Management Blog

Return of the telegram

Some might consider the humble telegram to be outdated technology but an Australian entrepreneur is confident the medium is ready to make a comeback, The Age reports.   

Since its launch three years ago telegramstop.com has sent more than 22,000 telegrams to letterboxes around the world.

The company behind the website, Madewell Enterprises, says the most popular market for telegrams is the US followed by Britain and Australia.

Popular reasons for sending a telegram include weddings, births and birthdays; they are also used regularly to send special messages to soldiers serving across the globe.

To send a telegram users fill in an online form, pay a fee and can then expect to have their message delivered in four to six days time.

According to the article the service is also being used as a promotional vehicle with jeweler Tiffany and the makers of the film Cowboys and Aliens using telegrams to attract attention.

Problem solving made easy

Highly effective problem solving skills are a trait every entrepreneur must learn in order to achieve success, a recent Inc article claims.    

After dismissing the myth that some people are born with good problem solving skills while others are not, the article offers guidance on how to master the discipline.

Inspired by the Brian Tracey book No Excuses: The Power of Self-Discipline, these tips include:

• Be definitive – don't fall into the trap of jumping into solution mode before the problem itself has been clearly defined
• Get real – identify those problems that simply cannot be solved to avoid wasting time on 'fact of life' issues
• Dig deep – focus on finding the root cause of a problem to avoid re-visiting an issue
• Multiple solutions – aim to develop a series of solutions rather than just one to ensure all angles are covered
• Act quickly – it's claimed the longer you put off deciding on a solution the larger the impact of the problem

More tips from the article can be found here.

In defence of sarcasm

Some say it is the lowest form of wit but a new study has found sarcasm can actually benefit an organisation, BNET reports.

Research undertaken by Bar-Ilan University indicates sarcasm can boost creativity by requiring people to engage in creative problem solving in order to absorb a snarly message.

In other words, listening to sarcasm and being forced to figure out the true intent of the speaker forces the brain to work in a lateral and creative way.

The researchers also claim sarcasm is a softer way for people to express anger in the workplace, an emotion that is destined to pop up in every workplace at some stage.

But where sarcasm may foster creativity the researchers found straight-out anger did the opposite with those who are yelled at shutting down their creative abilities.

How to achieve effective staff feedback

Turning the evaluation process on its head by asking staff to evaluate their boss can result in professional growth for managers, according to this Harvard Working Knowledge post.

But rather than taking an informal approach to asking staff for feedback it's suggested managers consider the benefits of the SKS or stop (S), keep (K) and start (S) model.

Post author Thomas J. DeLong says the model requires staff to provide answers in bullet point form to the following simple but insightful questions about their manager:

1. What should I stop doing?
2. What should I keep doing?
3. What should I start doing?

According to DeLong the process helps managers identify behaviours that may be keeping them set in their ways and suggests new directions based on their management strengths.

And for those afraid of a little feedback the following reassurance is offered: "We know feedback is seldom as bad as we have imagined in our heads. The key is to begin the process sooner than later."

More employees using their own IT equipment at work

A new study has found businesses that allow employees to use their own technology in the workplace experience productivity increases of up to 30 per cent, The Telegraph reports.

The survey by Citrix Online found 45 per cent of UK businesses allow employees to use their personal computer equipment.

It's claimed personal devices are a preferred option by many as they often provide more functionality and flexibility than those offered by an employer.

But the trend does have some downsides with many employers voicing concern over the security of confidential information that is stored on employee devices.

Researchers say workers' use of their own technology further blurs the boundaries between office and personal time and means managers could lose control of how people work.

How SMEs can make the most of LinkedIn

LinkedIn offers considerable promise to SMEs provided both the opportunities and limits of the business-focused social network are understood, a recent blog post on The Street argues.

To help SMEs develop realistic expectations about what LinkedIn can do for their business the following list of do's and don'ts are offered. In summary these include:

• Do used LinkedIn to reach out to peers, a process that helps SMEs understand industry trends
• Do be clear about your accomplishments by adding project details and recommendations from satisfied customers
• Do add your name to a contact list where you can chat and brainstorm with others in your field
• Don't expect LinkedIn to result in a mass of new business, at its core the network is mainly a reputation booster and marketing tool
• Don't take a generic approach when creating a profile and avoid using business clichés, instead offer a personal and engaging tone

Gender differences emerge over work lunch habits

It appears Australia is a nation of ladies who don't lunch with a new survey revealing women are less likely to take lunch breaks than their male counterparts.

According to the Herald Sun, more than 30 per cent of women don't take lunch breaks and eat at their desks while only 24 per cent of men have the same habit.

Gender differences also emerged over the time spent at lunch. It's claimed 40 per cent of men take a break of more than 30 minutes whereas 30 per cent of women lunch for over half an hour.

The Sandhurst Find Foods study claims long lunches are history with less than 4 per cent of people taking over an hour for lunch.

In addition, it's claimed almost half of the survey respondents bring their lunch from home.

Five steps to a more productive life

A recent Entrepreneur article argues many professionals aren't using their time wisely, a problem that can be remedied with a good dose of common sense.

To help professionals find more time in their day the following five tips are offered:   

• More deadlines – break projects into smaller pieces by creating deadlines that are prioritised in terms of their importance
• Focus of revenue – delegate all tasks that don't generate revenue to ensure time isn't wasted on lower-value tasks
• Reduce email checking – only check email every 90 minutes and respond to easy email queries immediately to avoid rereading them
• Cut corners with technology – take the time to learn the time-saving but often underused shortcuts offered by software programs
• Focus on training – when staff are adequately trained or have access to organisational resources they will interrupt you less