Getting the best from International Employees

A challenge for Managers is to work out whether a problem with an overseas employee is because of poor skills, attitude, language or different cultural perspectives.

Bradford University has produced a guide to help managers understand the key cultural issues that could alter performance. (to get a copy email: c.l.haynes@bradford.ac.uk)

The guide covers particular issues such as the need to avoid loss of face with some cultures, how different cultures view success or failure and how some cultures have little grasp of teamworking.

For example, the guide quotes an employee who moved to the UK from Estonia. The employee was spoken to, by her Manager, in regards to making a greater contribution in the office. Her work was outstanding in every other way. The employee explained that as her country had moved out of communist culture, people did not trust each other in the same way and everyone concentrates on their own work and not helping each other.

Sometimes a Manager would not want to upset an employee so they don't say anything. The employee thinks they are doing a good job, because in their own country they would be told straight away if they were not doing something right.

Do you have employees in other countries? What have you found?

BizWiz
www.informgroup.com.au
www.boulterassociates.com.au

Entrepreneurs need "reality checks"

Many entrepreneurs struggle to cope with running their own companies because of naive preconceptions before starting up, research suggests. The YouGov survey produced on behalf of T-Mobile and Kingston University reveals huge disparities between the perceptions and actualities of running a business.

46% started a business to achieve a greater work - life balance but 38% said their business impacts on their relationships with family and friends. Anothr 36% admit to struggling to balance demands on their time effectively.

If you go into business for yourself and expect an easier life, think again. The early years are hard work and takes time to operate your business as well as work "on your business".

What has your experience been?
BizWiz

Presentations to Business Owners

You have the chance, finally, to present to the Senior team at a company you have been chasing for months. You have been given 30 mins. You prepare diligently with 20 slides allowing yourself 10 minutes for Q&A.
In the door you go.

Slide 1 - Introduction...almost to Slide 2 and the first question comes. You handle that magnificently. Point 2 of Slide 2 and question two arrives.........before you know it you have 15 slides to go and 5 mins to present it in.
Your maganificent build up and conclusion are ruined.

Happened to you before?
How did you handle it?

BizWiz

Mortgage Reduction Strategies

Following on from last post.

Join Qantas Club =$350.00

Buy a ticket with Qantas to USA = $2800.00 economy

Got to airport

Get delayed

Live in Qantas Club to flight leaves.........free food, free drinks and about the same as average mortgage.

No grass to mow either

BizWiz

Silly Job Titles

Have you ever noticed the trend towards "different" job titles? A survey in UK brought a few.

Vision Clearance Executive- Window Cleaner, Knowledge Navigator - Teacher were noteable.

Of course the usuals of Domestic Engineer and Waste Removal Engineer made the list

The survey of 4000 UK adults were asked to give the most interesting job titles they had come across. One in 20 actually new somebody with the title (not surprising as they were asked to give the title) and two percent had actually applied for a job with a title they were not sure of. Six percent of those ended up accepting the job.

Stock Replensihment Advisor - Shelf Stacker and Dispatch Services Facilitator - Postman were new ones as well.

Know anybody with an interesting job title?

BizWiz

Business Travel

At the Airport the staff member checking me in says: " You have Platinum Baggage Tags but you are Bronze?"

A smile comes on my face. " Yes, I and I am happy"

After years of travelling and losing so much time with my family, a badge of honour, like Platinum means nothing to me. Sure, when you are doing the hard yards travelling, being in limbo land of not being high enough for the good lounge means a lot of pain as well as the lost time in life.

So here I am, flight was at 1:30pm, delayed to 3:30pm, then 8:00pm, then 10:00pm and now 10:30pm. When I get to LAX it is a connection, probably around 7 or 8:00pm their time and then a drive to hotel. I would say in bed by midnight if I am lucky.

What sort of travel stories do you have?

BizWiz