Changing Attitudes Toward Work

Recession May Be Changing Americans’ Attitudes Toward Work

Ignore this attitudinal shift at your own risk.  My consulting buddies and I have been advising companies on this issue for several years.  What’s your company strategy to help the staff achieve balance between work and personal needs?

Mind Shift

The hidden trend in the monthly jobs report — and what it means for you | paulacaligiuri.com

There is a big change on the horizon in the way we should conceive of the concept of jobs – and it is dramatically changing how job security will be created in the future. For many, jobs of the future may be more like multiple income generating activities (or gigs) where we leverage our talents and skills. Job security will no longer be derived from being employed 40 hours/week. Rather, it will be something we create for ourselves when our talents and skills are in demand.

This is a mind shift.

The emphasis of the future will be on the skills you bring, rather than the job you occupy. There will be a far greater focus on self-management of both our skills and our network, two critical components of career success. Possessing more sought-out skills and having a strong network will be related to more income opportunities, whether working for a single organization or as an independent contractor.

Perhaps we need to take a collective deep breath and realize that, while change is afoot, this free agent mentality may also come with some upsides:

  • You will now have tremendous flexibility to plan and grow your own career, no longer relinquishing career management to an employer.
  • You will now have the ability to craft your sources of income across multiple opportunities if this is what you chose to do.
  • You will now have the opportunity to engage in a career that fits with your life – and not vice versa.

Thanks Paula.  I could not have said this better myself.

Less is More

For Real Productivity, Less is Truly More – The Conversation – Harvard Business Review

The way we’re working isn’t working — for employees or for their employers. There is a better way to fuel productivity and high performance. The first key to changing the way we work is recognizing that the value of those you manage isn’t generated by the number of hours they work, but rather by how much value they produce during the hours we are working. Working longer hours, juggling more tasks and answering more emails isn’t the solution.

Read a Book a Week – Update 5/15/10

The Future of E-Readers Is Brighter Than We Knew | The Big Money

The report has much more information, including the stunning number that 49 percent of the respondents—whether they were familiar with e-readers—were planning to buy a tablet device within the next three years. (Holy smokes!)

I recall an exchange between one of my readers who posted a comment on one of my read a book a week posts.  He was a fervent admirer of ebooks.  I hereby dedicate this post to that anonymous reader.
I am saddened to report I have read just 16 books this year.  Working too much and not spending enough free time reading is my excuse.
And no ebook reader…yet.