*Office Valentines: Interoffice relationships are no longer taboo, at least according to the results of a new survey by Harlequin Enterprises. The 2008 Harlequin Romance Report
reveals the ubiquity of workplace romances:
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57% of men and 61% of women admitted to having a crush on a co-worker.
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65% of men and 56% of women have started a relationship with a coworker.
Source: Harlequin Enterprises
*Letting Go: Delegating authority is tricky, and more delegation does not necessarily equate with good delegation. Managers should only delegate to those who are up to the
challenge. Consultant Marshall Goldsmith suggests that in order to delegate more effectively, not just more frequently, managers should start by asking each of their direct
reports the following questions:
1. Within your area of responsibility, are there areas where I need to "let go" more?
2. Are there areas where I need to get more involved or provide more help?
You will probably find that the answer to both of these questions is yes. Next, get their ideas on how you manage yourself:
1. Do you ever see me doing things I don't need to be doing?
2. Can I let go of some of my work and give it to my staff?
Don't promise to do everything that everyone suggests, just promise to listen, think about their suggestions and do what you can to delegate effectively.
Source: Harvard Business Online
*Terrific Tuesday: A poll of senior executives ranks Tuesday as the most productive day of the week by a wide margin: 57% of respondents ranked Tuesday as the most productive
workday, and Monday was a distant second with 12% of the vote. As part of the report, the research firm Accountemps offers the following tips for maintaining consistent
productivity throughout the week:
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Make a plan: Spend a few minutes at the beginning of the day mapping out your goals and prioritizing them.
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Sharpen your focus: Group tasks that require similar effort or resources, rather than shifting gears frequently.
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Limit distractions: Check e-mail periodically, rather than each time a message arrives.
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Don't procrastinate: One method is to break daunting projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.
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Recharge: Taking short breaks can help you replenish energy and fight fatigue.
Source: Accountemps
*Reaching Boomers: Baby boomers are dissatisfied with the focus of mainstream media, according to a new survey. The Edelman Boomer Insights & Implications study reveals
gender differences among adults 43 to 64 and warns against the one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to marketing to the boomer generation. Here are some key findings:
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28% of people born between 1946 and 1964 do not consider themselves baby boomers.
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72% of those who do self-identify as boomers feel mainstream media tries to appeal to a younger age group.
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29% of surveyed women, versus 19% of men, say they are primarily loyal to one brand.
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81% of women and 65% of men believe the government has the greatest responsibility to provide affordable medications to adults 65 and over.
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Women cite lack of money as the greatest challenge faced when trying to maintain overall health and wellness.
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45% of women and 40% of men cite stress as the second-greatest challenge.
Source: Edelman
*Transparency is King: According to the results of the 2008 Edelman Trust Barometer, transparency is a key trust builder. When asked the question, "When you think of the major
global companies that you trust, what are the three most important activities for them to engage in?" respondents ranked the following:
- Fair treatment of employees (58%);
- Ensuring that products meet accepted environmental/social standards (54%); and,
- Communication of both postive and negative performance (45%).
Source: Edelman PRN