Management Blog

The bright side of being fired

Could getting the sack be the best thing for you? The answer is quite possibly, according to Financial Times blogger Luke Johnson in a recent post on the topic.

The career of Steve Jobs is used as an example. The IT heavyweight has said being fired from Apple was "the best thing that could ever happen" to his career.

Jobs claims the experience forced him to face new challenges elsewhere – most notably at the visionary Pixar Animation Studios – before returning to the Apple as a stronger leader.

Don't be ashamed of being fired the blog suggests; use it as a golden opportunity to grow as a professional, change careers or enjoy the freedom of self-employment.

A reinvention for telemarketing

Australia's telemarketing industry is undergoing an image makeover in a bid to prove itself as a relevant communications channel, The Australian reports.

The article profiles telemarketing guru Michelle Harrison who argues the one-on-one sales technique provides businesses with an invaluable form of exposure.

According to Harrison, telemarketing is a highly effective communications channel because brand messages can be tailored to each consumer's needs.

Apparently the key to telemarketing success is getting the right people to do the job. Harrison says her company (which grew nine fold last financial year) only employs the best and pays them accordingly.

'Pyro' bosses need control

Managers who habitually panic over small problems can significantly reduce workplace productivity, according to a Fortune Small Business article on 'workplace pyromaniacs'.

The term workplace pyromaniac is used to describe bosses who waste time and resources by spending too much time on issues that seem urgent but are really not that important.

It turns out technology is partly to blame. Many pyromaniac managers do more damage than good by blasting off impulsive emails to staff without thinking about the consequences of their demands. 

Behaviour experts say pyromaniac managers can help themselves by taking control of their impulses. This might include setting daily limits for emails or avoiding mobile devices outside of work hours.

The perfect presentation

Confused about what makes a good PowerPoint presentation? BusinessWeek's 'Seven Keys to the Perfect Presentation' may provide some clarity. In summary, these tips are:

1. Sketch it out first – if you're using visual aids, do a sketch of all information first so you don't overload screens with too much detail

2. One thing at a time – only feature one point or theme for each slide

3. Choose data carefully – just show your audience the data they need to see

4. Tell a story – have a beginning, middle and end for your presentation and don't give away the 'plot' at the start

5. Don't talk and show together – keep a balance between the delivery of verbal and visual information

6. Animate sparingly – overly fancy slides will detract from what you have to say

7. Be engaging – invite participation from the audience and make an impact after the presentation by giving people handouts

Is the internet killing the TV star?

In another sign the influence of free to air television is fading Johnson & Johnson has decided to divert a significant amount of its media budget to internet marketing, The Australian reports.

Johnson & Johnson Pacific's division general manager Sue Hogan says the move is a response to the fact that consumers are spending less time watching free to air TV.

Analysts believe the company's shift from traditional media will further bolster Australia's $1 billion internet advertising business.

Likely new media vehicles for Johnson & Johnson could include dedicated brand websites, short-term internet campaigns, viral ads and direct and database internet marketing.

The Three Cs of innovation

Psychological barriers – such as emotional, cultural or environmental issues – can limit our ability to think innovatively, according to a recent Financial Times article.

The story claims it's possible to overcome these hurdles by following the 'Three Cs of Innovative Thinking'… collect, compute and communicate.
Here's a brief overview of the Three Cs:

1. Collect – your subconscious is always collecting valuable information; tap into its power by writing down anything and everything you know about your subject

2. Compute – now that your subconscious has been emptied onto paper, go through the ideas and start fitting pieces together; this process may take minutes or months

3. Communicate – give your brain the opportunity to communicate your answers with some 'quiet time'; turn off the phone, close the door and avoid distractions

Stop repeating yourself

New software tools are being released to help desk bound workers deal with repetitive stress injury (RSI), according to a recent All About Users blog posting.

One of these programs, PrevRSI, presents computer users with reminders to ensure they take adequate breaks. The user can customise break intervals and durations to suit their preferences.

The blog suggests RSI reminders are a must for all computer users: "Even if you do not suffer from RSI-related problems, it's a good idea to take adequate breaks to ensure you do not fall into the RSI trap."

It's a weird weird work world

The UK's Employment Appeal Tribunal has celebrated its 30th birthday by listing some of the strangest workplace disputes it has handled. Here are a few:

• A CEO who demanded all staff submit to DNA testing after a piece of chewing gum became stuck to a director's suit trousers
• A teaching assistant who was dismissed for being a pentagram wearing witch; the matter was settled out of court
• A 41 year old waitress who successfully won an unfair dismissal case after suffering incessant taunts about her red hair
• A Royal Mail worker successfully won an unfair dismissal case after he was sacked for taking time off to mourn the death of his dog
• A Bristol teacher sought damages after being forced to continually sit in a chair that made embarrassing sounds every time she moved

Retailers urged to use their senses

To compete with larger chain stores smaller retailers must learn how to titillate their customers' senses, a consumer psychology expert advises.

In a recent news.com.au profile, US researcher Brian Dyches says small retailers are in a strong position to increase sales by appealing to their clienteles' visual, aural and olfactory senses.

Dyches' research has found stimuli such as colour, music or scent can determine how long a visitor spends in a store and even how much they spend.

Looking to the future he predicts retailers will soon be able to tailor visual displays to suit particular customers. For example, if more women than men are in the store the digital displays might change accordingly.

McDonalds goes crowdsourcing

McDonalds Australia is embracing crowdsourcing is a big way by asking its customers to name its newest burger and to help dress its staff, The Australian reports.

To involve customers in the naming process the new burger will initially appear at outlets without a name. In addition, customers are being asked to help choose the company's new uniforms.

The Australian suggests the initiatives are evidence of crowdsourcing's growing popularity: "For a marketer such as McDonald's that has closely controlled the manner in which its messages are crafted, it speaks volumes".