WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is proudly hosting the 40th WorldSkills Competition this September 1 through 7. Parents often raise their kids to seek out a University degree in order to amount to anything in life. With the world’s eyes on the upcoming skills competition, we all have an opportunity to open our minds to the possibilities available in the future of work, which may or may not require a degree.
Calgary will host this amazing international event, giving residents and visitors a chance to see the competition and participate in various ways for free. Students in Calgary have gone back to school a few days earlier this year so they can also see for themselves the career opportunities of the future, and perhaps choose some type of skilled job that they had never considered before.
While 900 International Experts will be judging 45 skill categories based on years of experience, there's an opportunity for the average person to make an impact as well.
Visitors to the 40th WorldSkills Competition can vote for their favourite project in eight skill categories: Sheet Metal Technology, Confectioner/Pastry Cook, Landscape Gardening, Graphic Design, Web Design, Floristry, Hairdressing, and Fashion Technology through a People's Choice Awards.
There are some ticketed events, but the entire competition is completely free to the public. I hope all kids and teachers will go, and I hope parents will be open the whole world of opportunities available to their kids in the future.
There is something for everyone at Stampede Park this Sept. 1-7, so have fun, learn something new, and see something interesting, for free.
This event is an international competition, welcoming incumbents from around the world, so let’s show some Calgary support. I have heard that this competition will not be back in Canada for 30 years, so take advantage of the free WorldSkills 2009 event next week.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Walking the fine line of information flow
Bosses and company owners walk a fine line when it comes to discussing information with employees. When things are great, oil prices are up, and there are lots of bonuses, with stock options and benefit plans to be freely shared amongst staff, everyone wants all the information so that they can get everything that is owed to them. When business is tough and someone needs to make the difficult decisions, the employees suddenly do not want to know everything.
The employees want to know if they get to keep their benefits and bonuses earned during the peak times, but not that the owner has taken a salary of zero over the past several months in order to keep the employees jobs.
How does a boss know how much information to share? It’s a fine line. If the boss asks the employees if they have any questions, they usually answer no, or is my job safe? There is no true answer to the question about job security in difficult times. Again, it’s a fine line.
Every company boss and owner needs to make their own decisions about what information to share and what needs to be kept silent. Bosses who have trusting and long term relationships, and a history of open communication, may decide to share the bulk of the information. Those who don’t have such a relationship may decide to only share a decision once made.
I do think that there is no perfect communication flow, and as long as the boss is coming from an honest place, the boss should be trusted to look out for the best interest of the employees and the company.
The employees want to know if they get to keep their benefits and bonuses earned during the peak times, but not that the owner has taken a salary of zero over the past several months in order to keep the employees jobs.
How does a boss know how much information to share? It’s a fine line. If the boss asks the employees if they have any questions, they usually answer no, or is my job safe? There is no true answer to the question about job security in difficult times. Again, it’s a fine line.
Every company boss and owner needs to make their own decisions about what information to share and what needs to be kept silent. Bosses who have trusting and long term relationships, and a history of open communication, may decide to share the bulk of the information. Those who don’t have such a relationship may decide to only share a decision once made.
I do think that there is no perfect communication flow, and as long as the boss is coming from an honest place, the boss should be trusted to look out for the best interest of the employees and the company.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
My, how things have changed!
It seems to me that over the last 10 years or so, people came and went, stuff was created and deleted, we bought stuff and sold stuff, we got married and divorced, people died and babies were born. Somewhere along the way as days came and went, we thought things would just stay the same as always, and yet things did change.
We have experienced some major events in our lives and our workplaces. I realized that over the past decade, we have changed as a community, as a workforce, and as people.
The workforce in general has changed, from a generation X to primarily generation Y. Lifestyle work has become mandatory rather than the old fashioned workaholics we were obliged to be. Flexible hours and individualized benefits are now the norm, as well as the optional mobile workforce or telecommuter options. One year maternity leaves, volunteer retirements and work sharing options are all relatively new concepts, almost unheard of 10 years ago.
And what about Skyping in for meetings? And that Apple is now a true competitor to Microsoft? IPhones are already outdated after only 1 year of circulation in Canada. Who would have thought that the communication method of choice would be over internet, and that we text rather than talk, and that everyone surfs for all information, on any topic.
I wonder, if we truly look at each week from the past decade or so, how monumental each week was, the people we met, and the technology that has changed the way we work, then how excited might we be at what will come of the next 10 years? Who knows what kind of workforce will come from the next generation, and who will create what.
We should look at every day as a newly created day, with new relationships and developments.
We have experienced some major events in our lives and our workplaces. I realized that over the past decade, we have changed as a community, as a workforce, and as people.
The workforce in general has changed, from a generation X to primarily generation Y. Lifestyle work has become mandatory rather than the old fashioned workaholics we were obliged to be. Flexible hours and individualized benefits are now the norm, as well as the optional mobile workforce or telecommuter options. One year maternity leaves, volunteer retirements and work sharing options are all relatively new concepts, almost unheard of 10 years ago.
And what about Skyping in for meetings? And that Apple is now a true competitor to Microsoft? IPhones are already outdated after only 1 year of circulation in Canada. Who would have thought that the communication method of choice would be over internet, and that we text rather than talk, and that everyone surfs for all information, on any topic.
I wonder, if we truly look at each week from the past decade or so, how monumental each week was, the people we met, and the technology that has changed the way we work, then how excited might we be at what will come of the next 10 years? Who knows what kind of workforce will come from the next generation, and who will create what.
We should look at every day as a newly created day, with new relationships and developments.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Word of the week
In the past year or so, I have noticed that each week seems to bring a different word to the forefront of discussions, and maybe it is because we are all so focused at work now, that we are choosing what is going to be the goal, the issue, the situation, or the feelings for that week.
When we focus on something so intently, when we want or need something so badly, it seems to be a part of everything we do. It is just like buying a car, never having noticed it before, but now that you own it, it seems that everyone has the same car. The words of each week seem to be the same way.
In the past year there are some words, basic everyday words that seem to be everywhere for a week or so, then we’re on to a new shiny word the following week. Some words are obvious, like economy, recovery, jail, fires, layoffs, bombs, gangs, and investments. But, I also seem to hear and speak about whatever we are really focusing on at About Staffing. One of the words so far this year has been assume! We all know what can happen when we assume, and the misjudgments assumptions create. We often assume all people looking for jobs are interested in working! We assume lots of things every day, in every business, and I have heard that word to death. Now, we try not to assume anything, and instead look at facts and make plans.
Last week’s word around our office was technically. Technically we work hard, technically we are logical people, technically we can negotiate everything, technically we mean well, and technically we do our best. Technically we should all make it through this economy.
This week the word is emotions. How can we leave our emotions at the door when we come to work? How can we manage the emotions of employees who are fearful of losing their jobs, making a living, and surviving the stress of today’s workplace? How do business owners handle the emotions of running a business in today’s market, and taking that stress home every night?
Maybe next week I’ll focus on the word hope. I hope I am making all the right decisions for my business, for my employees, and for my clients! There is a great deal of energy and excitement about the word hope. I hope everyone had a great long weekend (that is hoping that you got Monday off)!
When we focus on something so intently, when we want or need something so badly, it seems to be a part of everything we do. It is just like buying a car, never having noticed it before, but now that you own it, it seems that everyone has the same car. The words of each week seem to be the same way.
In the past year there are some words, basic everyday words that seem to be everywhere for a week or so, then we’re on to a new shiny word the following week. Some words are obvious, like economy, recovery, jail, fires, layoffs, bombs, gangs, and investments. But, I also seem to hear and speak about whatever we are really focusing on at About Staffing. One of the words so far this year has been assume! We all know what can happen when we assume, and the misjudgments assumptions create. We often assume all people looking for jobs are interested in working! We assume lots of things every day, in every business, and I have heard that word to death. Now, we try not to assume anything, and instead look at facts and make plans.
Last week’s word around our office was technically. Technically we work hard, technically we are logical people, technically we can negotiate everything, technically we mean well, and technically we do our best. Technically we should all make it through this economy.
This week the word is emotions. How can we leave our emotions at the door when we come to work? How can we manage the emotions of employees who are fearful of losing their jobs, making a living, and surviving the stress of today’s workplace? How do business owners handle the emotions of running a business in today’s market, and taking that stress home every night?
Maybe next week I’ll focus on the word hope. I hope I am making all the right decisions for my business, for my employees, and for my clients! There is a great deal of energy and excitement about the word hope. I hope everyone had a great long weekend (that is hoping that you got Monday off)!
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