September, 2010

So Where Do We Go From Here

When it comes to employment has our world become testing crazy? What with psychometric, personality, aptitude, verbal, spatial, emotional, mechanical, numerical and reasoning assessment tests, it certainly feels like it!  Maybe you might first look at the picture, think about it, and then see if you wished you had thought something different by time you have finished reading this article.

The value of testing, at job interviews and within human resource structures, is sometimes brought into question. This is especially so when one considers the offers of training available on the Internet to help “pass” these methods of evaluation. Surely if it is possible to train and get help then the whole raison d’être of testing is undermined? The one word which encompasses many of the tests is “psychometric” as the theories associated with this have been applied in the measurement of personality, attitudes, academic achievements and beliefs.

The use of such tests has become ubiquitous since they were first mooted in the late 1880’s to such an extent that their reliability and validity must be expertly evaluated. It is true to say that the use of psychometric testing, as part of recruitment procedures and staff assessments, is widespread. You may well ask, “Is it a waste of time training to pass such tests?” My reply would be a categorical, “Yes, it is a waste of time!” The whole idea is to find a position which mutually suits you and your employer. It is of little benefit to anyone if you end up in a job you cannot do well especially as it will probably mean you will be unhappy.

The easiest and best way to approach any of these tests is to be yourself. Relax and enjoy them. There actually isn’t any pass or fail as it is simply an assessment of your overall skills. Someone who is good at time management may not be as good at problem resolving. Equally someone who excels in decision making may not be so good at presentation.

A successful company needs personnel that, as a team, are able to provide all the necessary skills. It would take a miracle to find these all in one person. We all shine at something and it is the psychometric tests which will help identify this. It is useful for you to undertake your own psychometric appraisal in order for you to know and understand yourself better. Why leave it for others to find out? Knowing yourself puts you ahead of the rest. Some of my friends are now developing picture/visuals as a means of determining skills and motivation. If you have looked at the picture with this article and thought about it, what caught your eye first, second, third and do your subsequent thoughts give a clue to your profile skills? Did you look at the young girl on the right first (the groom)? Did you look at the driver on the left? Did you look at the ponies and then realise that the one on the right was a mule? Did you wonder where the picture was taken? Did you wonder about the sport?

No doubt you will appreciate that over a selection of pictures the order in which you perceive and question things will start to give an overall picture of what motivates you.  Some people are able to develop a skill of “animal instinct” assessment and amongst the best of these are many school teachers. They may quickly determine a pupil’s prospects.
The headmaster at Richard Branson’s school is attributed as saying that Branson would either end up as a successful business man or in jail. It didn’t take any psychometric test to be proved right on both counts.  However when testing is waived before you, as the be all and end all, you should always keep this thought uppermost: - “Winners are always doing something different to everyone else – it is this difference which makes them winners”. So where do we go from here, as it is doubtful if any amount of testing will pinpoint this winning difference?

Dave Eager

July, 2009

Joy in the workplace

You may have not realised that the average person, from starting their first job until they retire, spends nearly 25% of their time at work. This means, if you do not enjoy your work, you are spending 25% of your life being unhappy. Doctors, film stars, lawyers, nurses and teachers are united by one common motivational theme. In their chosen profession, they are not in it for the money alone; they are in it because they love their work. They thrive on the joy it brings.
It is often overlooked that similarly every worker needs to experience joy at work. Sometimes we need a pat on the back, a simple smile from a colleague. However these cannot replace our own inner enjoyment from achieving goals. It is easy for an actor to respond to the adulation of fans but they have to call on inner emotions when performing in front of a camera. It is only their inner joy which confirms their success. What is it in our work environment which brings us inner joy? Building on our joy will stimulate job satisfaction and achievements. This will benefit not only ourselves but also bring a smile to those around us.
Here are some points which may help you enjoy your work and work place.
Understand where you are and what you are
Consciousness about your profile and the surroundings can reduce mistakes of your job. Think about the job only, when you are into it.
Work comfortably
Do your work in a comfortable pace, keeping the deadlines in mind. Be practical when you take up an assignment. Avoid unnecessary haste meant only to satisfy your bosses. You will not be able to complete your job in a perfect manner.
Give priorities to your work
List out the jobs in hand and do the necessary one first. Prioritising the jobs can make them easier to complete.
Be involved
Involvement is a major factor for a successful job completion. You can never expect to see wonders, unless and until you are not involved in your job.
Develop routines
Creating routines can help you work resourcefully. You may have clear thoughts in the morning. Keep aside this time for reports and planning. Then move on to letters and mails which require lesser creativity.
Interact during breaks
Discuss about general matters with your colleagues. Avoid discussing official things during your breaks. Talk about your favourite sport, film or music and make the surroundings lively.
Appreciate your colleagues
Appreciate your colleagues for their accomplishments. Ignoring the success of your fellowmen for the sake of own glory can weaken the team effort.

July, 2009

“TOILET PAPER – LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT!”

“One day I was standing in the street with my mother when a white man, in priest’s clothing, walked past. As he passed us he took off his hat to my mother. I couldn’t believe my eyes – a white man who greeted a black working class woman.” Now to many the act of doffing ones hat may seem a very little thing, but this quote was from a boy who grew up to be Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The man was the late Anglican priest Trevor Huddleston and the action took place in an area of Johannesburg, which did not even have a proper name as it was known only as the South West Township. Over the years the locals took the first two letters of each word and it became known as “Soweto”. What an impact this small act, this seemingly little thing, made in changing South Africa’s history.
Now how does such an example influence us in these turbulent economic doom and gloom times? Well it underscores how little things matter. Actions and resources, which we may well take for granted, exert a subliminal effect. In the current highly competitive environment “getting the little things right” has become an obvious priority for those who want to stand out. Achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction, as well as ensuring that staff has an enjoyable, healthy and professional environment are essentially significant.
Set against a challenging market background the focus on “little things” has gained prominence. Think about the last time you recommended a service, product, brand or even your favourite restaurant and hotel. Was it the company’s objectives, their particular service or advertising slogan which you highlighted? It was more likely that it was probably some small experience which came into your mind. Nowadays many organisations seem to concentrate on the big picture, getting the fundamentals of the services right, so those who realise that basic little things matter are becoming rarer animals.
The little things are most important at the moment of interaction, when your customer first experiences your services. Research has shown that it is the little things, the small details, which are the primary determining factors where brand loyalty will be won or lost. Focusing on providing the little things sets you apart, head and shoulders, above your competitors. When it comes to maintaining and increasing customers I am focusing, not on the acknowledged important value of staff as this is a separate inter-related issue but, on the more readily less tangible qualities that imperceptibly bear upon your customer when they are “interacting” - doing business with you. Innovation combined with creativity and adapting to the latest trends, are supremely important when determining and ensuring the little things, which matter most are acted upon. Implementation of “little things” may initially be seen as an expensive, time consuming and difficult diversion from the main corporate objective. But the returns engendered by strong customer loyalty are long-term.
In all the modern surveys the biggest little thing which features is providing impeccable bathrooms. Have you ever thought about this? It is an aspect that takes nearly equal prominence with a client’s first interaction when experiencing a company’s entrance/reception facilities. I am reminded of one successful business lady who told me, “Make sure the bathrooms are clean, relaxing and fully functional and for goodness sake don’t be stingy with the toilet paper – provide the best!” So remember, by identifying the little things that definitely matter, and ensuring they live up to and even surpass your clients’ expectations, you are investing for sustained success. Little things mean a lot often when you least expect them to do so and when you do, it maybe too late. We haven’t run out of toilet paper have we? No chance, we always have a spare role handy!
–By Dave Eager

May, 2009

Do you doodle?

The chances are that you do “doodle” and that your friends and colleagues have seen you doodle. Their conclusion is probably that you were day-dreaming and not paying full attention to what you were doing! The word doodle, in the early 17th century, meant a fool and led to the early 18th century verb to doodle, meaning “to swindle or to make a fool of someone”. It appears that the modern version, associated with “to dawdle”, has had a meaning of wasting time. But no longer can doodlers be accused of wasting time by not paying attention. Current scientific research has occasioned a different interpretation as it concludes that doodling actually helps the doodler remember and assess important points.
So what is a doodle? Whilst everyone does it I discovered, when I asked this question, that many did not realise what doodling means. Many of us love to scribble away, apparently absent-mindedly, and it is these drawings which are called doodles. Frequently doodles can convey a great deal of meaning and, for the artist especially, may sometimes be the source of inspiration for serious artworks. If you are drawing patterns on pieces of paper, as you are listening or watching something, then you are doodling.
The way doodles inspire us is displayed in both young and old. I was surprised to see that Indian teenage students have started a trend of doodling on the backs of their school white shirts. Using washable blue ink, they have fun drawing designs whilst they are sitting in class or chatting in the school yard. The recipient of the doodle has the amusement of working out what it means. A few weeks ago, whilst at a British Actors’ Equity Council Meeting, I was sitting next to my friend Nicholas Smith. An English multifaceted actor Nicholas is best known internationally for playing the bald, jug-eared manager Mr. Rumbold in the British classic sitcom “Are you being served”. Whilst the meeting’s discussion was in depth and detailed, during which Nicholas made some telling comments and observations, I spotted that he was doodling. Rather appropriately they have an artistic connection with C.S.S. so he signed and dated them for “Lighthouse”. Obviously in Nicholas’s case doodling helped him participate. Scientists at Plymouth University England have shown that, according to their recently published study, subjects given a doodling task while listening to a boring phone message had a 29% improved recall compared to their non-doodling counterparts.
Doodling can also give an insight into what you are really thinking. Nicholas’s print journal design; which includes a speed boat, yacht and sailing ship, would probably be interpreted as showing a desire to move away from his present position and that he has already decided his goal as all the designs are sailing in the same direction. The Indian teenagers, with their designs including curves and straight lines, display opposite aspects of our nature: masculine and feminine, mental and physical, willpower and emotion. Teenagers are more inclined to mix-up shapes as their personalities and opinions are rapidly developing and changing. Those who prefer straight lines tend to have strong willpower, self-control and like facts, while those who prefer curved strokes are more flexible, imaginative and emotional.
There are many articles now available on the Internet which will help you understand and interpret your doodles. Please remember, before you show them to anyone else, that whilst doodles may help you recall events, they are expressions of your subconscious mind. You may be letting someone see more about yourself than you realise !

Dave Eager

January, 2009

C.P.R. or C.S.R?

You may know that C.P.R. stands for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) but what about C.S.R? The initials may not invoke the same interest as Sachin Tendulkar, David Beckham or Britney Spears but in terms of achieving sustainable development goals many will argue that CSR is to society what CPR is to the body. CSR is essential in order to save our society and ultimately our world.  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is essentially about how business responds to its impact on social, economic and environmental affairs.
CSR attracts debate and criticism where those in favour argue that it makes strong business sense as companies committed to CSR operate with an awareness which expands beyond their own immediate short-term profits.
The counter arguments are that CSR detracts from the core economic business roles and ends up being nothing more than PR window-dressing.
As consumers have become aware of social issues it has frequently been their reaction to business made disasters which has lead to greater awareness about CSR. Often it takes a crisis to precipitate CSR awareness. The Exxon Valdez oil spill, which occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1989, is still considered as one of the most devastating man-made environmental disasters ever to occur at sea because of the remote location. It was because of this event that the Ceres Principles, a ten-point code of corporate environmental conduct, publicly endorsed by companies as an environmental mission statement or ethic, were agreed. By contrast, those who argue against the value of CSR will point to the cynical approach of the tobacco companies who sponsored social and sporting enterprises.
You may think that CSR is a current fad but with Christmas only just past you may recall the 1843 Charles Dickens story “A Christmas Carol”, where the reader meets Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable but wealthy old man. Scrooge works in his counting house with his clerk, Bob Cratchit.  When Scrooge ends up ordering the prize turkey for Bob Cratchit, enjoying a party and recognizing Tiny Tim’s courage and cheerfulness, in spite of Tim’s poverty and disability, Scrooge was demonstrably a CSR forerunner. In the author’s words Scrooge explained that his actions included “a great many back-payments”. 
Within a company social, in the CSR sense, is mostly focused on the relationship between employer and employee. CSR internally centers on health care, insurance policies, social activities as well as sponsoring sport and culture.  When developed externally CSR involves sponsoring and initiatives to develop science, education and charity actions.  “Catch ‘em young” is still a popular generalisation.  This concept goes someway to explaining why companies choose to interact with social projects which help to empower the young.  The “Raise a helping hand” picture was taken at an initiative by “Living Heritage”,  a UK company,  to increase youthful awareness of countryside pursuits - fishing, falconry, archery, dog handling and game keeping.  In recent years all these country facets and skills have been sidelined by computer games, mobile phones, television and the Internet.

Many corporate websites lay emphasis on their commitment to promoting CSR, under the headings of charitable efforts, volunteering, human resources, business development and public relations. Evidence supports the view that CSR can be an aid to recruitment and retention particularly amongst the graduate student market.  Globally the initiatives to promote CSR are expanding.  “The Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility”, based in Poland, lists amongst its members, Pfizer, Exxon Mobil, Dell, Ford, BMW and McDonalds. Within its mission statement The Foundation states:  “Realising that the greatest incentive to participating in social good is to participate in social good itself……. members live up to their responsibilities to society by being an economic, intellectual and social asset to each community in which they do business.”
In India, major companies including “Mahindra” and “Adani” place emphasis on CSR. “The Adani Foundation” established in 1996 is situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and has achieved sterling results by supporting efforts in the development of society, in areas of rural livelihoods and communities, education, and health.
So where does this all lead? Despite what detractors may say, provided that the reasons for CSR are ethically motivated, the resulting returns on all fronts are meritable and worthwhile. CSR stimulates opportunities within social environments and provides the economic equivalent of CPR in areas, where without some external boost; the social structures will stagnate, decline and eventually die. Hence the opening comparison in this article - CSR is the social equivalent of life-saving CPR.

Dave Eager December 2008