As I was driving into work, I noticed all the “help wanted” signs on store windows, restaurants, and warehouses - What a change from the last couple of springs! What happened in the last year?
We know the unemployment rate has consistently fallen since last summer. We are currently sitting around a 5.7 percent unemployment rate, which is very close to a balanced labour market. This low rate means that low level pay scale jobs will be more difficult to fill as better paying jobs become more readily available, leading companies to compete for talented candidates.
Oil prices have also risen over the past year. The price of gas upsets most consumers, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck. I am very happy to see oil and gas prices rising, because it means companies are succeeding, increasing revenues and increasing spending, which also means more jobs for Albertans!
Last Easter we were still in recovery, beginning to balance, but certainly not growing. The Easter before last, I was completely panicking about business. Our revenue was dropping and no one was hiring. But, here we are, a true celebration for me, for my competitors, and for businesses now ready to hire once again.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
If you're not satisfied with your pay, don't just complain about it!
I was watching a talk show recently and off the cuff, the host said she was not paid enough for this gig. What? Edit, edit! I actually could not believe she said that on national television. Being in the business of staffing, hiring and placing people in jobs, and sometimes out of jobs, I felt like giving her some advice. Of course I can’t, but I certainly can write about it, just in case anyone reading this is contemplating saying “I am not paid enough for this”, out loud. If you really believe, which most people do, that you are not paid enough, here is what you can do about it!
Read, research, and communicate! Take another look at your job description, many people do not ever go back to read it once they have accepted the job. Be sure the expectations are indeed what you agreed to accept. If not, you have a starting point. If you do not have a job description, create one based on what you are doing in the position, including the objective of the job. Do you know what the objective is of your position? Are you doing that, or more, or less? Next, go online and check out wages, job descriptions, and titles that match yours. Major job boards, statistics Canada, and staffing agencies have loads of resources for you, including accurate salary ranges for various job titles, and descriptions of what these positions usually entail. Factual, current research is a great piece of ammunition, if you need it. This information will help you decide whether you are out to lunch, or if you might actually deserve a raise or even a new job altogether.
Lastly, with this information, you are ready to talk to your boss, in private! My goodness, please do not go blabbing out in public that you are not paid enough! If the job is worth more, you may have some valid information to bring to the boss based on a solid argument.
If your boss catches you saying that you are not paid enough to anyone other than him or her, you will likely be told to go find another job elsewhere. I could certainly find someone great to take over for a talk show host who feels she is underpaid. Sounds like a dream job for someone who may take less money for the chance to meet celebrities, be one herself, take tons of time off during the non-recording seasons, work a few hours a day, and get into any restaurant without a reservation! Not sure if any of that is in her job description though.
Read, research, and communicate! Take another look at your job description, many people do not ever go back to read it once they have accepted the job. Be sure the expectations are indeed what you agreed to accept. If not, you have a starting point. If you do not have a job description, create one based on what you are doing in the position, including the objective of the job. Do you know what the objective is of your position? Are you doing that, or more, or less? Next, go online and check out wages, job descriptions, and titles that match yours. Major job boards, statistics Canada, and staffing agencies have loads of resources for you, including accurate salary ranges for various job titles, and descriptions of what these positions usually entail. Factual, current research is a great piece of ammunition, if you need it. This information will help you decide whether you are out to lunch, or if you might actually deserve a raise or even a new job altogether.
Lastly, with this information, you are ready to talk to your boss, in private! My goodness, please do not go blabbing out in public that you are not paid enough! If the job is worth more, you may have some valid information to bring to the boss based on a solid argument.
If your boss catches you saying that you are not paid enough to anyone other than him or her, you will likely be told to go find another job elsewhere. I could certainly find someone great to take over for a talk show host who feels she is underpaid. Sounds like a dream job for someone who may take less money for the chance to meet celebrities, be one herself, take tons of time off during the non-recording seasons, work a few hours a day, and get into any restaurant without a reservation! Not sure if any of that is in her job description though.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Use time blocks to increase productivity.
One of the key complaints employees have about their workload is that they do not have enough time to get everything done. We only have 24 hours in a day, 7 days every week, and 52 weeks in a year. Fitting more time into a day is impossible. What we can do instead is find a way to get more done in less time.
The first step in weight management is to keep a food log or diary. Writing down everything you eat is a great way to quickly see what is considered too much food in a given time frame, and what is healthy or not. Time management at work can be just as easy.
Keeping a task log for a set amount of work time, such as a week or month, and listing what was done during that period of time, is a great way to get a feel for what is actually important and what is eating up your time. Include in these activity audits, a quick note or symbol for how each task felt. If a task at a certain time of day was energizing, take note! If something was sucking the life out of you, also take note. Perhaps not having enough time to do a particular job is just your body and mind telling you that you should not be doing it at all!
We talk about time blocks often at work, because we know for a fact that concentrating on a same type of task for a set period of time, without interruptions, works wonders for time management! It is very effective and efficient, regardless of the tasks or types of roles and responsibilities. Those who abide by time blocks find that they prioritize their days; they do the most difficult tasks first, and then ease into the rest of the day. The time block believers also don’t ask for extensions on projects, and always set achievable goals, rarely making excuses. Some employees spend a great deal of time interrupting other employees. Managing those interruptions effectively will open up minutes or even hours of time. Somewhere on your task log, add a column or symbol for distractions or interruptions!
Once you analyse your task log, you may find that you do have enough time to handle the workload. It is much easier to say no to people who bother you unnecessarily, when you have a log in front of you. Just be sure that the distractions are not important, not a critical part of your job, before you start cutting them out. Finally, set a time of your work day or week for “free” catch up time. Time block a spot for clean up, catch up, employee face time, and social interaction. We all need to create a free space for the non priority human part of work life. I use Friday afternoons as my time block for clean up, usually from 2-4, when employees, vendors, and clients can catch me. I clean out my emails, messages, and desk! I get to go home for the weekend with a clear head, and be prepared for the upcoming time blocked week! No complaints here.
The first step in weight management is to keep a food log or diary. Writing down everything you eat is a great way to quickly see what is considered too much food in a given time frame, and what is healthy or not. Time management at work can be just as easy.
Keeping a task log for a set amount of work time, such as a week or month, and listing what was done during that period of time, is a great way to get a feel for what is actually important and what is eating up your time. Include in these activity audits, a quick note or symbol for how each task felt. If a task at a certain time of day was energizing, take note! If something was sucking the life out of you, also take note. Perhaps not having enough time to do a particular job is just your body and mind telling you that you should not be doing it at all!
We talk about time blocks often at work, because we know for a fact that concentrating on a same type of task for a set period of time, without interruptions, works wonders for time management! It is very effective and efficient, regardless of the tasks or types of roles and responsibilities. Those who abide by time blocks find that they prioritize their days; they do the most difficult tasks first, and then ease into the rest of the day. The time block believers also don’t ask for extensions on projects, and always set achievable goals, rarely making excuses. Some employees spend a great deal of time interrupting other employees. Managing those interruptions effectively will open up minutes or even hours of time. Somewhere on your task log, add a column or symbol for distractions or interruptions!
Once you analyse your task log, you may find that you do have enough time to handle the workload. It is much easier to say no to people who bother you unnecessarily, when you have a log in front of you. Just be sure that the distractions are not important, not a critical part of your job, before you start cutting them out. Finally, set a time of your work day or week for “free” catch up time. Time block a spot for clean up, catch up, employee face time, and social interaction. We all need to create a free space for the non priority human part of work life. I use Friday afternoons as my time block for clean up, usually from 2-4, when employees, vendors, and clients can catch me. I clean out my emails, messages, and desk! I get to go home for the weekend with a clear head, and be prepared for the upcoming time blocked week! No complaints here.
Monday, April 4, 2011
To be a great leader, hold steadfast in your beliefs.
I strive to be the best leader I can be. I work hard every day to lead my company as ethically as possible while trying to maintain a balanced workplace for my people, manage growth, and keep our finances above the negative line. But many leaders of big organizations manage their reputations and relationships while lining their own pockets! Maybe some leaders of small companies do this as well, but the business leaders I know work very hard to stay above water, care about their employees and clients, and do what they believe is right. I am working to build a business that is sustainable, a company that will exist long after my ashes are scattered. I am always thinking about the next step, the next goal, for the future of the company and our community. But, I have a pretty small company in comparison to many.
I am not sure when or how top leaders grow out of the understanding of what their customers really wants and what their employees expect. What is that line that bosses cross from empathy to selfishness?
I believe that values are the key to success in any organization, and how strong these beliefs are threaded in the company will make the difference in the sustainability of the business. If we think about the characteristics of truly successful leaders, they are the ones who fought for the value systems in their organizations, regardless of what was happening around them.
Successful leaders are persistent and determined. They set goals high and provide the support required for their people to achieve these goals. The best leaders believe in the future generations and what they bring to the table. The next generation will be more educated, more in touch with the world’s needs, more connected, and so much more technologically savvy that they will be capable of solving problems at lightning speed.
The great leaders of today can see these qualities in the next generation, and are helping to mentor these future leaders so that they too believe in something. Not everyone will be a leader, and nor should everyone strive for that. We need all kinds of people to work in various roles, and certainly nothing would get done if everyone delegated!
But every employee and every leader needs something to believe in. A vision, a mission, a cause, or a value system is crucial in every workplace and organization. And there must be someone at the helm; a leader holding steadfast in the belief system of the organization, no matter how turbulent the surrounding environment may become.
I am not sure when or how top leaders grow out of the understanding of what their customers really wants and what their employees expect. What is that line that bosses cross from empathy to selfishness?
I believe that values are the key to success in any organization, and how strong these beliefs are threaded in the company will make the difference in the sustainability of the business. If we think about the characteristics of truly successful leaders, they are the ones who fought for the value systems in their organizations, regardless of what was happening around them.
Successful leaders are persistent and determined. They set goals high and provide the support required for their people to achieve these goals. The best leaders believe in the future generations and what they bring to the table. The next generation will be more educated, more in touch with the world’s needs, more connected, and so much more technologically savvy that they will be capable of solving problems at lightning speed.
The great leaders of today can see these qualities in the next generation, and are helping to mentor these future leaders so that they too believe in something. Not everyone will be a leader, and nor should everyone strive for that. We need all kinds of people to work in various roles, and certainly nothing would get done if everyone delegated!
But every employee and every leader needs something to believe in. A vision, a mission, a cause, or a value system is crucial in every workplace and organization. And there must be someone at the helm; a leader holding steadfast in the belief system of the organization, no matter how turbulent the surrounding environment may become.
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