Management Blog

The rise of infographics

Forget PowerPoint, infographics are the future of business presentations, Fast Company reports.

Quite simply, infographics are graphic representations of information or knowledge that offer the ability to communicate often-complex data easily and clearly. You'll find a good example here.

A train route map is a consumer-focused example, yet trend watchers are suggesting infographics have much to offer professionals due to the ability of pictures to encourage critical thought.

In the article, inspiring infographic developer Francesco Franchi explains how these graphic representations work and why they are different from the one-dimensional nature of PowerPoint.

The power of everyday leadership

Leadership doesn't necessarily have to be something that is confined to the workplace. In this TED Talk Drew Dudley explains the concept of 'everyday leadership' and how it can improve the lives of others.

Why tackling fear overcomes procrastination

The key to overcoming procrastination is to understand why you are putting off work on a substantial or important project, according to this Harvard Business Review blog post.

Writer Peter Bregman writes that despite the belief of many that procrastination occurs when a person is too busy or doesn't know where to start, fear is generally the reason why projects are delayed.

The solution, according to Bregman, is not to ignore fear but to acknowledge it before anxiety starts to build:

"When you acknowledge that fear, you're acknowledging that you might not have all that it takes to meet your expectations; you might not have all the tools, information, skills, etc.

"Admitting that, in turn, reduces your expectation of getting it perfect right off the bat," he writes.

The other benefit of facing up to your fear is that it drives you to recognise that you may not have all the tools, data, skills or support to complete a project.

Once again, realising this is a big step towards developing a solution.

Article round-up from @aimqld - 6-10 February

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

Why? What If? Why Not? Challenge the Norm (via The Jazz of Innovation) http://bit.ly/y94utr

All Aboard: The Importance of a Robust Onboarding Process (via hrdaily) http://bit.ly/xQLAJW

Develop Irresistible Content with this 4-Point Formula (via @problogger) http://bit.ly/xpitlV

Kindness: The Ultimate Business Skill (via Pete the Planner) http://bit.ly/whUavp

5 Early Birds Share Everyday Productivity Strategies (via Fast Company) http://bit.ly/zudbqv

Video: Why Your Childhood Habits are Sabotaging Your Career with Dr Lois Frankel (via CBS MoneyWatch) http://bit.ly/y9duqA

Leverage Your Business Pulse: The 5 Day Leadership Planner (via @terrystarbucker)
http://bit.ly/wWVlMD

3 Actions You Can Take Now to Shift Your Emotional State (via Michael Hyatt Intentional Leadership) http://bit.ly/yED8de

Why Work-Life Balance Isn't Balanced (via Gallup Management Journal) http://bit.ly/AxlCt6

Become the Face of Your Brand (via Dynamic Business) http://bit.ly/AFnHWA

Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Idea to Executives (via Innovation Excellence)
http://bit.ly/yYaF7t

Replacing a Missing Star: How to Deal with Losing a High-Performing Worker (via SmartBlog on Leadership) http://bit.ly/AEs7vJ

Why Flexible Hours Inspire Performance (via Inc.) http://bit.ly/AmUPYG

You Made a Mistake? Great Work! (via Compensation Cafe) http://bit.ly/z38iv4
 
The Right Role for Top Teams (via strategy+business) http://bit.ly/yRq2Fg
 
10 Ways Introverts Can Get Noticed at Work (via Business Insider) http://read.bi/wV08r1
 
Let Your Team Tell You What They Need (via management-issues) http://bit.ly/zYOgDM
 
Are You Too Busy to Grow? (via Blanchard LeaderChat) http://bit.ly/wflEQF

Cultivate In-House Geniuses to Inspire Innovation (via OPEN Forum) http://bit.ly/wkZLXh

Sharpening Your Skills: Online Marketing (via HBS Working Knowledge) http://bit.ly/xPOdTv

How to Consume Your Digital Information More Efficiently (via Lifehack) http://bit.ly/zJgk84

It Depends: Situations and Flexible Leadership (via Thinking is Hard Work)
http://bit.ly/AB6bXM

Productivity bolstering tips

As 2012 starts to settle into a familiar groove of tight deadlines and overflowing email in-boxes it could be time to think about ways to boost your personal productivity, news.com.au suggests.

A recent article on the website claims professionals are in a position to leave the office on time despite a growing workload by following a series of tips.

Based on ideas gathered from a range of productivity experts these tips include:

• 15-minute bursts – set a timer and spend 15 minutes working intensely on one project and avoid all communication distractions
• Cut down on email – apparently it takes 25 minutes to refocus after reading email, so only go through your inbox once or twice a day
• Be organised – avoid a messy desk, instead have a place for important information that's easy to access and file the rest
• Sort out your priorities – follow the 3Ds – do it, delegate it or dump it
• Time to focus – block out periods times when people can't approach to you (to tackle demanding tasks) as well as those when they can't

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