Archive for July, 2009
Getting Creative: Start Small
Posted by sday in Corporate Social Responsibility, Employee Development, Employee Engagement, Workplace on July 14, 2009
As the economic stress continues to take its toll, businesses should stray from playing it safe. Settling into a comfortable routine puts a halt to any form of innovative thinking, and prevents surviving businesses from thriving.
Acceptance of new or “unconventional” ideas takes time. So before your company can fully embrace into its office culture creative thinking on a grand scale, consider integrating a few simple yet practical exercises that can be implemented immediately.
For the workplace
- Take a cue from the most basic and important Feng Shui* principle, and first clear the physical clutter in the office to create mental space for new business ideas. Store away, archive or get rid of idle or irrelevant paperwork, office supplies, equipment or electronic data (emails, folders, pictures, etc.) that tend to bog down production flow.
- Rearrange work areas to better suit the functionalities of work flow, contribute to energy-saving efforts, and improve the general aesthetics of your work environment.
For the employee
- Challenge your staff to write individual mission statements. It’ll be interesting to learn if their perspective aligns with yours or the business. Do some roles need to be redefined or reassigned?
- Allow employees to personalize their work stations where they can embellish with their own reading lamps, plants, artwork, floor rugs, or kitschy collections. Provide corporate guidelines on what’s appropriate.
For the staff
- Conduct quick, on-the-spot brainstorm sessions with your team to solicit ideas for product, service and production improvements. Limit the session to 30 minutes. The freshest ideas emerge when there are time constraints.
- Hold training sessions, conferences or meetings outside, if weather permits. Your staff will welcome the occasional change in scenery.
*Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophy that governs spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy.
Vianova guest blogger Shirley Day is a training and communications professional with a combined experience of 25 years in corporate and consulting environments.
Motivating Each Generation
Posted by vianova in Corporate Social Responsibility, Employee Engagement, Workplace on July 5, 2009
Create more respectful workplaces and make connections with customers of each generation by committing to understand where each generation is coming from. We have clues from generational research that tell us what is important and what motivates them.
What do we know about Traditionalists (ages 64-84)?
Traditionalists are frugal, known for purchasing national brands and choosing inexpensive options. They believe loyalty is earned. Motivated by safety, security and stability, they like conservative images and longevity. Known for communicating face-to-face, they appreciate direct conversation inside a company and word of mouth as a marketing tactic. Their handshake on a deal is as good as law. To optimize profits, maximize credibility and relationships.
How do you connect with Baby Boomers (ages 45-63)?
Boomers have mellowed with age and yet still continue to transform whatever they touch. Bouyed by power, prestige and process as motivators, they are concerned about image and keeping up with the Jones. They also appreciate the back-story.
They are becoming more holistic, spiritual, and are into living more simply after a wild ride of consumerism. They still value choice. The 60s have been reawakened, working into their love of a cause and being of service. They are ambivalent about change so do not introduce it too fast. To maximize profits, emphasize relationships and status.
What’s with Gen X (ages 29-44)?
Gen X is the don’t pussyfoot around generation. They appreciate direct communication and results. No need to warm them up. Just get to it. Gen X is a bit cynical and appreciates humor. They listen intently, get the point quickly and make their own decisions. They intensely dislike hype and are skeptical. They embrace and value technology as a lifestyle need.
Gen X works smarter and has better work/life balance than Boomers. They can say no . They want down time and will take it for themselves and their families. They like to create hybrid products and services that match what they need. To maximize profits, emphasize results and efficiencies.
How do you work with Gen Y (under 28 years old)?
Gen Y is all about cause, community and creativity. Using the newest and greatest technology is the way to their hearts. They will choose socially conscious products and services over those that are not.
Gen Y also values fun, freedom, friends and family. They want a say whether that be input or feedback. Unlike other generations who might have hoped for happiness, they expect it. They desire different experiences, stimulation and authenticity. They embrace diversity and see through race, religion and sexual orientation as a barrier. Isn’t that beautiful? To optimize profits, maximize relationships and uniqueness.
Vianova guest blogger is Sherri Petro, co-founder of Workplace Evolution. Sherri has been educating executives and managers on how to leverage what we know about the motivation of each generation to make more productive and profitable workplaces.
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