How six companies Energized Their Employees

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/08/0814_energize_your_team/index.htm.


This link provides a slide show that describes how six companies energized their employees, and as a result, made them more productive and fulfilled. Managers must constantly find ways to provide the challenges and opportunities needed to help employees maximize their talents and to motivate them to continue to "add Value" to the company.

A Problem Analysis Tool-Fishbone Diagrams

What is a Fishbone Diagram? The fishbone diagram is an analysis tool that provides a systematic way at looking at effects and the causes that create or contribute to those effects. The design looks like the skeleton of a fish so it is refered as the fishbone diagram. I use it in categorizing the many potential causes of problems or issues in an orderly way and in identifying root causes.

Go to http://quality.enr.state.nc.us/tools/fishbone.htm for a more in depth fishbone construction explanation and a template for creating your own fishbone diagram.

The Welchway-A series of Podcasts.

Belwo is a site containing a very helpful series of Podcasts delivered by Jack & Suzy Welch.

As you remember, Jack Welch was the CEO of GE. GE experienced consistent growth in profitability, market share and stock valuation under his leadership. He now provides a podcast each week in Business Week on a variety of management issues. Take a look at the wisdom he imparts, with his wife, on many issues confronting the modern manager..

http://businessweek.com/search/podcasts/welchway.rss.

Podcasts

A podcast is a series of digital-media files distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster.

Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, using an aggregator or feed reader capable of reading feed formats such as RSS or Atom.

http://www.jobdig.com/podcast/listen.php?180 is an excellent site containing a series of management podcasts. Just click the "Hideout XSPF Music Play" toolbar to activate. The site hosts a variety of Podcasts dealing with many management issues, such as delegation, providing feedback, communications, etc. Take a listen.

Economic Indicators-Federal Reserve Beige Book

ECONOMIC INDICATORS-

Beige Book Fed Survey

Officially known as the Survey on Current Economic Conditions, the Beige Book, is published eight times per year by a Federal Reserve Bank, containing anecdotal information on current economic and business conditions in its twelve District through reports from Bank and Branch directors, and interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources.

The Beige Book highlights the activity information by District and sector. The survey normally covers a period of about 4- weeks in duration, and is released two weeks prior to each Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which is also held eight times per year. While considered by some as a lagging report, (Lagging indicators demonstrate how well an economy has performed in the past few months, giving economists a chance to review their predictions and make better forecasts). The Beige Book has usually served as a helpful indicator to FOMC policy decisions on monetary policy.

Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts as of April 16, 2008 indicate that economic conditions have weakened since the last report. Nine Districts noted slowing in the pace of economic activity, while the remaining three--Boston, Cleveland, and Richmond--described activity as mixed or steady.

Go to the site: http://www.federalreserve.gov/fomc/beigebook/2008/20080416/default.htm for more detail on the current economic situation in the twelve districts (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St.Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco.)

Some simple ways to reduce workplace stress

Here is a list of ways to reduce job-related stress.

1. Build co-worker relationships. Wiki's are an effective tool for coordination and relationship building.

2. Set realistic deadlines. Gantt or Pert charts help schedule and manage projets.

3. Act immediately with problems. Distinguish between a symptom and a problem. For example, declining sales could be a symptom of poor product quality, or poor marketing and product distribution.

4. Take short breaks.

5. Talk openly with management about issues.

Please add any others in your "comments" that you found to be effective.