Management Blog

Is happiness the key to success?

Most people believe hard work results in success and that success makes people happy, but a growing body of research suggests this way of thinking may be flawed.

In this new TED Talk positive psychologist Shawn Achor offers a humorous overview of research that indicates happiness inspires workplace productivity.

The benefits and threats of team proximity

New research suggests coworkers who have their desks placed close to each other produce higher quality collaborative work, this Harvard Business Review blog post reports.

The findings are based on a Harvard Medical School study that found coauthors of medical research who worked in close proximity were more likely to produce successful outcomes.

Based on these findings researchers say that despite the growing use of the internet for collaborative purposes it is still important to create built environments that enable frequent physical interactions.

Blog post author Bob Frisch argues that while many organisations are adhering to the collaboration trend by placing top managers on the same floor it is important to consider some potential drawbacks.

One pitfall is that grouping senior managers together means all their direct reports are placed in other parts of the building, a positioning that can compromise top down team collaboration.

In order to tackle this situation Frisch makes a number of suggestions including the provision of two offices for executives, one with their peers and another with their direct reports.

The regular blocking out of time for senior managers to sit with their team to foster spontaneous and unstructured interactions is another option.

YouTube set to eclipse TV

New figures reveal just how powerful the video sharing site YouTube has become.

According to this readwriteweb post, YouTube visitors watch up 4 billion videos every day, a 25 per cent increase in the past eight months.

Overall in 2011, YouTube provided access to a trillion videos, a statistic, according to the post, that equates to 140 views for each person on the planet.

It's claimed this data indicates YouTube's reach is set to overshadow broadcast television as more content goes online rather than being communicated through traditional channels.

This development would further help monetise YouTube, as the video sharing site currently only receives revenue from around 11 per cent of all views.

Brands matter more than ever: survey

Brand reputation is more important than ever with consumers anchoring their trust in companies they like and going online to tell of poor experiences, a new global research project has found.

According to Marketing, a study by PR network Weber Shandwick suggests consumers are taking their thoughts about brands online with 43 per cent likely to discuss a corporate scandal via new media.

When it comes to purchasing products it appears reputation plays a vital role with around 70% of survey respondents saying they avoid buying products from companies they don't like.

The survey found unknown commodities are also a problem for consumers with 56 per cent saying they hesitate to buy a product if they cannot tell which company made it.

But it's not all bad news. The study found online media is used by 37 per cent of consumers to mention good corporate deeds.

The survey also offered some interesting results on advertising effectiveness.

Researchers claim 86 per cent of brand executives believed advertising influenced a brand's reputation while only 56 per cent of consumers said it affected how they saw a product or service.

Article round-up from @aimqld - 30 Jan-3 Feb

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

Doing What You Say and the Power of Walking the Talk (via Time Management Ninja) http://bit.ly/x6r0Qm

12 Most Crushing Ways Your Competition Beats You at Networking (via 12 Most) http://bit.ly/A42V5F

10 Tips for Managing Creative People (via Design Shack) http://bit.ly/xq04Db

Strategy for Non-Strategic Leaders (via In the CEO Afterlife) http://bit.ly/xFZYsG

Leaders: Replace These 5 Behaviors to Attract Top Talent (via @katenasser) http://bit.ly/ygIwpq

How to Make Sure Your Business Card is Never Thrown Away (via @workawesome) http://bit.ly/z8cyzW

Introducing Toxic Criticism (via designtaxi.com) http://bit.ly/xSb6K9

How Leaders Can Overcome Resistance to Change (via thoughtLEADERS) http://bit.ly/yJoLAI

Managing With a Conscience (via Leading Blog) http://bit.ly/wDcjgH

Learn to Trust Your Gut (via HBR) http://bit.ly/y2Qeuu

Coopetition: Embracing Millenials in the Workplace (via The Leadership Advisor) http://bit.ly/AdGhxz

Tips for Hiring the Best Employees (via Entrepreneur) http://bit.ly/wrW5YQ

A Collaborative Approach to Marketing (via strategy+business) http://bit.ly/z1Rvxp

Manage the Needs of Multiple Supervisors (via Alexandra Levit) http://bit.ly/zqPYmJ

7 Bad Business Habits to Break This Year (via Business on Main) http://on-msn.com/yJVt8L

Interesting Opportunities: 6 Ways to Identify Strategic Distractions (via Brainzooming) http://bit.ly/wK8Bhi

15 Tips for Overcoming Insecurity (via Leadership Freak) http://bit.ly/yzNPj4

The Secret Power of Introverts (via Forbes) http://onforb.es/xeKV6Y

7 Key Elements to Building a High Performance Team and Organization (via Lead on Purpose) http://bit.ly/x2UiL6

Many Ways to Connect (via Michael Lee Stallard) http://bit.ly/wtDEBK

Change or Learn to Say, "Would You Like Fries with That?" (via Management Excellence @artpetty) http://bit.ly/xaXGbt

Leading in a New Direction: 3 Techniques for Thinking up New Business Ideas (via Great Leadership) http://bit.ly/AuF7Oj

Learning the art of charisma

A new book seeks to dispel the myth that charisma is something people are born with rather than a trait that can be learned, The Age reports.

The secret to success, according to The Charisma Myth author Olivia Fox Cabane, is to follow a few guidelines that are capable of building the ability to influence, persuade and inspire.

To assist in this process The Age has distilled some of the key themes from Fox Cabane's book. In summary, a few of these charisma guidelines are:

• It's not about being the most attractive person – apparently it helps but charisma isn't all about looks, e.g. Winston Churchill
• Focus on others – during conversations charismatic people make others feel like they are the most fascinating people in the room
• Look genuine – think of something pleasant so you appear sincere during a conversation; this helps you to avoid a fake smile
• Shake it up – the right handshake (not too hard, not too soft, no twisting) can boost your charisma points
• Listen up – rather than doing all the talking or dominating the conversation, listen attentively to what others are saying
• Dress right – uncomfortable clothes may distract you and make others think you are disengaged

What do you think? Is it really that simple or do you believe some people are born with the gift of charisma?

Older workers are delaying retirement: report

A new survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed a large number of older workers are delaying retirement, The Age reports.

The survey found 36 per cent of respondents who planned to retire at some stage said the timing of their retirement depended on the state of their financial security.

Personal health and physical ability were also listed as factors that can influence the decision to leave work.

The survey also found most Australians believe they won't be able to live off a government pension with around 50 per cent of older workers expecting superannuation to be their main income source.

The ABS says the average age of retirement for Australia has been 61 over the past five years, however currently employed workers who plan to retire say they will do so at around the age of 63.

Is it okay to say no?

One of the most powerful ways to increase your personal productivity is to learn when it is appropriate to say no.

Writing for management-issues, Mike Bobinski explains that saying no to a request doesn't necessarily mean a person is belligerent or difficult but can instead reveal a mastery of time management.

It's suggested not agreeing to every request for assistance means a worker is less likely to become overloaded or feel overwhelmed and, as a result, will avoid being distracted from achieving core tasks.

And it appears face-to-face requests aren't the only problem with increased online media use exacerbating the issue of work overload.

"With today's multiple communication channels we're more aware of what's happening: dozens of events that could benefit us, as well as hundreds that won't.

"Not only does this require us to make more decisions, but the mere conveniences of technology can also infiltrate our boundaries and diminish our effectiveness," Bobinski writes.

Of course it's unrealistic to say no to everything. Accordingly, it's suggested workers think carefully about which requests will take them off an intended course and if the cost outweighs the benefit.

But will this approach work with the boss? If you're curious about how to say no to someone who's above you in the food chain, you'll find some suggested responses here.

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