Work space archives
The people are the stars of Work Space, a popular section in The Australian Financial Review every Tuesday. Edited by Fiona Smith, Work Space investigates the way we work and offers some insight into how organisations and individuals can find the right balance.
To read the latest on Work Space, pick up a copy of Tuesday’s AFR. Archives updated weekly.
2010
JULY 27
Some employers have found themselves in a bit of a bind – to put it mildly. They have barely finished congratulating themselves for surviving the Global Financial Crisis, and now discover they have to make some tough decisions on bonuses.
JULY 13
Savvy employers can beat the talent drought by taking creative steps to make workplaces attractive to older and wiser workers.
JULY 6
Relinquishing tasks is a key to happiness, particularly for women.
JUNE 29
Plenty of employers don’t care whether their workers are friends with each other, whether they know the names of each other's children or socialise after work, but research suggests they should.
As the financial crisis abates, organisations are focusing on having managers with the right qualities in place: SHL has found honesty is what employees most desire.
JUNE 22
When Woolworths made Julie Coates the chief logistics officer, it sent a message through the retailing behemoth that the well-worn career paths no longer guaranteed success.
JUNE 15
Gorgeous people are more likely to get the job, get paid more and get more positive attention throughout their lives. But there is a flip side.
Many years ago, the management of a Western Electric factory outside Chicago conducted a study to see if productivity changed according to the light levels in the building.
JUNE 8
Employers are starting to recognise bodies are designed for continuous movement – not to sit at desks for hours – and are adapting their workplaces to reflect this.
JUNE 1
At social media agency NixonMcInnes, a working group is democratically elected to vet and make decisions on salaries.
MAY 25
Stream from the warm water is rising through the cold, dark May morning, as Craig McQuillan washes his first dog of the day.
Two years ago, employers desperate to get the attention of top graduates had taken to emailling the students' parents, hoping to get them on side in their attempts to recruit their children.
MAY 18
Your close personal friends can have a huge influence on your life and the decisions you make – but so can their close friends and their connections.
MAY 11
"I said, if the next woman who walks in this room is a blonde, I'm going to have to kiss her", says Edward de Bono, clearly delighted. This was not how I expected to start my interview with this influential, intelligent thinker.
One of the most common complaints from CEOs is the difficulty – sometimes impossibility – of getting people to change their behaviours.
MAY 4
Happiness isn’t enough – if you want to really flourish, you have to be prepared to be negative too.
Why is it that some of the most beautiful songs in the world are the saddest, and the paintings that stay in your memory longest are often awash with melancholy?
APRIL 27
Sometimes the truth about how breakthroughs are achieved can be very counter-intuitive, and gentle conversations bring the best insights.
Ignacio was taking a break to check his Gmail account when he noticed an advertisement at the corner of the screen, asking "Do you want to shape the future of sport?".
APRIL 20
Outsourcing is on the increase and the era of the enthusiastic generalist is at hand.
APRIL 13
If you want to be creative, it helps to be the underdog. That can apply in business, too.
Workers have had 20 years of hearing about performance management, but they are still getting a raw deal on getting ahead in their careers.
APRIL 6
Melbourne is to be the site of a new company that aims to recruit people with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism for technical jobs.
MARCH 23
In the revolving door of management fads, the outsourcing of recruitment is being rejected out as increasing numbers of employers decide it makes more sense to take control of their own hiring.
MARCH 16
A survey into work preconceptions between the different generations has highlighted some surprising facts.
MARCH 9
If we weren't ruled by fear, it seems just about anything might be possible. We could take risks with our work in the hope of achieving greater things - to hell with the mortgage and family security.
MARCH 2
You don't get much bigger than "starchitect" Lord Rogers of Riverside in modern architecture and yet, his office isn't what you might expect. Not for him the teeming floors of his great friend Sir Norman Foster. Instead, Rogers works shoulder-to-shoulder with the 130 people who make up his firm, in a converted 1950s' industrial building.
The costs of employees working while they are sick are hard to quantify, but they are very real.
FEBRUARY 16
Confusion about our rights at work is widespread and many women resign in anticipation that their requests for part-time work or flexible hours will be refused, or that their full-time jobs can't be handled on a part-time basis.
There's a fine line between good proactive behaviour and being a threat to your boss.
FEBRUARY 9
As organisations ramp up for a happier new year, employers are looking around to discover there is a "new normal'' in the way business gets done in this country.
Jon Stegner knew there was a major problem with the purchasing process at his employer, farming equipment manufacturer John Deere, and it was costing the company a fortune.
FEBRUARY 2
How tight do your shoes feel today? It's a fairly good indicator of your adjustment to being back at work. After weeks of kicking back in thongs, slip-ons and sandals, your feet have become accustomed to a certain amount of fresh air and freedom.
2009
DECEMBER 15
Big funds are starting to ask how well a company manages its workforce, writes Fiona Smith.
DECEMBER 8
Stockland's CEO has straightforward advice for those who aspire to positions of leadership, writes Fiona Smith.
Nine years ago, when John Ballard became chief executive of Mercy Health in Victoria, 37 per cent of the top executive positions were held by women.
DECEMBER 1
One of its ship's staff with swine flu virus was a lesson in crisis management for Carnival Cruises' boss, writes Fiona Smith.
Clever people can bring disproportionate value to a company, but they need to be handled with care, writes Fiona Smith.
NOVEMBER 24
Employee cliques can wield enormous power - and not always for the benefit of colleagues or the company, writes Fiona Smith.
Employers are recognising the great importance of flexibility for their staff, writes Fiona Smith.
NOVEMBER 17
A Sydney pharmaceutical company has discovered the secret to keeping many employees happy.
Bullying might work for some bosses but striking a balance provides the best chance for success.
NOVEMBER 10
Macquarie's activity based environment has changed the way its staff work, writes Fiona Smith.
Employers need to know how to keep valued staff from leaving when the wanderlust appears, writes Fiona Smith.
NOVEMBER 3
Companies are seeking personal referrals when looking for new recruits, writes Fiona Smith.
When a chief executive is between jobs, it is a particularly public dilemma. Being at the centre of power in an organisation can be intoxicating, enervating, exhausting and completely absorbing and then there is . . . a vacuum.
OCTOBER 27
One US firm, serious about fun at work, is a study in customer and staff satisfaction, writes Fiona Smith.
OCTOBER 20
A US-based food retailer is one of several diverse employers trying a more equitable approach, writes Fiona Smith.
The fallout from the global recession has prompted companies to reassess their business models, writes Fiona Smith.
OCTOBER 13
Employers don't know it, but their oh-so happy workers are planning their escape, Fiona Smith.
IT company Atlassian isn't actively anti-recruitment industry, but frankly, it doesn't have much time for it either, writes Fiona Smith.
OCTOBER 6
The US is the land of business jargon, so you would expect the greatest obfuscation.
Mental imaging is the new way to sort the wheat from
the chaff in the workplace, writes Fiona Smith.
SEPTEMBER 29
What we don't need from our new line-up of chief executives is more of the same, writes Fiona Smith.
The executive team and the consultant had a sticky dilemma. They'd received the feedback on the leadership impact of their boss and it was just what they'd suspected: Perfectionistic. Competitive. Dictatorial.
SEPTEMBER 22
The motivation to perform at work has been linked to gratification, not just money, writes Fiona Smith.
The battleground has changed significantly in the war for talent, writes Fiona Smith.
SEPTEMBER 15
The key to selling is listening - being genuinely interested in the other person's story, writes Fiona Smith.
SEPTEMBER 8
The CEO of WD-40 has been taking lessons on how to keep his company running smoothly, writes Fiona Smith.
SEPTEMBER 1
Open plan offices seemed like such a good idea 10 years ago. Knock down the interior walls, let the light in, save millions of dollars in rent by getting people to sit closer together, and encourage collaboration between people who could now see each other.
They can lose their jobs in a flash in their highly flexible labour market. Why then, asks Fiona Smith, are working Danes so happy?
AUGUST 25
Fifteen years ago Continental Airlines was in sorry shape. It had endured a hostile takeover, some vicious union-busting tactics and was teetering on the brink of a third bankruptcy.
The cut-throat airline boss may be legendary, but a new book finds the harsh approach may not be the most effective in the long term, writes Fiona Smith.
Like werewolves sprouting fangs and hairy palms on the return of a full moon, Australia's corporate leaders are tending to revert back to their old, bad habits in the cold light of an economic downturn.
AUGUST 18
Recognising your manager's style can help you in your workplace, writes Fiona Smith.
More creative strategies than simply sacking staff can help companies triumph despite troubled times, writes Fiona Smith.
AUGUST 11
The cold call is back in fashion and young salespeople don't like it, writes Fiona Smith.
Conscientious people work well if their skills are used to complement those of the team, writes Fiona Smith.
AUGUST 4
What if brains have adapted to a world of short-term action and no consequence? Fiona Smith reports.
Institutional lying is everywhere and the downturn may mean more spin, writes Fiona Smith.
JULY 28
Reduced travel budgets are changing the way business communicates.
Ignorance isn't bliss in uncertain times. Keeping staff in the dark will hurt productivity.
JULY 21
The new industrial relations system is a chance for a more co-operative approach, writes Fiona Smith.
The CEO of a global company has revolutionised its workplace, writes Fiona Smith.
JULY 14
There should be more to assessing employees' efforts than ticking boxes once a year, writes Fiona Smith.
Executives re-entering the workforce will have to work hard to win a modest job, writes Fiona Smith.
JULY 7
There are times in the workplace when it's entirely appropriate to reach out and touch someone, writes Fiona Smith.
The new world of work will be one of collaboration and have many more smaller businesses, writes Fiona Smith.
JUNE 30
Geniality helps make a speaker more engaging and their message easier to digest, writes Fiona Smith.
Traditional corporate hierarchies are increasingly being turned on their head, writes Fiona Smith.
JUNE 23
Once staff accept fewer working hours, it may be difficult to get them back again, writes Fiona Smith.
JUNE 16
Technology and the pace of living is squeezing out time for serious thinking, writes Fiona Smith.
Educationalist Sir Ken Robinson says people find true happiness when they embrace their 'element'.
JUNE 9
Company reputations can be destroyed if staff are made to feel like the dregs in the coffee cup, says Fiona Smith.
The search engine's new premises highlight the efforts involved in keeping staff motivated, writes Fiona Smith.
JUNE 2
On January 1, 2011, women will have paid maternity leave and employers will have to adapt, writes Fiona Smith.
MAY 26
Right now, a career in the public service looks like a pretty good option. It is not likely to collapse, be merged or shed jobs at the same rate as the private sector - and it has been struggling to fill positions for years.
After the initial shock, bank employees are coming
round to 'tea points' and meetings in the park, writes Fiona Smith.
MAY 19
Temping and contract work are no longer attractive options for employees, writes Fiona Smith.
Companies are learning to turn employee defections into opportunities, writes Fiona Smith.
MAY 12
You need to be on the front foot in this era of corporate cliffhangers, so you're not the one stabbed in the back, writes Fiona Smith.
Do you train or hire a workforce? That is the dilemma for employers building a talent pool, writes Fiona Smith.
MAY 5
Companies have a duty of care to be proactive in protecting staff from swine flu, writes Fiona Smith.
Executives in a hurry to cut staff numbers are in danger
of losing people vital to a company's wellbeing, writes Fiona Smith.
APRIL 28
A flexible approach to human capital will enable firms to be prepared when the upturn arrives, writes Fiona Smith.
A conversation with Stephen Ackroyd can be an uncomfortable experience if you are of the view that people are basically decent, honest and diligent in their work, writes Fiona Smith.
APRIL 21
A demand for transparent and accountable companies will be the legacy of this recession, writes Fiona Smith.
As the economy sours, employers should know how to retain their best workers and motivate the others, writes Fiona Smith.
APRIL 14
Companies are being urged to look past short-term fixes in navigating the downturn, writes Fiona Smith.
APRIL 7
It was a hell of a weekend for Paul Mooney. First, he tried to take a slow one-way walk into a cold Irish lake. Then, after waking in his room with memory loss, he drove his car into a brick wall.
The financial crisis is posing difficult challenges, but it may be good for us too, writes Fiona Smith.
APRIL 4
Like it or lump it - for many, that's how the workplace is shaping up.
MARCH 31
The best way to help a friend or colleague who has just lost their job is to give them your time, writes Fiona Smith.
St George may have been swallowed by Westpac, but is confident its reputation for warm service and friendly employment conditions has been preserved, writes Fiona Smith.
MARCH 24
Survivors of a company restructure suffer an alarming loss of connection to their workplace, writes Fiona Smith.
3M gives its scientists time to think - and doesn't force them to try to be managers, writes Fiona Smith.
MARCH 17
Survival is the only recurring topic in any workplace at the moment, so it
may seem a strange time to talk about reawakening the idea of bringing democracy
to work.
MARCH 10
Analysing employees' social networks may reveal some hidden gems in the workplace, writes Fiona Smith.
With the number of jobless rising, savvy work seekers know success depends on marketing themselves well, writes Fiona Smith.
MARCH 3
Communicating trust, stability and compassion will keep staff motivated in bad times, writes Fiona Smith.
Companies trying to save jobs and money must first check their legal position and then consult staff, says Fiona Smith.
FEBRUARY 24
The economic meltdown is an opportunity for companies to pick off their rivals' best talent, Fiona Smith reports.
A bit of job tweaking can put an end to the office drudgery, as Sean Unwin quickly discovered, writes Fiona Smith.
FEBRUARY 17
Macquarie Telecom has won a global award for telcos, the old-fashioned way, with good service.
There's no point sitting around just waiting for the axe to fall, writes Fiona Smith.
The right of volunteers to take time off work to fight bushfires or do other important community service work has been enshrined by the new National Employment Standards, which become effective next January.
FEBRUARY 10
Money is no longer everything when it comes to incentives for staff, writes Fiona Smith.
Modern management still fails to motivate workers, and it's both infectious and costly, writes Fiona Smith.
With mass sackings under way and more to come this year, it may provide a little reassurance that employers are "gun shy" when it comes to firing their workers.
FEBRUARY 3
US restructuring expert Wayne Cascio
is all too aware of the dangers of recklessly shedding staff, writes
Fiona Smith.
2008
DECEMBER 2
So what if you're grumpy at work? If you do your job well, does your boss really have the right to burrow into your personality and ask you to change those things that don't fit the profile of the ideal worker?
It is enjoyable, interactive and effective, so little wonder gaming is the new teaching tool, writes Fiona Smith.
November 25
Anyone who has sent a lawyer a thank-you note, and then been charged $75 for them to read it, will be thrilled to hear there are people in the profession who are determined to break free of the image of the the hard-bitten, nit-picking, time sheet-ruled law firm.
Employers simply do not value older workers, writes
Fiona Smith.
November 18
When management guru Roger Collins lectures companies on the need to develop resilience in tough times, they can be sure he knows what he is talking about, writes Fiona Smith.
A Danish IT company has found the traits of its 90 per cent autistic workforce are a benefit, writes Fiona Smith.
November 14
Calls to counselling services have increased over the past few months as more people seek advice about the economic crisis, writes Hannah Tattersall.
November 11
The casualised workforce faces a difficult year as businesses are forced to trim staff numbers, writes Fiona Smith.
November 4
To become executives, women are still forced to change their personalities, writes Fiona Smith.
October 28
Temporary staff and contractors are the order of the day as employers turn cautious, writes Fiona Smith.
October 28
Predictions have unemployment rising in specific sectors, but differ on how much, writes Fiona Smith.
October 21
The onus is shifting to bosses to accommodate requests for flexible working arrangements, writes Fiona Smith.
October 14
Cultural differences can be a major headache when companies merge, writes Fiona Smith.
October 7
A difficult product launch taught this CEO the need to remake his leadership style, writes Fiona Smith.
Australian managers have been found to be more oppositional than their counterparts in the US, writes
Fiona Smith.
September 30
Not every company thinks sackings are smart management worthy of a reward, writes Fiona Smith.
Optimism, resilience - in times of adversity they are the key not only to survival but even happiness, writes Fiona Smith.
September 23
What we want is a positive, smiling attitude and we want sincerity. So, cherished are those workers who have mastered the art of faking authenticity. By Fiona Smith.
September 16
You may feel funny asking friends to help you get a job - but it's the only way, writes Fiona Smith.
When the heat is on, some people fall apart. Others rise to the challenge, take charge, look for solutions and emerge from the crisis stronger and better than ever. But what is it that makes one person resilient and another collapse? By Fiona Smith.
September 9
Nobody says executives need to work full-time, writes Fiona Smith.
Unions and management are breaking the hostile mould of the Howard years, writes Fiona Smith.
The relationship between unions and management could hardly be closer than that of Harley-Davidson's manufacturing operations. By Fiona Smith.
August 26
Fiona Smith looks at how business leader can distil company objectives into compelling stories.
An error of judgement in the heady days of youth can later sink a career, writes Fiona Smith.
August 19
'The flow' means hard slog and exceptional results to athletes, but the technique is widely accessible, writes Fiona Smith.
August 12
As many sectors feel a chill wind, canny firms are poaching anxious staff in preparation for the inevitable upturn writes Fiona Smith.
At Stockland's head office in Sydney, you can lean over the third floor balcony into the atrium and look down into the reception area to see if your 10.30 appointment has arrived, peer across to see if there is a free table at the in-house coffee shop, and scan up and down the stairs in case there is someone there that you need to catch up with. By Fiona Smith.
August 5
Jobs will disappear and managers will have to dispense bad news,but it need not be all bad, writes Fiona Smith.
July 29
When it comes to nicknames, a surprisingly large
number of male CEOs are known simply as "God".
The names underlings bestow often point to the
omnipresent nature of the boss, the power wielded
and the leader's elevated nature. Fiona Smith
looks at what's in a name.
Asking what someone does for a crust is a sure
way to ruin a dinner party. Fiona Smith looks at
what employees say about work when the boss
isn't watching.
July 22
As the new millennium dawned in 2000, accountants realised they had to move with the times and dump their old image in favour of a new credential and a revamped culture.By Fiona Smith.
Young people are working harder than ever to
succeed - and often it is at the cost of their health,
writes Hannah Tattersall.
July 15
There is a certain sort of person who chooses to work in the emergency department of a hospital - where the only thing you can be certain of is that the unexpected will happen. The same type will be in the thick of the bear pit at the stock exchange, loving every minute of it, or negotiating high-risk business deals in boardrooms across the world. These are the sensation seekers. By Fiona Smith.
Every now and then, a couple of directors on the board of Leighton Holdings attempt to put the brakes on chief executive Wal King's adventurous spirit. "They say to me: 'You don't have approval to do these things you are doing.' And I say 'Is that right?' I don't create a storm about it or anything, but then I go ahead and do it anyway," says an unrepentant. King, one of corporate Australia's long-standing thrill seekers. By Fiona Smith.
JULY 8
From cooking classes to making cheese and wine,
tastes are changing in corporate bonding, writes
Rachel Lebihan.
Leaders who are willing to reveal their human side,
with all its frailties, can be far more effective,
writes Fiona Smith.
JULY 1
A kiss at work is at best considered inappropriate,
but it could also be seen as harassment, writes
Hannah Tattersall.
The founder of forensic cleaning company BVM
Clean Scene loves her work, writes Fiona Smith.
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