It's a constant challenge for any employer - to attract and retain great employees. While the low unemployment level in New Zealand (currently 4.4% - the lowest in a decade) is great for the economy, it is making finding and retaining great staff a challenge across all industries. Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and West Coast has one of the lowest unemployment levels in the country at 3.6%. The … [Read more...]
Don’t leave them guessing – tips for giving feedback
There’s a saying that ‘the culture of an organisation is shaped by the worst behaviour the leader is willing to tolerate' And let’s face it, most leaders would rather clean the bathroom than give constructive feedback. However, feedback, when delivered well, builds culture and performance within your team. People need to know how they’re doing and feedback gives people direction on the … [Read more...]
Language Matters
There's a part of me that dies inside when I hear cliches. Business ideas described as a 'gap in the market' (seriously?), managers who talk about 'going forward' (it's quite difficult to go backwards), or 'blue skies thinking' (translated = I have no idea how to solve this problem). Cliches are overused expressions which lack originality of thought and clarity of intent. I'd rather spend time … [Read more...]
Trust is like oil
Trust is the oil that reduces friction in a relationship. It is a platform for effective understanding, communication and relationships and the key element in all relationships at work, home and in our social lives. And because we’re human, trust is key in business and politics. The 2015 Edelman Trust Barometer study found that countries with higher trust levels overall also show a greater … [Read more...]
The Daily Grind
Are you feeling bored with your job? Has your working day become routine or tedious, a bit like a marriage without the early days of passion? What if I told you that it might be possible to revive your interest in your work (as it is for your marriage!) - and that it is just a matter of knowing how? In his book The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, Patrick Lencioni identifies three key factors … [Read more...]
The Changing Nature of Leadership
We're in print! This article is published in the May 2015 issue of New Zealand Management magazine. CLICK HERE to view the article. By Julie Varney. ‘Mood based’ working areas which eliminate a designated desk and chair, an emphasis on wellness and healthy working environments, blurred boundaries between home and work are all characteristics of the future of our working environment. Gone are … [Read more...]
What your Workplace Culture says about your Organisation
What is workplace culture? Workplace culture is often hard to define. I like to think of it as the personality of an organisation. It is built through vision, values, practices, language, image, actions and beliefs. It is sometimes an unwritten code of how things are done. It impacts how you work, how you act and what is acceptable or normal. Workplace culture touches everything from branding … [Read more...]
Top Business Trends for 2015
If you are like me, you approach a new year with renewed energy and hope. There is something about 12 fresh months ahead that stirs up the dreamer, the planner and the optimist in me. I have the energy to take stock of all aspects of my life and feel a sense of hope that this year will be better than the last. I am sure it is the same for many business owners and team leaders. The beginning of … [Read more...]