A Consultant's Chronicles

It's That Time Of The Year: Networking At The 'Big House'

It's that time of year again so tonight I attended my first Christmas party of the season. While I will have much more to say about networking do's & don'ts in an upcoming post [I very definitely witnessed a notable "don't" tonight], right now I thought I'd share this stunning & rather large gingerbread house with you. It's an organic replica of the host for tonight's event, the Claremont Resort & Spa.  While it may not be easy to tell by the photo, this thing is big; it's about the size of a small 7-11! Anyone care to guess how many calories are in that house? Hint: it's a 6 digit number! I call it the "big house' for good reason! 

High Tech High: Helping Business Tomorrow By Planting Seeds Today

One of the by-products of a change in health care policy will be the need for more doctors because there will be a significantly larger number of people seeking care. However,in this country we are experiencing a doctor shortage. How can this be when receiving  medical treatment in this country is highly desired throughout the world? One of the real culprits aside from the lack of interest in becoming a doctor is our declining education system especially when it comes to math & science. In disciplines other than healthcare, as the American workforce has moved away from manufacturing, the emphasis of jobs today & especially tomorrow are in the areas of research & development because innovation is what America has always done best. As a result, business also has a vested interested in seeing its children return to math & science. Increasingly blue chip companies are putting their time & money into the problem with mixed success.

Tomorrow's Jobs Require Math & Science Today n

Why are businesses having only modest success?  Generally, it's hard to fire up American children when it comes to math & science...or so we've been told.  Pursuing a career in medicine also means spending a minimum of 10 extra years training before reaping the monetary benefits which today amounts to less earning power than lawyers, stock brokers, & a host of other jobs that don't require anywhere near the same of amount of work & dedication.

High Tech High: A Solution To The Math/Science Deficit

However, the first real sign I have seen in a long time that someone has a clue about how to turn things around was while watching a brief news clip a few days ago about a relatively new public [charter] school in San Diego, Ca called High Tech High. It's a school full of math & science that challenges kids through the use of technology to dream & create. Children get in through the lottery system & can enter as early as grade school.  Although there are no tests, they are evaluated on an ongoing basis; every child who attends graduates & most attend college. A public school where kids willingly focus their energy on math & science most of the day & thrive? What a concept! Apparently it's one successful enough to spawn 4 more schools just like it. I can hear the health & business community now: "bring it on!"

'A Women's Nation:' Is The Celebration Premature

It has been a crazy week but I did not want to let it go by without commenting on a new report co-edited by Maria Shriver called A Women's Nation. Ms Shriver has been all over the airwaves promoting it. It declares the "battle of the sexes" to be finished & declared a draw leaving men & women to negotiate new rules at the workplace as well as at home because according to the report, today 49.8% of the workforce is is made up of women. This is a giant leap indeed from 1950 when women were only 29.6 % of the workforce & still significantly different from 1970 when 38.1% of women were working.  Other news in the report includes:

2/3  of the households in America have women as the primary or co-bread winner

Women are still paid only .77 or .78 cents to every man’s dollar

3/4 of the American public thinks its a good idea for women to be in the workforce, but it also viewed as a stressor in people’s lives

76% of American supported paid family leave

73% of American said businesses should provide more childcare benefits

Women control 80% of the purchasing power and making it smart business to cater to their needs

Is The Title Accurate 

Does this mean the revolution [such as it was] is complete & women are fully treated as equals in the workforce? Hardly. Call me picky but I believe that the title 'A Woman's Nation' is still a misnomer. Women are still getting paid significantly less for the same job as men. They still have to work harder, longer & smarter for any kind recognition. Furthermore, in some cases they even get blamed for succeeding. Most of all neither our culture nor the workplace as a whole seems to have kept up with the changing needs of its workforce. There are signs of hope to be sure because some companies are making significant changes that benefit both men & women but they are still the exception & not the rule. What's more, while companies know that changes are necessary, & even if they will be making them soon, it won't be without "kicking & screaming" about the cost to their "bottom line" [regardless of evidence to the contrary]. The other missing piece is that the benefits will accrue disproportionately to those with families without a balanced accommodation to those workers [male & female] who are either child-free or whose children are old enough to be on their own. Basically, I'm thinking "wake me up when we really are ready to celebrate!"  What do you think?

 

The Workforce Divide: What We Can Learn Across Generations

My friend & colleague Shannon Pedder whose company Brand: Creative makes her the "queen of marketing swag" wrote this piece recently as a quickie post on Facebook. I liked it so much that I asked her if I could reprint it here because I think there's serious value in it for all of us.

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ACROSS THE GENERATIONS,,, SHARING STRENGTHS AND STRATEGIES

There are currently 4 generations that make up most of the workforce:

 •The Silent Generation, born before 1945
 •The Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964
 •The Gen Xers, born between 1965 and 1981
 •The Gen Yers, born between 1982 and 1995

No matter what industry you are in, you can learn a tremendous amount from the different generations in the workplace.  Let’s start with the Silent Generation.  They finds their strength in being disciplined and trust worthy, they understand the basics and follow through.  They place high value on relationships and believe that their word is their bond.  They respect authority and take satisfaction in a job well done.  Conversely, they may feel challenged to keep up with technology and stay enthusiastic about the rapidly changing workplace culture. 

The Baby Boomers are phenomenal multi-taskers, they are naturals at peer to peer relationships and make excellent mentors.  They typically believe in playing by the rules and earning one’s dues.  One of their greatest strengths is showing the younger generations how to do the same.  Similar to the Silent Generation, they may need help with the technology that is necessary to get results. 

Gen Xers are extremely self-reliant yet also make great team players.  They are typically very techno-savvy.  They have made Facebook and LinkedIn their business tools of choice, using those platforms as a softer way to stay in touch with their network.  Gen Xers have also helped to create many recent time-saving methods.  They may need to take note from the Silent Generation and the Baby Boomers on how to engage clients one on one and follow through with personal connections like phone calls rather than relying completely on technology.  Business is about one to one relationships and technology is simply a tool to enhance the process.

Gen Yers have the same challenge as the Xers and tend to rely heavily on technology for their primary mode of communication and way of doing business.  This is a positive in that have demonstrated new ways to get results with technology as well as how to use social aspects of the internet to market.  Their challenge is to stay engaged on all levels, especially one on one relationships.  As far as style, they are innovative, resourceful, energetic and great social networkers.

Overall, these are simply generalizations and at the end of the day it’s all about people.  It’s important to learn from your peers and your mentors.  Don’t be afraid to ask the generations younger than you for advice- often they are closer to your target demographic and can turn you on to current trends.  Everyone has something to offer and it’s important to cross pollinate to create a collaborative and successful workplace environment.

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Ellen Gunty,M.A. does organizational development, training & mediation in the San Francisco Bay Area.. Her company is Means to an End www.meanstoanendca.com

Shannon Pedder is the owner of BRAND: CREATIVE, a promotional products company based in Oakland.  She has been in the industry for over 13 years and works with people of ALL generations.  You can reach her at 510.547.9400 or shannon@brandcreative.biz.  Check the BRAND: CREATIVE blog for daily updates on product ideas, trends and specials:  http.brandcreative.blogpot.com.

Reprinted with permission from Shannon Pedder, Oct. 2009

 

 

Child Custody In 2009: Parenthood vs. National Security

In this week's New York Times there was an incredibly controversial & difficult editorial concerning child custody rights & the military. As someone who does domestic mediation, what surprises me the most is my initial gut reaction to the problem.  Summarizing the issue, a military specialist returned from Iraq ready to resume custody of her child but in spite of a prior written custody agreement between the two parents, the child's father [not her husband] fought the mother in court to retain custody by asserting that living with "some stranger" would be too upsetting for the child. A judge ordered that the father be given primary custody while the mother was awarded generous visitation & sleepovers. There is a lot to consider in this case:

• First & foremost, what is in the best interest of the child*
• Setting aside tradition, who in this case would be the better custodial parent
• Is the mother finished with all of her military commitments or does she have to return to her unit [this was not clearly addressed]
• Can we expect to continue to recruit people in the armed forces if as a consequence, they stand to lose custody of their children
• Too frequently in custody battles, children are used as pawns because either  a. the relationship with the parents remains emotionally unresolved even if it has ended, b.it is unclear whether one parent's desire to be primary custodial parent is motivated by the best interest of the child or to reduce the amount of child support that s/he will have to pay [I am aware that this sounds cynical but it is quite common particularly in the case of fathers] 

 In The Best Interest Of The Child 

When I mediate custody disputes, my guiding question is always "what is in the best interest of the child?" I explain this to the parents on "day one" when I am retained & describe this as my personal bias. The parents, I explain, are adults who have made choices about their relationship with each other so I see it as my job to look out for the child's well being. In this case I have to say that while it is difficult to determine without knowing much more about both parents, it does indeed seem that at least for now, the father seems most capable of providing a stable environment for their child. Young children essentially need a loving, stabile environment that has structure & consistency. It is unclear from this short editorial if the mother is now able to provide that kind of environment. Be that as it may, military/social engineering simply cannot rest on the back of any one child. However, I do not want to see service men or women penalized for protecting their country & losing custody of one's child is probably one of the toughest penalties of all. Clearly this is an issue that has to be addressed on a case- by-case basis because while children need consistency, they are also incredibly resilient. It's a very tough call. What do you think?

*Note: in child custody disputes courts are also supposed to be guided by what's in the best interest of the child. 

Coverplay: Building A Business By Addressing A Small & Simple Need

Although I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to making fun of "reality TV," there is one sub-category I watch with genuine interest & that is any reality show about business. Until this summer, success in this area belonged only to Donald Trump. This month there's a new show I like a lot called Shark Tank where real venture capitalists compete with each other to fund real entrepreneurs using their own money.

Building A Business By Addressing A Small & Simple Need

Sunday night's episode was a classic case study in building a business by addressing a small & simple need. The name of the product is Coverplay, which was developed by Allison Costa & business partner Amy Feldman.  It is a specially treated [& patented] coverlet for playpens. Why do parents need it? Think about what happens in a playpen: it's a venue for [pre] toilet training, children bring food, toys, & well frankly anything they can get their little hands around [not to mention what their brothers, sisters, & playmates may contribute] making your child's playpen host central to all kinds of bacteria.  Clearly, an uncovered playpen is not a safe place for a small child whose immune system is just developing. Enter Coverplay, which:

• Protects against viruses
• Is machine washable
• Comes in a selection of colorful patterns
• Pediatrician recommended
• Great for travel 

A 'Silver Lining' In a Down Job-Market 

In short it's a fantastic idea that's really simple & really necessary. As soon as you look at it you can't help but think, "why didn't I think of that?" It's utter simplicity reminds me of other really basic ideas that turned into big businesses like post-its or even the tops of take-out coffee cups with a small sip hole in them; the list of simple products like these goes on & on. They all have at least one thing in common: they are examples of small, simple ideas that fill a void. It is exactly what Madison Ave. adman & TV host Donny Deutsch talks about when he encourages potential entrepreneurs to develop their 'big idea' & bring it to market. In a job-market filled with bad news, this product is a ray of sunshine capable of inspiring anyone with a little "big idea" to put forth their best effort to make their dream a business reality.

What Your Golf Game Reveals About You To Business Colleagues

In the business world, the approach of September & October means many things but one particular item always comes to my mind: it's business golf tournament time. In the interest of full disclosure, I should say right here that I am not a "gifted golfer" [understatement of the year!?] but I do know how to conduct myself to make the fairways enjoyable & profitable.  However, in the fall there always seems to be these big company wide tournaments each year. In fact, in certain industries [like insurance], golf & business are a year round affair paired together like ham & swiss [cheese].

What Does Your Golf Game Say About You 

A friend of mine, Suzanne Woo is a business golf specialist & she believes that it is often beneficial for people to play golf together before deciding whether or not to do business together. Why? Just like in any other non-work activity, there is much that can be gleaned just by playing golf together. What are some examples of the kinds of things you can learn?

• How a person handles pressure? Are they at ease or do they crumble?
• What happens when they make a bad shot? Do they make excuses, get so angry that they crack a club over their knee, or simply say "my bad" & move on?
• Do they cheat? Do they lack integrity or are they someone who has to win at any cost?

Would A Stranger Elect To Do Business With You After 18 Holes

Anyone who's ever played golf knows it is extremely difficult to master but at the end of the day, it's just a game.  How do you conduct yourself on the fairways? Could you survive a game with the boss? Would a stranger elect to do business with you after 18 holes together?

Corporate Belt-tightening: Fact or Fiction

Reflecting on the current state of pay for CEOs in publicly owned companies, among other crucial information offered recently CNBC financial analyst Erin Burnett provided the following analysis of CEO pay accross the globe involving comparative compensation of CEO's to their employees:

• In America, it's 400:1
• In Britain, it's 22:1
• In Canada, it's 20:1
• In Japan, it's 11:1

According to the reportage, while we have an opportunity to change this trend, it seems unlikely. Companies are simply "re-arranging the deck chairs" by changing eligibility status for bonuses & stock options arguing for that old cliche about "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

Business & Social Media: Bound Together In A New Economy'

If you've been following my blog with any regularity you know that I have written a lot about social media recently. It's not because sites like Facebook, YouTube, & now Twitter are the "in thing." As we all know, They've been around for a while plus trends come & go. The reasons are bigger & more far-reaching. Aside from the fact that these sites enable us to stay connected with more of the people we know than ever before, they are also a significant gift to business, especially small business. Why? Because it gives smaller businesses an opportunity to compete for huge numbers of clients on the same playing field as their larger & therefore stronger competitors at little or no cost.

Working In A 'Trust Economy' 

It's no accident that a recent headline story in BusinessWeek asked, "what's a friend worth?" It's important to note that the word *friend* here is loosely defined as simply someone you know & it doesn't matter how superficially you know them. You don't even have to "directly know them." According to frequent blogger Rachel Zupek, when it comes to Facebook it's pretty easy to get involved in the lives of people you never met just because they know the neighbor's cousin who used to be your brother's frat brother in college or some such distant & weird link. Clearly, these connections may not be the same people you would choose to spend your free time with or those you know best but being connected has it's benefits. 

Defining A 'Friend' 

What counts as a friend according to this new definition? A close or distant Facebook/Twitter link is perfect. Another example might be those people you met so briefly at a networking event that you barely had time to exchange business cards. Then there's a friend of a friend's brother who went to the same college you did [different graduating class]. No matter, they can be a legitimate connection. The point here is that social networking is about building relationships. For a small business, in today's new 'trust' economy, the companies with the deepest & broadest network are most likely to have the greatest opportunity to either build or maintain their customer base. Whether or not you are a business owner or "just another working stiff", having a solid network will keep you in the game especially in  these financially challenging times.  Feeling a little lost in the weeds? I can relate. While I'm not new to social media, I am new to Facebook. While I love the idea that I can now more easily stay in touch with friends & associates, the fact that it creates yet another opportunity to market my business online is what "sealed the deal" for me. Luckily there's lots of help [free & fee based] out there to assist "newbies" like myself to navigate the rocks & shoals" of marketing your business online. Hubspot is my personal favorite but there are certainly many other options.

HR & Job Hunting: Stop "Stepping On Your Message"

When out job hunting, everyone always "puts their best foot forward" right? Wrong! There are tons of tried & true methods for committing “job-search suicide.”  While the state of the economy & the high unemployment rate have made job seekers just a tad wiser than before [call it experience], there remain some specific problematic behaviors that only serve to step on a job hunter's best sales message. Make no mistake about it, we are discussing a sales pitch here & the product is you. Sadly, when it comes to some key mistakes, there are plenty of "repeat offenders." Here's my critical list of things [large & small] that I still see ruining people's efforts.

Things Not To Do When Job-hunting

1-“Burning bridges” [ahead of you] Remember, the name of today's game is relationships. Try not to make enemies because yesterday's colleague could be tomorrow's boss or a connection to your next employer.
2-Feeling so hopeless that you stop trying-it's hard to stay positive in the face of serial "no thank you’s" [or worse, deafening silence] but push on.  While job hunting is physically, emotionally, & financially hard, not looking virtually guarantees nothing will change.
3-Typos-OK, this is silly. Maybe it's the college lecturer in me but God created  a spell-checker-use it! Typing errors reflect negative characteristics like laziness, carelessness, apathy & more. NOT helpful. Whenever possible, have a fresh pair of eyes proofread for you because sometimes you are just too close to a document to see mistakes & there are errors even a spellchecker won't pick up like "all & al” or “there & their."
4-"It's my world & welcome to it"-Any application/interview is about the job & what you can do for the employer NOT the other way around. Be certain that all of your communication with potential employers focuses on what you can do for them. Consider that every TV/web ad you see touts what a product can do for you or how much fun you will have using it or how good you will look if you buy it. No ad says "buy this because we have to fatten our corporate profits & go on golf junkets."
5-Running late-In the interest of full disclosure this is a personnel pet peeve. When you are late, the message this sends is "my time is more important than your time." Not the way to make a good first impression. In fact, I know HR people who will not even let you in the door if you arrive 15 minutes late.
6-"Bad-mouthing" past employers-Think about it, as you sit & complain about your past employers, your interviewer is thinking "why should I hire them if they are going to badmouth this company next?" They are also going to wonder about your contribution to all this horrible PR after all, "there are always at least two sides to this equation"
7-Not preparing for your interview enough [you haven't researched the company & can't ask questions about the position]-Hit the web & use some of the information found through your research in the interview to demonstrate that you've done your homework & care about the position.
8-Believing that the interview happens only in the meeting room-It's easy to forget but all eyes are watching. To this I would add that you shouldn't be lulled by the interviewer's casual informality, even chattiness. Remember that everything you communicate [verbally or physically] is fair game to be used. If the interview process continues over a meal, pay attention to everything you do. This includes how you order, what you order, how you treat the table-server, table manners; when I say everything I mean everything. Interviewing over a meal sounds casual but it is full of landmines so watch your step.
9-Hiding your unemployed status from friends-Admitting you lost your job is extremely difficult but far more common [& has less stigma] in today’s economy. When job hunting, your network is critical. Furthermore, pay special attention to what is sometimes known in social media circles as “loose links” or people you don’t know very well. Think about it; the better you know people, the greater the likelihood that you already have some access to their networks. However, in the case of people you don’t know very well, since you don’t know much about them, chances are that their network will mean fresh connections for you as well.  Gaining access to new networks significantly increases your chances of meeting someone who can be helpful in your search.
10-Sending a resume without a cover letter-Imagine if someone came right up to you hands outstretched & said, "give me a job." What would you conclude? I'm a city kid so I grew up seeing this behavior everyday from homeless people. To the best of my knowledge, it rarely got them a job. Now that's a dramatic example but the point is in order for your resume to be viewed in the most favorable light possible, you have to give it context & that means formally introducing yourself & providing rationale for why you are the best person for the job. Make it short, make it memorable, & make them want to read more so this is not the place to rehash your resume. Make your letter like the mouth-watering appetizer that makes the reader look forward to the entree [aka: your resume].
11-Talking about money too soon-The money issue frequently requires the finesse of a professional dancer. If they bring up the issue early as in before an offer is made, dodge, dodge, dodge! My favorite response [& one that employers respect] when they bring up the subject of money too soon is "it's a little early to be discussing money when I am still trying to get my arms around the position." Negotiating money is a fine art & deserves a post all by itself.

Covering these bases will not guarantee you a job but your chances for positioning yourself more favorably will be vastly improved!