I have recently been engaged in building and promoting a website for a local Rotary Club. To raise funds for the club it was decided to “monetize” the site by offering advertising space to local businesses in the area. The club is located in a small to medium country town with most businesses reportedly “doing… Continue reading »
Aug
26
Big Ideas Forum – You Can’t Say That: Freedom of Speech & the Invisible Muzzle
{EAV_BLOG_VER:7e98c0c981616258} A discussion on free speech and the need to maintain our right to say things that upset those around us. The stifling of free speech is one of the most important issues of our time. I have recently seen a crazy example of this: Qantas was at the centre of a scandal after posting… Continue reading »
Aug
07
Presidents, Leaders, Change and Hardwired Humans
I watched in amazement as the president of a charity organization resigned three weeks into his term. The issue that has bought him to this course of action was his difficulty in instigating a change process. A new vision statement had been drawn up and he was seeking “buy in” from the group. He was,… Continue reading »
Mar
30
Empowerment: The Development of an Empowered Workforce
The concept of staff empowerment is often spoken about and even claimed as policy by many organizations. It seems from experience and much I have read that the methods and requirements for implementation of successful staff empowerment programs are often badly misunderstood and/or mismanaged. I found this five stage model some time ago however cannot… Continue reading »
Nov
04
Questions Managers Must Ask WHY BUSINESSES FAIL – 3
Poor sales performance is a major contributor to the demise of many. Obvious on the surface however, what’s the problem? Changes in the market place, technological advances, disruption of key relationships, over dependence on one customer or key product and poor sales planning are all major contributors to failure. Two critical planning issues are, quantity… Continue reading »
Oct
05
Employee Empowerment Needs an Organizational Culture That Seeks Empowerment
As culture is developed based on traditions, beliefs, rituals, information and language (communication) to develop an organizational culture of empowerment you need to understand how all these factors come about. The primary issues are the development of a shared vision, full understanding by all involved of the mission, setting of clear goals and as I… Continue reading »
Oct
04
Staff Empowerment: What it is, What it isn’t, How it works and Why Empowerment Often Fails
Empowering workers, means truly giving them more authority to make decisions and then act upon them and that’s where many empowerment programs break down. Many (I suggest most) mangers are happy to delegate responsibility however they are reluctant to hand over any real authority. Lack of authority for competent staff can leave them frustrated and… Continue reading »
Jun
06
Working in a Multicultural Environment “National Influences” part 4
Culture on a national level: Individualist and Collectivist Societies What are the differences between individualist and collectivist societies? Well it is “I” v.’s “We”. In individualist societies the wife and kids need me to support them v.’s in collectivist, the ‘extended’ family, parents, uncles, aunts etc., who will protect me in exchange for my loyalty.… Continue reading »
Jun
04
Working in a Multicultural Environment Predispositions continued part 3
As I mentioned a study by Hofstede perhaps it wise to at least look at his work on cultures. Although I think it is best to make judgments on individuals as individuals it is at least worth considering the issues that give each of us a propensity to behave in a certain manner. Again I… Continue reading »





