Management Blog

The perils of a messy desk

A new survey conducted by US recruitment firm OfficeTeam suggests the majority of managers are unimpressed with the sight of a messy desk in the workplace, management-issues reports.

The study indicates 83 per cent of human resources managers believe the appearance of a employee's work space has an impact on how they perceive that person's professionalism.

And it appears very few managers are indifferent on this issue with only 17 per cent saying they didn't care either way if their employee's desks were tidy or disorganised.

According to the report, the study involved more than 500 human resources managers at companies with more than 20 employees.

Article round-up from @aimqld - 18-21 April

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

Building a Network That Works Takes Work (via HBR) http://bit.ly/dOA8fC

2 Great Reasons Why You Should Take Time to Become a Mentor (via TLNT) http://bit.ly/dMFPFC

Using Social Media Monitoring to Study Your Audience and Prospects (via Futurelab) http://bit.ly/gHKn0U

The DNA of Innovative Companies: Visionary CEO or Coherent System? (via CEO Refresher) http://bit.ly/fybMz6

What Levers to Pull in a Job Negotiation (via Stepwise) http://bit.ly/fiPDvR

The Challenge of 'Imovation': Innovation vs imitation (via Ivey Business Journal) http://bit.ly/eW9oHI

Crafting Best-in-Class Business Intelligence (via strategy+business) http://bit.ly/ecvwDf

6 Efficient Habits for Success and Balance (via Blogging Innovation) http://bit.ly/hEZxDF

Listening to the Voice of the Customer (via CEO Refresher) http://bit.ly/eZ7mTU

Why Project Networks Beat Project Teams (via MIT Sloan Management Review) http://bit.ly/fUe4H4

The Lost Art of Conversation (via Flying Solo) http://bit.ly/eHcoj5

It's Not Nagging: Why Persistent, Redundant Communication Works (via Harvard Working Knowledge) http://bit.ly/exovTZ

The Feedback Gap (via management-issues) http://bit.ly/hWWKYj

Business news differs for business types

A new study by Roy Morgan Research indicates small business owners are more likely to use the internet as their main source of business news than workers at large firms, Marketing reports.

By contrast, professionals working at larger firms were found to gravitate towards metro and national newspapers as their  preferred and trusted source of business news.

The findings suggest that while the influence of online channels is impossible to ignore due to the size of Australia's SME sector, the influence of business news via print media is far from spent.

The researchers suggest their study offers insight into how to target different sized businesses when deciding on business-to-business marketing channels.

Secrets of the world's top workaholics

No two workaholics are the same, but some are more effective than others. This Lifehacker post suggests the world's greatest workaholics each have their own unique approach.   

Here is a summary of the list, which offers insight into the secret weapon of each uber-over-achiever:

• Thomas Edison – the inventor of over 1,000 patented gadgets is said to have firmly believed that a spark of genius was the result of spending countless hours attempting to solve a problem
• Oprah – a multimedia megastar who has build her empire as a result of doing something she loves: mixing mass media entertainment with humanitarian causes
• Donald Trump – from real estate to beauty pageants, it's claimed The Donald has built his fortune based on feeling an adeline rush when a sealing business deal
• Bill Gates – the former Microsoft CEO managed to create his software empire through the process of consulting with the smartest collaborators he could find

Accountants win favour with SMEs

Small business owners are more likely to trust their accountant for general business advice than any other consultant, a new survey has found.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the MSI Global Alliance survey indicates 37 per cent of SMEs trust accountants more than lawyers, business coaches, financial planners and bankers.

Banks left a particularly bad taste in the mouth of SMEs with only 10 per cent saying their banker was a trusted source of trusted financial advice.

But it appears the banking industry is confident they can win back the trust of SMEs with the Australian Bankers' Associating claiming banks are working hard to be relevant to small businesses.

Tips for managing an extrovert

The best way for introverted managers to deal with extroverted employees is to understand how they tick and play to their strengths, this BusinessWeek post asserts.

According to the post, extroverts can be defined as personality types who are talkative, outgoing and full of energy; they also tend to thrive on working with others.

It's claimed a range of tips can help introverts come to terms with boisterous employees. In summary, these include:

• Ask pointed questions – help extroverts, who can be prone rambling, to focus during meetings by asking penetrating questions
• One-on-one time – extroverts need "face time" to feel valued, so it's worth reaching out regularly rather than relying solely on email
• Use their energy – allow extroverts to shine by involving them in trade shows, customer engagement and community projects
• Explain your behaviour – don't be a mystery to your extroverted employees, let them know that you're a quiet, reflective type

Should war be declared on sweets at work?

A bowl of lollies or plate of biscuits may help bring the office together on a social level, but the ritual could be playing havoc with the health of workplaces, this article from The Australian suggests.

The contention is backed by research findings that suggest the visibility and proximity of snack food in the workplace can make people want to eat whether they are hungry or not.

And while sharing food may be good for morale, it can be a double edged-sword for those in the office trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The article offers a few suggestions to help office workers contend with the sight of a plate of sweet treats, one of which is to bring in plates of fruit to encourage healthy habits.

Another is to keep chewing gum, sugar-free lollies or healthy snacks in a desk draw in case the urge for a sweet treat emerges.

Article round-up from @aimqld - 11-15 April

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

Gossip and Rumors in the Workplace: 3 Things You Can Do to Stop Them (via Trust Advisor) http://bit.ly/gZdiPF

What Businesses Can Learn From Non-Profits (via Steve Yastrow) http://bit.ly/eNukkT

How to Build Your People (via Steve Roesler) http://bit.ly/gnVkin

Communicating Compensation, Total Rewards & Meaning (via Compensation Cafe) http://bit.ly/hwxOeb

Servant Leadership, Trust and Team Performance (via Bret L. simmons) http://bit.ly/ic1uHs

How Mood Affects Performance (via management-issues) http://bit.ly/haCXY8

5 Ways to Hold the Right Kind of Attention (via BusinessWeek) http://buswk.co/hYZ0Ii

Video: Managing Stress (via BNET) http://bit.ly/faAi59

The Benefits of a Flat Company (via Inc.) http://bit.ly/fwFYXH

How Genius Works (via The Atlantic) http://bit.ly/dTGHb1

10 Words and Terms That Ruin a Resume (via Monster Thinking) http://bit.ly/eZF4ai

Brand Driven Innovation (via InnovationManagement) http://bit.ly/f3KwMy

A Simple Way to Appreciate the Good Things at Work (via Chief Happiness Officer) http://bit.ly/eHflKD

8 Assumptions and 8 Questions About Innovation (via First Friday Book Synopsis) http://bit.ly/evGGpI

Working when you're sick

Few professionals can afford to take a sick day, but when cold or flu strikes some know how to handle being ill better than others, this lifehack post suggests.

To help managers in a situation where they must balance being too sick to work with the need to finish a project that's too important to ignore, the following tips are offered:

• Take the day off – time off may prevent you from prolonging illness or making mistakes due to lack of concentration
• Remember to drink fluids – many people forget to follow their mother's advice and drink plenty of clear fluids
• Budget your time – rather than trying to work a full eight hours from home attempt to work in short busts with lots of breaks
• Find other ways to be productive – consider avoiding detailed work and instead focus on big picture thinking

Just how social is Twitter?

Twitter is generally though to be a social – that is two-way – medium, but new research suggests the communication platform is predominantly used as a broadcast medium, smallbizlabs reports.

Citing a new study by Yahoo Research, the blog post claims Twitter is dominated by a small number of users with approximately 50 per cent of blog posts generated by 20,000 people.

The majority of these content producers fit into four categories: celebrities, media, organisations and bloggers.

According to the post, the findings indicate Twitter may not be a particularly effective method for small businesses keen to reach and interact with niche markets.

Accordingly, the following advice is offered:

"...learn about and experiment with Twitter, test it for a mix of business purposes, measure your results, and use it if you're getting a strong ROI relative to other uses of your time and money."