Archive for Quality of Life in the Workplace
ExtraordinaryWomenTV Interview
Posted by: | CommentsPatricia Muir is interviewed by Shannon Skinner of ExtraordinaryWomenTV.
7 Keys to Job Security – Key #3 Invest in Yourself
Posted by: | CommentsConstantly improving and diversifying your skills is critical to lifetime success and employment. This may mean working with a coach or a mentor. Learning is key because of the rapid changes that are occuring in job descriptions.
In today’s world, jobs are changing so fast and require flexibility and a wide range of skills on the part of the worker. If you are not reading, taking courses, or surfing the web on a regular basis, then you are not keeping up with the demands in the workplace. You will be left behind in the informational revolution with skills and abilities suitable only for yesterday’s job.
At least every quarter, invest some time to review your skills with an eye toward the future. New Year’s Day is an ideal time for this activity. Identify two new skills to acquire, then take classes, study, or read books to master the new skills. Identify skills you have now and how you can develop those skills to the “Master” level.
I have observed and experienced that a time comes in our lives when we evolve to appreciate investing in knowledge and experiences to better ourselves and those around us. I believe that at this time going into a new year, there’s no better investment than in our personal and professional development.
First and foremost, get excited about your personal and professional development. There’s great payoff now and in the future.
What are your plans for personal and professional development?
Living with Job Insecurity in the New Economy
Posted by: | CommentsNo doubt that tomorrow (November 4, 2008) will go down in history. The world is waiting to see if US citizens acknowledge that BIG SHIFTS are happening in the world economy that requires a BIG SHIFT in leadership. Change has been happening in front of our noses for decades and either the “leaders” have not been clued in or they have been burying their heads in the sand. The workplace and employment as we know it has been and is going through a huge transformation.
Manufacturing, as well as much of the service sector, is undergoing a transformation as profound as the one experienced by the agricultural sector at the beginning of the last century. We are still in the early stages AND clearly we are experiencing a shift from mass labor to highly skilled labor, along with increasing automation in the production of goods and delivery of services. Analysts predict that, in this century, employment as we know it is likely to be phased out in industrialized nations of the world. Human labor is being systematically eliminated from the economic process. A new generation of sophisticated information and communication technologies, together with new forms of business reorganization and management, is wiping out full-time employment for millions of blue- and white-collar workers.In a ruthless, globally competitive market, companies can no longer afford the luxury of holding on to more employees than they need. Because of technology, some jobs are being eliminated completely.The evidence is clear that we are shifting to a new economy – one that is booming for some jobs, and devastating for others.
What do these changes signify for you? Are you taking notice, taking responsibility, and investing in yourself to prepare for change or are you burying your head in the sand?
In future blogs in November, I will offer keys to the new job security.
Welcoming Labour Day!
Posted by: | CommentsLabour Day, the first Monday in September in Canada, is bitter-sweet. It marks the end of summer vacation and summer romances as a new school year begins.The closing of the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto, Ontario coincides with Labour Day and therefore it is fitting that the CNE honours all workers by hosting the Labour Day parade.
My fondest memories of Labour Day were when I would watch my dad from the parade sidelines as he marched in the parade as a member of Local 30 Sheet Metal Workers. We were all so proud! Dad would receive a new uniform including a windbreaker with the Local 30 crest just before Labour Day each year so that he and his colleagues would show there best as they entered the CNE grounds. Mom, my brothers, and I would be admitted to the CNE grounds free on Labour Day and there were all sorts of activities, hot dogs, soft-drinks – an exhausting day of family, fun, and food.
Labour Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in Canada since the 1880s. The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to April 14, 1872 when a parade was staged in support of the Toronto Typographical Union’s strike for a 58-hour work-week. In New Zealand where Labour Day is celebrated on May 1st, the origin is associated with the 8-hour day movement in 1840. With recent changes to our current Labour Standards “abolishing” the 60-hour work work, I question our progress over the last two centuries in celebrating the “worker” and improving the quality of life in the workplace.
Ironically, Labour Day also signifies the end of a string of long-weekend holidays timed approximately every 4 weeks apart throughout the summer. An insinuous scent of fall is beginning to rock the lazy days of summer. Many families are preparing to kick into high-gear for the first day of school and the thrust of fall business activities. I have intentionally avoided shopping malls this weekend knowing that there are crowds of parents and children shopping for new clothes, equipment, and supplies. Emotions are running high: excitement, anticipation, fear, love.
While I am spending the day clearing and re-organizing my office to prepare for new business in the fall, I am also giving thought to all the men and women who have contributed to moving our economy forward through hard labour. We have much to be thankful to these workers for improving our quality of life. Welcome Labour Day and a toast to all workers. Have a safe and happy holiday!
Stop the Balancing Act!
Posted by: | CommentsHow often do you hear about people trying desperately to achieve balance in their lives?
The topic of work/life balance is covered in the press almost daily: radio; television; newspapers; magazines; and last but not least, e-newsletters and blogs. Because of the timing and overwhelming focus on this topic, most of us have bought into the notion that a “balanced life” is actually attainable.
Experience and observation has taught me that a “balanced life” simply is not attainable. Just think about this for a moment. Balance in any context is delicate. Anything that is balanced (think of a scale) can become unbalanced with the slightest pressure from any direction at anytime. An enormous amount of energy is exerted and depleted trying to keep something in balance – including your life. Can you see how incessant focus on achieving a balanced life affects the quality of your life? The effort is actually counter-productive. I have come to appreciate how “integration” rather than “balance” can be the key to maintaining quality of life and actually thriving. Understanding this distinction has a profound effect on sustaining your quality of life and basically, staying sane.Here is my interpretation of the distinction between integration and balance.
“Integration” implies acceptance, assimilation, and sense of continuous flowing energy. As something is added, it is embraced but it does not take over. When something is deleted, the gap is filled in just the right proportion without losing sight or appreciation for what was removed or lost. Wholeness is maintained. Our sense of being whole gives us strength to flow through the transition. We attract the best. We go with the flow.
“Balance” on the other hand implies struggle to achieve and maintain. Any addition or deletion from the equation causes upset or feeling of being “off balance”. Again, think about the scales. When something is added or deleted, there is a compensating reaction. Under or overcompensation fuels the imbalance. We feel fragmented along with a gamut of other feelings and fears that tear at our sense of being whole and compromise our strength. We focus on the hurdles, we trip, and we lose the flow.
Here is my call to action. Stop the Balancing Act:
- Examine your distinction between integration and balance.
- List what is most important to you at this very moment. Be as detailed as you feel is meaningful for you to benefit from this exercise.
- Use my distinction and/or your own regarding “balance” to determine how well (or not so well) you are currently “balancing” or “juggling” what is most important to you. How do you feel when “A” gets more attention than “B”? Or, when you add “C” which forces you to eliminate “B”? What is this “balancing act” costing you?
- Now explore the shift to “integration”. Can this shift allow you to give the appropriate amount of attention to “A” and “B”? Can you accept and assimilate “C” without total exclusion of “B”? If the unexpected comes along, will you be able to accept it with ease and maintain the flow?
I would love to read about your experience in stopping the balancing act. Please post your feedback.
What Canadians Look for in a Job!
Posted by: | CommentsWhat do you think is the most important characteristic that Canadians look for in a job?
Money? While most of us strive to raise our income to achieve a better quality of life, we also strive for a mosaic of satisfying characteristics with both tangible and intangible intrinsic rewards. When I speak with clients about creating an environment that enhances quality of life in the workplace with the result of high job satisfaction, I often get into the debate about whether or not “money is the prime motivator” for employees.
Graham Lowe, president of Graham Lowe Group in Kelowna, B.C., references a 2007 study 21st Century Job Quality: Achieving What Canadians Want when emphasizing what Canadians value and look for their jobs. These characteristic are presented in order of importance.
- respectful treatment
- a healthy and safe environment
- trustworthy management
- work-life balance
- a sense of pride and accomplishment
- training to do their jobs effectively
How interesting that “money” is not in the top six above. Even if money is next on the list at #7, many employers’ cling to 20th Century beliefs and employment priorities that are out of sync with the current reality. Resistance to new and innovative practices that embrace and support quality of life in the workplace is holding many employers back from creating a happy, productive, effective, and profitable workplace. They are losing good talented employees and the “pool” is drying up.
If employers continue to address only the “money” reward, they will be insulting and demoralizing their workforce. This is the disconnect that results in everyone missing out on a great opportunity to build a satisfying community at work. Future blogs and e-newsletters will focus on creating a workplace that meets the needs of employers and employees: happy, productive, effective, and profitable.
Best Practices Add Value..for Everyone
Posted by: | CommentsI am probably one of a few who enjoys business travel. Colleagues and friends often remark that business travel “is not what it’s cracked up to be”. My secret? I intentionally add a time buffer before and after my business meeting or workshop to add to my personal quality time. This personal best practice affords three priceless opportunities:
- Absence of adrenaline rush. So much can happen on the way to the airline boarding gate. Traffic; parking issues; security line-ups; a briefcase search; a gate change. Each adds stress. One or more can seriously elevate blood pressure and raise anxiety with concern about missing a flight or being late for a meeting. With a time buffer, I am able to take these incidents with stride and relax into my travel experience.
- Time to read or write with no interruptions. I do invite and appreciate a few distractions as I observe the goings-on of people moving through the airport or when I strike up a conversation with a fellow traveller.
- Observe customer service practices (my favourite). Airports, airlines, and hotels provide rich examples of good and bad customer service practices that I then share with my clients. Recently, I witnessed the cascading effects on staff and customers/passengers when an Air Canada ground employee failed to follow the best practice for boarding. I witnessed how the inflight crew responded. First with frustration; second with grace and accountability to reset customer/passenger expectations.
Best practices (both personal and professional) contribute to consistent performance that adds value for everyone.
Extra Day to Make 2008 GREAT!
Posted by: | CommentsI am intrigued and inspired to hear so many people say that they expect 2008 to be GREAT. There is a refreshing wave of intellectual optimism that is filling the workplace with humour and genuine caring for customers, employees, and associates. What is different about 2008? Perhaps it is the extra day we have in the leap year to work towards our goals or just to take a day of rest. Does one day really make a difference?
Here in Ontario, Canada, many employees received an additional day of rest, a new statutory holiday. Family Day, a much needed holiday in the middle of February, was especially welcome because we have had such an active winter with weekly snow storms. Workdays were extended by double-duty snow shoveling and battling long stressful commutes. For many working parents, there was the added stress of arranging alternative daycare when schools were closed. Then there was the flu outbreak.
Many employers claimed that the interruption in business on Family Day was costly. I invite those employers to consider the value of a day for employees to rejuvenate and de-stress. One day did make a difference for individuals and families that needed downtime and extreme self-care at a time when resistance and resilience was tested beyond the norm. That downtime and extreme self-care probably saved businesses by minimizing the costs of absenteeism.
I have observed the mood of employees with much interest as the month of February closes. Month-end brings added hours and efforts to meet quotas. Energy in the workplace this week has been electric. Normally, I would have described the energy as frenetic. However, I noticed that there was a shift from “having to work” to “wanting to work”. What has produced this shift? I am a firm believer that a day of downtime at a particularly stressful time has contributed to this shift. There is a new appreciation for the quality of life in the workplace.
For employers who are not convinced, stop obsessing over the loss of one day. Actually, you get an extra day of business this year – today, February 29, 2008. One day can make a difference.
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