Generation Integration: Roberta Matuson Unites Boomers, X-ers and Millennials in the Workplace

The True Meaning of Life Balance

Taylor Swift

My nine-year old daughter has been a huge fan of Taylor Swift, since she can remember. She was quite disappointed when recently we were unable to secure tickets for Taylor's performance at this year's Houston Livestock Rodeo. Seems like my daughter is part of a huge fan base. For those of you who are not familiar with her music, she's mostly country with some crossover thrown in to ensure she captures all the discretionary income of the tween set (and their parents!)

Somehow I managed to secure Fan Passes for this Friday's Taylor Swift Today Show Concert on the Plaza at Rockefeller Center. That means we have the pleasure of arriving at 5:45 AM for priority standing. "Priority Standing" sure sounds like an oxymoron to me. But hey, I'm going to be standing there right beside her making memories.

It's important to take time out of your life to be with your family and friends. The time goes so quickly. So look for us on Friday. My daughter will have a glazed look over her eyes and I will be the tired looking mom taking it all in.

What Hiring Assessments and Dating Services Have in Common

If I hear one more person ask for advice on what types of assessment tools to use in order to screen candidates out I will scream! Why on earth would you want to screen candidates out? It's like joining an expensive dating service and hoping that you don't meet your perfect match. This simply does not make sense to me.

Wouldn't a better approach be screening people in? It can be done. As long as you know what you are looking for. You then can assess candidates for fit, which is really what hiring is all about.

Don't believe me? Just ask my client who is still feeling the aftershocks that have rocked his organization after he terminated an executive he hired a few years back. Make sure this isn't your story.

You are Never Too Old to Learn

 Mindy Weedin and Don Weedin, Class of 2007

A colleague of mine on the West Coast, Dan Weedin, shared this photo with me of his daughter, who graduated high school in 2007 and his dad, who graduated H.S. the same year. I guess you could say that Don took the long way to graduation, as the date should have been 1943. However, Don quit high school to join the fight in WW2 so he was only able to get a GED. This was his chance to get that high school dimploma. The point is that Don achieved his goal. No ifs, ands or buts.

I'm posting this photo with the hope that Don will inspire those of you, who never got around to finishing either your high school degree or your college degree to take action. This economy is the perfect time to do so.

For those of you who have always dreamed of finishing college, there is no time like the present. If you no longer have an income, you may now qualify for financial aid. Fewer students will be accepting admission offers due to lack of finances, and you certainly won't be giving up the dream of making all those big bucks on Wall Street, since those dreams are on hold.

So what are you waiting for?

Telecommuters and the World of Layoffs

It seems that opinions vary as to whether or not telecommuters are more at risk at being laid off than their office-based counterparts. Here's my opinion.

I do believe that telecommuters are more at risk when it comes to being laid off. Now before you start posting nasty notes, notice how I said that I do believe and not that I think they should be the ones selected to go! Here's why:

Out of site, out of mind certainly holds true. Many boomers, who are often the ones making these decisions, still subscribe to the book of face time. Of course face time cannot be accurately measured for a telecommuter, unless the telecommuter Skypes into his employer and remains in front of his computer all day. So when these lists are being put together, it's easier to eliminate those people who you may not interact with on a daily basis.

If you are a telecommuter who lives close enough to the office then may I suggest that you make it a point to work at least one day a week in the office. While there, be sure to connect with other team members as well as your boss. A reminder every now and again of the fact you are more than just employee #05469 working in Tulsa certainly can't hurt. And who knows, the visibility may actually keep you employed during these tumultuous economic times. 

Are Telecommuters More at Risk?

I received this e-mail today from a colleague:

Do you think people who are full time salaried with companies, but who telecommute 100% of the time, are more likely to be the first to be laid off during a downsizing?

An IT person for IBM worked from home. He got laid off a few months ago and has not found a job. It made me wonder if people who work remotely are somehow seen as more “dispensable.” It also made me wonder if people who work remotely just don’t have the relationship with the powers that be so that during a downsizing, no one is advocating for them to be the one to stay.

I have my thoughts on this, but before I share them I'm interested in your comments on this topic. I'll post my response in a day or two, after you've had a chance to weigh in.

 

What Have You Done For Someone Else Lately?

In this economy, it is so easy to get wrapped up in yourself. But what if you took all of this energy and began using it to help move someone else forward? You could apply this concept to either your personal life or your business life, or even both.

On a personal note, you could take some time out of your day to look in on an aging neighbor. Or better yet, offer to pick up a few items for someone the next time you are at the market.

From a business perspective, consider what may be weighing your boss down and then begin devising a plan to take a few items off of his/her plate. In addition to Brownie points, you may also pick up a few more skills that could set you up nicely for your next position.

Shifting your mindset can do wonders to your outlook. And a new perspective is something we could all use to get through this economy.

In a Recession, Everyone is in Marketing

Is your company experiencing a decline in sales? New customers? Decreased confidence? If you are like most companies in this recession, the answer is YES!

Doing nothing about this is actually doing something. By that I mean, if you are standing still and the waves are getting bigger, eventually you will wipe out.

Here are five ways you can stop the tsunami from hitting your shoreline:

1. Marketing 101-Begin by reminding yourself and your staff that EVERYONE IS IN MARKETING! Every person in your organization in some way has the ability to impact sales and customer service. Keep this in mind as you look at ways to strengthen your organization.

2. Is the Right Person Representing Your Firm?- Your front line receptionist may be the only interaction someone has with your firm. The other day, I placed a call to a local hospitality association, who I happened to know was in turmoil. The newly appointed director is trying to turn this ship around. The director should start with the receptionist. The tone of her voice alone almost put me to sleep. Is this really the first and perhaps last voice you want your partners, customers and potential customers to hear? Surely there are lots of great people out there that are more engaging.

3. Invest in Employee Morale-It is hard, if not impossible for your employees to delight your customers if they are personally disengaged. Take the pulse of your organization and see if a lifeline is needed. Do this before your customers find someone else that will kindly take care of their needs.

4. Get Back to Grassroots-Ask your front line employees what they think you can do to increase the level of service your organization is providing. While you are at it, ask your customers what other products and services they would like to see.

5. Start Investing in Your People-Your employees will not grow unless you nurture them. Provide them with ways to increase their skills so they can better serve your clients. You can do this in a number of ways including reviving training, which is usually the first thing to go when a recession hits.

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