Link: http://www.gprdehler.com.au/Knowledge.aspx?cid=38

by Geraldine Mockler of GPR Dehler

What’s the measure, what’s the return?

Coaching has been enthusiastically adopted in the business world, with an increasing number of people looking for personal support in the workplace. Managers and executives, in particular those in key roles, seek peers that can unlock their ability to work through complex business problems and to better achieve their goals.

The sector is still evolving and maturing. There are different perceptions of what coaches are expected to deliver, the criteria by
which they are assessed, and how, and by whom, their value is measured.

This may leave buyers at a potential disadvantage
– without the ability to establish clear expectations or a means to differentiate coaching programs, assess capability and evaluate
the return on investment.

Do you conduct a ROI analysis on soft skill programs such as Coaching?
If not, why not?

Link: http://www.hcamag.com/hca_aus/index_email.cfm?articleID=942

Baby Boomer retirement, lower fertility rates, brain drain, sea changers - Australia is facing major demographic upheavals and the impact is rumbling through the workplace. Iain Hopkins of Human Capital magazine investigates why the workforce is shrinking and what can be done about it

In his white paper New Generations at Work, Mark McCrindle, social researcher and director of McCrindle Research, uses a metaphor to describe the futility of fighting against the inevitability of generational and cultural change. He suggests taking a look at a 'How to surf' book: there will be many pages outlining how to pick a wave, catch a wave and turn on a wave - but barely a sentence on how to create a wave or change a wave. Quite simply this is because we can't - a higher power makes the waves and surfers catch them.

In the same way, we can't change the learning styles, work patterns, or employment attitudes of an entire generation - but organisations can position themselves to understand and so better engage with each new generation. Given the massive changes in store, this knowledge and understanding of the Australian workforce will be critical for business success.

Are you ready?...

Link: http://trax.fastcompany.com/k/w/mailman/fasttake/20070809/design

by Mark Dziersk for Fast Company

Business people need to develop a better understanding of design, form partnerships between themselves and creativity, and apply strategy to design thinking, in order to compete effectively today.

Let's say you're the typical business person who knows very little about design. Perhaps you equate Mike Meyer's old SNL character on "Sprockets" with the typical designer. You know, dressed all in black, funny little glasses, all emotion no rational thought. Now, let's say you're being asked to integrate design into everything you do, and leverage it as a core strategy for every part of your competitive advantage.

What do you do?

Link: http://www.catalystwomen.org/knowledge/titles/title.php?page=lead_doublebind_07

The Australian Financial Review --- Page: 66 : 25 September 2007
Original article by Catherine Fox

LexisNexis Summary
Women in leadership positions face a number of dilemmas. These dilemmas are to do with the stereotyping of leadership qualities as "male". US research firm, Catalyst, has published a report on women leaders called
"The Double-Bind Dilemma for Women in Leadership".

1. Women are either seen as too tough or too soft and never quite right in leadership roles.
2. Women have to be more competent than men to get a top job, but are then paid less.
3. Many competent women leaders are disliked, because they are perceived as "aggressive". Those women leaders who are liked are seen as too "passive".

The fault is to do with gender stereotyping in the workplace. Catalyst argues that educating staff about this stereotyping will help to fix the problem. So-called "soft skills" should be used by both men and women.

Link: http://changethis.com/37.03.Gobbledygook

By David Meerman Scott for ChangeThis

David Scott, the author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR, says it best in introducing his manifesto: “Oh jeez, not another flexible, scalable, groundbreaking, industry-standard, cutting-edge product from a market-leading, well positioned company! Ugh. I think I’m gonna puke!”

In every company description, on websites, in press releases, in corporate pamphlets, the same adjectives get used over and over until they are meaningless. Scott analyzed thousands of these offerings and presents a collection of the most over-used and under-meaningful phrases…and strategies for making the most of these communication opportunities.

Ah yes yes yes... doesn't that sound familiar?
Thinking about your marketing materials? Read this first...