The economics (or ‘tweakonomics’) of a hireless recovery
In an interesting take on why jobless rates remain persistently high, Michael Schrage, a research fellow at MIT, suggests in this Harvard Business Review article that we may be in a “hireless” recovery. With many firms uncertain about the future costs, they have refrained from adding staff. Instead, many are guiding money into technology and training to help staff do more with less. If you’re looking for a job, more than ever, you have to prove your ROI. READ…
Motivating your team, and other magic tricks
Aaron Levie, the young CEO of Box.net, talks about how his background as a magician helped him discover that a good manager always keeps a few surprises handy – whether it’s for your audience or your staff. In an interview with the New York Times, Levie explains how tossing out unusual ideas for projects helps keep his team engaged and having fun at work.READ…
WATCH: Jim Collins says the ‘right’ workers are self-motivated
Management guru (and Colorado-based) Jim Collins, author of Built to Last, says good leaders don’t spend tons of time trying to motivate workers. Instead, they find the right people, which he says are self-motivated, and then get out of the way to let them do their work. Check out this 2:23 video clip from his expansive video library. VIEW…
B-Schools A-Twitter
A growing number of respected business schools are adding social media courses to their MBA curriculum. This isn’t simply a fad, according to BusinessWeek. Employers who haven’t grown up using social media want to use it to promote their company or product and help their bottom line. They’re looking for younger people – such as the next MBA grad they hire – to help them get started. READ…
Survival of the fittest in the 21st century
Still getting comfortable with social media? Still unsure abut whether the iPad is a fad or the wave of the future? New technology can change the way your business or industry operates and wreak havoc on your profits while you struggle to adapt. Forbes offers five tips for keeping up with technological changes that could rock your company’s world. READ…
What’s your company’s personality?
In highlighting positive features of top small company workplaces, Inc. asks “What’s your company’s personality?” One firm in New York actually self-assesses with an annual personality test. Why? To help uncover important values that can be opportunities for growth and help align with future hires. Forty workplaces are highlighted for a mix of reasons, including a couple from Colorado. READ…
Workers’ hobbies can help the workplace
This article from the Wall Street Journal makes a great case for employing and hiring workers who are passionate about their hobbies or volunteer work. These types of workers can often learn valuable skills that they’ll bring back to the business, and they might score some good PR for your company. READ…