| Water Cooler
Information and insight
about your career and the workplace at large
November 2007
News and Views
Savvy employers care about creating a good workplace,
, because good workplaces help create focused, energetic
employees, writes Sue Shellenbarger, in her Wall Street Journal article,
“Rules of Engagement.” And quid pro quo, focused and energetic employees
“have an almost magical effect on the bottom line.” If you have a WSJ
subscription, you can access the rest of this article here. If not, you can sign
still read the article if you sign up for a trial subscription at no charge.
Details
One law, two circuit courts, two rulings, two different
results for employers.
That’s the conclusion of an intriguing article by
Alan L. Rupe on how your ZIP Code determines employees’ legal rights. Cases
involving discrimination law and ADA “reasonable accommodation” have brought
this to the forefront. Rupe explains why and how this “unequal before the law”
condition exists.
Read the article (registraton may be required).
It’s a no-brainer: Incompetent management can sink a company
and reduce employee morale. But can you recognize incompetence?
Margaret Heffernan offers tips on identifying incompetent
team members in this recent issue of Fast Company. If you spot these warning signs
in your team and you have no hiring or firing authority, maybe it’s time to look for another
position. If you spot one or more of these warning signs in yourself, maybe it’s time you
to rethink your work ethic.
Check it out.
Toolbox: Mentor Yourself into a Leadership Position
If you give, you get.
Such is the philosophy of leadership and
life from Thoko Mkogosi, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard South Africa
who was recently named Businesswoman of the Year. Here are her nuggets
of wisdom. Mine them and mentor yourself into a leadership position.
- Leaders manage to pass on "strength" that helps others to cope.
- A great leader "seeketh not her own" even in times of personal pain.
- Your attitude and demeanor communicate more powerfully than your mouth or even your qualifications.
- Remain true to your "instincts" or feelings, which ultimately is a higher form of integrity.
- Make the best of opportunities and in turn give others opportunities.
- Life is about challenges. What makes you stand out is how you handle those challenges. See some positives in every bad situation.
- What ever happens to you, you are in control of who you are, your soul.
- To earn respect you often have to "do your time."
- Learn to trust your intuition, your gut.
- To be inspiring you must connect with your audiences' values, spirit, soul.
- Be yourself.
- Focus on winning the war; reaching your objective. Do not get hung up on winning every battle.
Read the entire article here.
Blog Entry
True or False: Reward Systems Motivate People to Perform.
What's your view?
On Stage
ASAE and the Center Leadership Conference and Luncheon
In Honor of Women,
November 7, 2007, Washington, DC. Leadership conference, luncheon, and two-hour interactive
workshop covering the role of mentor and mentee, the changing face or mentoring, the mentoring process, and best
practices for a long-term relationship. Attendees will also preview ASAE Career Headquarters’ latest online mentoring tool.
Writers in the Sky Podcast
Take a creativity break today with
this podcast.
It’s me, talking about my book Mentor Me with Rosi Stewart on Yvonne Perry's
"Writers in the Sky Podcast," where you can access
other archived shows by clicking on a link listed in the sidebar to the right. The broadcast aired Friday,September 14, 2007,
and now you can listen online.
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