick to your moral compass
5. Perception is King
6. Get your fight on

Article round-up from @aimqld - 16-20 January

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

What's Your Influencing Style? (via HBR) http://bit.ly/xYVzhP

Why Narcissistic CEOs Kill Their Companies (via Forbes) http://onforb.es/vZiFGP

Learning to Lead the Old-Fashioned Way (via strategy+business) http://bit.ly/wqpCvA

10 Rules to work (and Live) By (via upstartHR) http://bit.ly/AatxzW

Better Presentations with a Small Audience and a Big Room – 9 Success Tips (via Brainzooming) http://bit.ly/zqEFED

7 Tips on How to Apologize in the Business World (via CBS MoneyWatch) http://bit.ly/AggFAh

Video: 9 Ways Social Media Can Make You a Better Leader (via @terrystarbucker) http://bit.ly/y3KeRb

Don't be a Lazy Leader: 3 Bad Habits to Avoid (via Blanchard LeaderChat) http://bit.ly/wbwDbT

Are You Managing or Just Nagging? (via Great Leadership) http://bit.ly/zJx9sg

The Science Behind a Bad Mood and What You Can Do About it (via Lifehacker) http://bit.ly/yalxUC

How Do You Handle Difficult Employees? (via TLNT) http://bit.ly/x6qndj

How to Beat Post Holiday Blues on the Job (via @workawesome) http://bit.ly/xHci8H

Why Stories Sell: Transportation Leads to Persuasion (via PsyBlog) http://bit.ly/wh2vXV

What Team Members Can (and Should) Do to Help Their Team Become High Performing (via Jesse Lyn Stoner) http://bit.ly/z7l6mf

The Power of Asking the Right Question (via Michael Hyatt) http://bit.ly/z0mPnv

10 Traits of Effective Leaders (via Leadership and Influence) http://bit.ly/wPqyQi

9 Productivity Tips for Working From Home (via OPEN Forum) http://bit.ly/yFXQbC

Being Curious About Curiosity (via management-issues) http://bit.ly/yRUSgc

How to identify the right job candidate

Sifting through resumes in a bid to find the right candidate is never an easily process. It is however one that can be made more effective by following a few rules, this Time post argues.

To help managers navigate the recruitment process post author and CEO Matthew Swyers offers his tips for resume filtering and job interviews. In summary these are:

• Look for attention to detail – it's a cliché for good reason, smart candidates deliver on the finer details of their application
• Proof-read – a typo here and there indicate the candidate may drop the ball if hired
• Preparedness – ask candidates what they did to prepare for a job interview
• Communication etiquette – strange or inappropriate email addresses and a poor phone manner should ring warning bells
• 100 per cent honesty is overrated – a "too truthful" answer to a difficult question can reveal a lack of judgement