First Step Marketing

After passing muster, all successful applicants were subjected to the most exacting physical and psychological tests. Tests of physical endurance—how long can you support a column of mercury with one lungful of breath? Tests of mental stability—how long can you endure being locked up in a pitch-black, soundproof “sensory deprivation chamber” with no idea when you will be released? Tests of pain suppression—if we drive a long needle into the big muscle at the base of your thumb and pass an electric current through it, what will you do? Read the rest of this entry »

For most roles, conventional wisdom advises managers to select for experience, for intelligence, or for determination. Talent, if mentioned at all, is an afterthought.

Conventional wisdom says:

“Experience makes the difference.” Managers who place a special emphasis on experience pay closest attention to a candidate’s work history. They pore over each person’s résumé, rating the companies who employed him and the kind of work he performed. They see his past as a window to his future. Read the rest of this entry »

Gone are the days when you could automatically pass on cost increases to your customers through your product selling price. So it is essential that all increases in wages and salaries are justifiable, properly controlled and if possible self- financing.

Account for the total increase in your wages and salaries bill from one year to another

Many companies find that the total wage bill can increase in a year by an amount far greater than the rate increase warrants. It would be wise to find out why there is such a discrepancy. Of course there are plenty of good reasons for wage drift but you should know what they are and then act to control the situation. The additional cost should be analysed into increases in rates, numbers employed, overtime worked, bonus earnings, changes in labour mix etc by age, grade and so on. Read the rest of this entry »

Come up against a door of opportunity that remains stubbornly stuck? Enlist help to help you tug, pull or push it open. Don’t make the mistake of becoming a lone crusader intent only on your own success. Successful people virtually always have a close team behind them backing their efforts.

I will look at the relationships that career-conscious women need to form with those above them — their superiors, those around them — their co-workers and those below them — their subordinates. In addition the helping hand that can be provided by sponsors, mentors and networks is examined. Finally, working together can be hazardous at times. I conclude by looking at ways to minimise the possibility of becoming a victim of sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace.

I’m OK, are you?

In which category do your workplace relationships fall? Excellent, average or could-be-better? In order to analyse what makes your workplace relationships tick, take an objective look at those you have at present. Read the rest of this entry »

“You’ve been uncooperative, lax and late for work three times in a row. Take tomorrow off—with pay.”

Has this supervisor gone dotty, rewarding poor performance with a day off? What’s going on?

It’s positive discipline at work. The technique, introduced more than 20 years ago by Canadian industrial psychologist John Huberman, has been used at organizations like General Electric, Union Carbide, AT&T, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and others. Read the rest of this entry »