Monday 3 January 2011

NEW WAYS OF WORKING IN 2011

If we learnt nothing else in 2010 it was that anything is possible and that no one is bomb proof any longer – isn’t that true Mr. Geoghagan?

You’ll recall Mike is the now ex CEO of HSBC.

2011 is going to be a year of churn – more new business models, more job changes, more focus on execution and more innovation. Because if you stand still the global tsunami will get you.

A few obvious things:

-    the I-Pad and Kindle are changing our lives and where and how we can work and think. We can, as Daryll Scott of Noggin put it, think and do at the same time. We can spend more time out meeting and talking and less behind that PC – the dinosaur of the 20th century.

-    And here’s what Stephen Bailey of the Design Museum thinks of commuting:- “commuting will one day be looked on as we now look on surgical bleeding by leeches.” But not in 2011 sadly.

-    Like Air Traffic Controllers who work intensely and then rest we’ll learn to intensify the way we think and work with shorter harder, less agenda-filled meetings and then relax. The world of “bleisure” (no obvious separation between work, rest and play) will be the norm for all people at the top of businesses or running their own. Play is going to be the key if we want to remain not just sane but effective.

-    We’ll all learn to get rid of all our e-mails everyday. Read the advice from Fast Company http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/132/scobleizer-reengineer-inbox.html - don’t be tyrannised by the 200+ most of us get every day.

-    Jack Welch ex CEO and Chairman of GE likened business to ice hockey – fast, violent and very unpredictable. There is a strong body now from people like Margaret Heffernan that “nice is the new mean”. It’s still dangerous out there but this is a real and thoughtful team game and by being “nice” we’ll hopefully get the best out of our colleagues.

-    The concept of “Senpai” and “Kohai” from Japan – roughly speaking “experienced mentor” and “protégé” but where the protégé is often the CEO figure, full of vigour, energy and indomitable spirit counselled in the discreet background by a senior, dispassionate dispenser of thinking, caution and inspiration, the Senpai.

Whatever else, 2011 can be exciting and rewarding if we all embrace change and do everything we do harder – work, play, laugh and think.

Because our most powerful weapon is our brain.

And it’s time to make more of it.

3 comments:

Samual said...

Its really a great Blog. n the contemporary Multicultural Marketing , success no longer hinges on multiethnic advertising but in building sustainable customer relationships.

Richard Hall said...

Dear Samual,

Thanks.

We are still spending too much time on creating brand imagery when we ought to be worrying if our values are real and our brand is authentic.

100% agree it’s all about these three:-

Relationships

Trust

Positive thinking

Interestingly these three attributes are all globally relevant and transcend cultural differences.

Richard

Anonymous said...

The whole idea of "change" is fascinating at a base, elemental, human level. Every single one of us knows that it is coming, and that it is more than likely to be change for the worse (less money, more uncertainty, more taxes etc.) .....but it seems to be human nature that we ignore it- as if ignoring it will make it not happen. I have yet to be able to ignore that fact that my tank of fuel is getting low- and for it miraculously go back up again 100 miles later!

also the wise, wise japanese- that gentle guidance and challenge from the mentor, ideally over a pleasant drink or lunch, but very definitely away from the office environment- it never ever is a waste of time! always very enjoyable and always very thought provoking!