I trust my employees.........really?

It is a beautiful day in New England. I am sitting on my back deck, with my laptop, working. Since I work for myself, this is acceptable. I check in with my boss (me) and ask if today is a good day for working outside.  My boss answers, "Why yes, Betty, its a beautiful day, you have lots of emails to get through, a blog to write and some other important computer-related work, so go for it."

Of course, most people work in companies in which working at home, sitting on the back deck,  is not an option. Though I submit that it could be much more of an option, if companies trusted their employees more.

Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer, made a big stink when she asked all employees to come back into the office. No more telecommuting. Her argument was that people needed to see each other--be in close proximity so that they could collaborate, create a more cohesive team environment.  I know that argument. One hears it a lot.  And I think it has merit.  Virtual teams have many challenges and it simply is not the same as being able to walk down the hall and see a colleague for a spontaneous chat about a project; or have face to face meetings where everyone is in the room and you don't have to struggle with wondering who is really paying attention and who is secretly checking emails or  Facebook posts. 

But does it have to be an either/or situation---office vs. home? Might there be other options?  How about 3 days in the office and 2 days at home?  How about telecommuting for certain jobs that really don't require significant face time? And how about teams who are scattered all over the globe--does it really matter if I am on a conference call sitting in my office in Company X vs. on my back deck, if I am communicating with people who are not in the same location anyway?

I think a big issue here is trust.  I honestly think most companies just don't believe their employees will work hard when out of sight. Maybe they are right. Maybe we won't. But, on the other hand, maybe we will.

Telecommuting may be a unique situation, but it is probably worth seriously considering whether you trust your employees. I mean, do you REALLY trust your employees? If so, do your policies and practices reflect this trust? And if you can't honestly say that you do trust your employees, it might be worth trying to figure out why.

The New Face of Learning

I am currently teaching a course on Organizational Culture.  This course is taught through an online platform, Blackboard, asynchronously, which means as a class we do not all "meet" at the same time.

I recently had a discussion with some folks which is becoming more and more familiar--something to the effect of: "Do you really think the quality of education is as good if you don't meet face to face?".  To be honest, it is usually people of my generation (boomers) who are likely to question the value of online education.  However, it is certainly a fair question.

Am I my Avatar?

My Avatar, Dora Felisimo, has been gradually coming out of the closet. Why has she been so reluctant to announce herself? Shouldn't there be some sort of debutante ball or something? The reason "She", I mean "I", or I guess, "We" are hesitant is because within my circle of family, friends and colleagues, Second Life is still something way too weird. I frequently find myself  being an evangelist for a cause I am not entirely sure I want to embrace. Yet I keep getting drawn back into this virtual world as it seems to  offer interesting opportunities. Or maybe its just fun.

So I find myself flying around, visiting various islands, and walking through walls.  I recently held a meeting of like-mined OD consultants in Second Life and we agreed 3D technology and virtual worlds have interesting applicability for our work...especially for learning and development and collaboration.

However, there is a major stumbling block for most people and as a psychologist I think a primary issue is the difficulty in identifying with your avatar, especially given:  (1)The visuals--the avatar does not realistically look like you, and  (2)The name--you have a fake name.  Of course those are also factors which can add value to the experience in a virtual world--you can be anyone you want to be, including anonymous, which allows for unique learning experiences not possible elsewhere.

But for most people, the silliness of the avatar is going to detract from the seriousness of what you can accomplish in this medium. Am I my avatar? Well, no, I do have a "real life". But I find my alias, Dora, can be quite helpful at times.

The social etiquette of social networking

New technologies require new ways of behaving. So it is not surprising that there will be a learning curve. Twitter is my newest adventure and I am still trying to figure out the proper etiquette.

For example, a member of one of my Linked In groups posted a notice "Hey, you can follow me on twitter if you want...we have lots of good info, articles, etc.". So I went to his twitter account to check it out and saw that he was a fairly new member with hundreds of followers (wow), yet he was only following about 12 people. So I thought to myself, this guy obviously thinks he is more interesting than most other people in the world. He goes in search of people to follow HIM, secures a slew of enthusiastic followers, but decides he is really too busy, important, or whatever, to follow them in return. Are you following me here ?

So it seemed a bit arrogant and I said so on the LinkedIn discussion group which, of course, is the wrong thing to do because it made me look like a mean person (as some people seemed to think). And for those of you who are not on LinkedIn or Twitter, you are excused from trying to figure this whole thing out.

So what exactly is the proper etiquette? I am learning. For example, I am learning that every time I Tweet, I pick up a follower or two. And many of these are very interesting and I follow them back; but some aren't, so I don't. And some are just down-right weird, like the guy who's twitter updates consisted of comments such as "I love you" and "oooh baby" and stuff like that. Needless to say, I blocked him, which is another thing you can do in Twitter which seems rude but in some cases, like with this weirdo guy, is probably a good idea.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy being on Twitter and have met very interesting people who I am now following. And I frequently locate a person or group of interest who I decide to follow and I am not at all offended if I don't get a follow back (I really don't expect the Ellen Degeneres Show or NPR to be interested in my tweets).

There is also the situation where you are "invited" into someone's LinkedIn, Facebook, Myspace, or whatever connection and you think---I really don't want to be connected. I'm not talking about total strangers, but people you know but just don't want in your network.

What do you do now? You can reject them, but that seems awfully harsh, or not respond, which seems to be what most people do. That is hard for me since I am one of those people who prides herself in being responsive. So I have found myself contacting people directly and letting them know I keep my connections to others I know well or have worked closely with....

Yes, new technologies require a new etiquette, so as a guide I think I will just follow the social rules I use in "live" communications and hope for the best.

Are you a Techno-phobe?

Techno-phobia---noun...meaning fear, anxiety, pounding heart, sweating profusely or downright dread in regard to learning new technologies.

OK, its not a real diagnosis, but one I just made up. (See, some advantages to being a card-carrying Psychologist).

Many people simply dread the notion of having to learn a new application or call the IT guys who are going to make you look foolish, so its easier to avoid the whole thing. Unfortunately, like any other phobia, avoidance only makes the fear and trepidation stronger. So why not embrace it?

I am one of these Baby Boomers who buck the stereotypes---I love technology, love learning how to use new apps and really enjoy the IT guys, even if they sometimes drive me crazy with their lingo. But really, if you are avoiding learning and using new applications, you are missing out on some really great opportunities, especially for marketing, networking and collaborating. The reality is that with technology, the more you use it the easier it gets... it may take some time up front, but once you get over the hump, there is smooth sailing.

Also--there is so much help out there on the web that you can learn practically anything for free. There are online discussion groups, free self-tutorials, and lots of gurus willing to help. So you don't even have to call your brother-in-law and hassle him with your questions.

If you are reading this blog, you can't be too technology-risk-averse. So go out and try something new, even if it involves weird and crazy concepts like twittering and dancing avatars. Life is short.

If the layoff happens to you....

National unemployment rates hit 7.2% in December according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and in some states it is even higher, approaching double digits. These are scary numbers but still a bit abstract; when the layoff happens to you, or a family member, then the abstraction becomes reality real quick.

Before going into a panic (or after the panic has subsided) recognize that you are not alone, the economy will recover, and so will you.

Here are some tips for keeping your focus and moving forward in your career....

1. Leave your job graciously. And by that I don't mean in the style of Miss Manners but simply don't burn your bridges. People are sometimes called back to work after layoffs and if you create a major disruption, explode in anger or use it as an opportunity to get back at those folks who always bugged you, you will likely not be called back.

2. Exchange contact info with those you really want to keep in touch with. They may be helpful during your job search.

3. If your company provides Outplacement Services, by all means, take advantage of it. Many professionals, especially executives, assume these services are too low level and not likely to be of help. However, this is when you need all the help you can get. Even if you consider yourself great at interviewing, you may not have done it for awhile and the rules may have changed. Interviewing today might include: interviewing by phone, even by video conferencing, group interviews, stress interviews, behavioral interviewing, work simulations, psychological interviews....the list goes on and on. Any practice, advice or assistance you can get in this area will be helpful. And besides, these services are provided for free, so what is there to lose?

4. Network, network, network. Still the best way to find a position, especially for higher level jobs. Refine your networking skills. Hopefully you will have kept up with it while working, but if not it is time to re-connect with people who might be helpful. Former colleagues, professional associations, networking meetings, friends, family, strangers on the street...OK maybe not strangers on the street, but you will be surprised at the information you can get when you start talking with people. The Dad or Mom at the hockey game standing on the sidelines could be a valuable contact. Social networking via the web can also be very valuable, especially sites like Linked In: www.linkedin.com It is basically facebook or myspace for professionals. I have found it particularly helpful for getting back in touch with people. Set up a profile, join a group, start a discussion and get your name out there.

5. Prioritize your job hunting time. The internet is invaluable but it can consume all your time if you're not careful. Find some reliable search engines and check them regularly but beware of the tendency to waste hours upon hours checking over job boards and bumping into the same jobs at different sites.

6. Keep your perspective. Unfortunately, finding a new job can take a while---sometimes you are lucky and find something immediately. Often it takes many months. If finances are really an issue it may be worth taking a "bridge" job. Expect that there will be ups and downs and the process can be stressful.

7. Get support. This is the time to be open to support from colleagues, friends, and family. If things get real tough even professional counseling to help with the transition may be in order. Career coaching may help if you are stuck or in need of greater focus in your job search. Networking groups can be a great source of support because you will be with people who are experiencing some of the same ups and downs as you and it is a reminder that the process is tough.

Why I love technology (and you should too!)

Standing in the Apple line at the Burlington Mall waiting for the "privilege" to buy my new iphone, I had the time to reflect upon my relationship to technology.

As a consultant, I am a change agent. I help organizations and their leaders develop, grow, expand their capabilities and be more effective in achieving their business results. Which is why I love technology: its all about change.

Other reasons:

-Its fun
-It saves time
-Its challenging
-Your kids can't make fun of you for being non-tech savvy (don't worry, they'll find something else!).

Too many people resist change, innovation and new technology which is unfortunate. Is it fear, frustration, general resistance to change or progress? Nostalgia and a desire for the good old days when things were simpler? True, technology can be used for good or evil, and we can become slaves to our new fancy applications.....like the need to check your emails 24/7...why? Because you can!

Nonetheless, we are in a world of fast moving new technological apps and if you want to stay ahead of the game, you need to embrace change rather than resist it.

Meanwhile, I need to go find out if my iphone is going to sync with my Mac desktop. What a pain!