Have you ever played that game where you cross your arms across your chest and fall backward trusting that your friends/colleagues have their arms outstretched and will actually catch you? I’ve seen this “game” of trust used at everything from summer camps for kids to team-building corporate events.
Back in 2016, I wrote a blog called “4 Things I Learned About Gamification in the Men’s Bathroom” … catchy title, right? Well, you guys loved it. Still today, it’s one of my most popular and re-read pieces. As such, it’s only right that I update it for today’s 2020 business landscape.
I saw a study by Deloitte recently that said: “exceptional organizations think about their business as a two-sided ledger: strategy and culture.” It went on to say that 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe a distinct workplace culture is important to business success.
You guys. That’s a lot of money and time — particularly if you’re onboarding process is shit and you’re leaving new hires less-than-excited about their new gig. In fact, employees who have a negative experience are twice as likely to look for new opportunities in the near future.
How and where we work are constantly evolving. In the twentieth century the workplace morphed from a large room lined with benches to specially designed spaces with separate rooms and areas for different people and functions.
We read a lot these days about the priorities of the Gen Y generation, and we’d do well to pay attention. (Do you remember my proclamation to never use the word “millennials” again?) The White House reports that Gen Y now represent over one-third of the U.S. population, making them the largest demographic group. They make up the majority of our current workforce, and have some significantly different attitudes and expectations from generations who came before.
When it comes to devices and gadgets, there can be a fine line between having things that enhance your life and being ruled by your electronic assistants. A useful gadget is one that helps you do what you do –with fewer interruptions, greater efficiency, and minimal glitches
In theory, we all understand how important it is to operate from an understanding of our most basic goals, values, and mission. Most companies have these. Most companies create them in their early days, as a guide for development and strategy. Most companies give little thought to how their values and goals change over time, and though they understand that revisiting them is an excellent idea, it’s not generally a high priority, and it rarely gets done.
It won’t be news to you that tech jobs offer some of the best compensation around. Continued high demand for workers in these fields means that the pay continues to improve. The data are showing that salaries for occupations in the tech sector are growing much faster than wages overall.
E-commerce is a ubiquitous part of retail today, and it’s having a profound impact on the supply chain. Specifically, it’s creating a heavy reverse flow. Many online retailers offer free shipping and returns, and this encourages more purchases, but it also greatly increases the number of returns.
Most of us would agree that annual performance reviews have become a fairly meaningless ritual. They can be very time-consuming for management and team members alike, they often decrease motivation and morale, and they’re a very subjective and unhelpful way to track activity.
The pace of tech disruption is finally taking hold in a way that it’s real. I’m not saying that everyone and every technology will make it to the finish line or be a unicorn, but in my personal view —and in speaking with CEOs in the marketplace today —tech solutions and company culture are top of mind and part of everyone’s business strategy.
Technology developers have finally turned their eyes to CRE in a big way, and there is a tremendous crop of applications that zero in on the industry’s needs. So before the ball drops, get some of these great tools in place to make 2017 one for the books.
The Internet is a wonderland of opportunity, and users are subject to an ever-intensifying demand for their attention. In order to emerge from the sea of potential connections, retailers and business may resort to less than ethical practices. These tactics use our own psychological tendencies to hijack our attention online. As we all become more accustomed to this treatment, will we become less susceptible?
No matter what the industry, companies will do well to learn what they can about the demographic group that currently entering college and the workforce, commonly known as Generation-Z.
Whether you’re new to CRE or a veteran broker, you likely understand the value of personal connection for getting business done. If you’re reasonably competitive in the field, you also appreciate the benefits of technology tools. Certainly the two can go hand in hand, but it seems that when new digital solutions come along, there is always a bit of tension there
For many clients, real estate transactions are the most significant financial adventures they will ever experience. People invest their hard-earned money to buy a home, house a business, or generate income, and there is always an element of risk.
The term “all-in-one” is getting a lot of play lately, particularly with regard to digital solutions for business. It seems that having access to a tremendous volume of information and computing power isn’t such a big deal if it’s kept isolated. That is a simple but powerful idea.
It can be challenging to make changes in your approach to the job, even when you know that they’re needed. It takes energy, motivation, and planning.
If we really focus on where this is all going and look at the performance of some of the large department stores over the last few years —which has been less than stellar— and then look at the marketplace with respect to spending, it’s clear that B2C will need to create different unicorns. Internet spending is up. Retail spending is down. But, the pie has not decreased with regards to overall purchasing.
It’s really true that there’s nothing new under the sun. A case in point is our cyclical angst about the impact of technology on jobs. Since the Industrial Revolution we have worried about machines replacing people in various occupations.
From my point of view, being a leader is mainly about inspiring people to not only feel they have the tools to do their jobs, but to inspire them to think outside the box as if they own the company themselves. Finally, we’re able to demonstrate and show more about our companies through big data than ever before. But big data only becomes relevant (big) when you apply it to what means and matters to the people that work at your company —those doing the jobs necessary to keep not only the clients, but the people they work with moving forward and happy.
Like a baby with a pair of pliers, we often pick new things up and wave them around before we know what they actually are. This happens frequently with technology. We’ve all been amused by the middle-aged person talking about “the Facebook” or calling a spreadsheet “big data.” Be careful, you might put an eye out…
It seems like every time you turn around you’re required to add to your skillset in order to make the most of new tools and opportunities. This is a part of healthy professional growth, and doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Still it is smart, every now and then, to look ahead and identify some skills that will be essential on the road ahead.
