The Fall of the Open Office Trend

The Fall of the Open Office Trend This piece isn’t just about evaluating the impact open offices have on employee morale, productivity, and communication. Because even though almost  three quarters of companies in the US have an open office plan of some sort and industry leaders like Facebook have embraced the trend as collaboration Utopia, robust research led by credible sources like Harvard Business School has presented a very strong case in favour of doing away with the concept. The message has already been received loud and clear. Open offices in their present avatar do not work. Hard data like the instance of an open office in Australia leading to 10% of the workforce contracting tuberculosis is proof enough that savings in terms of space are far outweighed by sick days, declining productivity and utter worker dissatisfaction. While some companies think they can get away with a botched-up copy of an open office, choosing to focus on the immediate cost cuts, others still subscribe to the notion cause open offices done right DO work. Proof lies in history. And most importantly, open offices of the brands that frequently make it to the “Best Places in the World to Work At” lists have key differences compared to the hard floored, messy, noisy landscape that has come to define an open office in the 21st century. What are bad copies of open offices doing to the workforce? Elizabeth Von Lehe, is the director of strategy and concept design at Icrave. According to her experienced eye, most open offices lack the basic features that can support the journey to unbounded collaboration with the right concessions made for privacy and productivity. Ethan Bernstein and Stephen Turban, the pioneers of empirical evidence based open office research led by Harvard found that the shift to an open design actually reduced in-person communication by a whopping 72%. Correspondingly the use of emails increased by 56% and that of instant messaging platforms spiked by 67%. This can be largely attributed to the fact that human beings are not bees and  can’t be likened to insects who need to be together to grow their pool of social intelligence. We have a defined sense of self and even the most extroverted people need quiet time to focus and to tend to their personal needs. In open office spaces with shared desks, ringing telephones and forced listen-ins on private conversations, people get overwhelmed and shut down direct communication to preserve their sanity and their productivity. Impersonal channels like emails that do not require active engagement turn into the preferred channels of correspondence. Not surprising since findings by Stegmeier Consulting Group show that audible distractions, visual distractions and their respective lacks of privacy are the top four concerns of open office workers. Source: State of the Open Office Research Study (Stegmeier) William Belk has shed light on yet another aspect of the open office disaster. It has found that high performing individuals who take on a lot of problem-solving are impacted the most when companies choose to do away with private spaces and instead advocate hot-desking. While open offices have certainly not given birth to sexism at the workplace, they are unknowingly perpetuating unacceptable behavior. Medium blogger Amar Singh eloquently wraps up the dialogue on poorly designed open office spaces. They turn distractions into an inevitability which even in the era of depressing cubicles were always a choice, one which employees had some degree of control over. Taking open offices back to better times: The open office is not dead â€" yet. Because there are examples of great design and flexibility around the world which have kept the spirit of Wright’s work alive. Facebook is the flag bearer of the open office success. But if you really drill down into what makes Facebook’s Menlo Park HQ tick, you come acrossideas that reinforce the need to balance collaboration and privacy. First and foremost, the open office story at Facebook doesn’t end with shared desks. There are conference rooms and plush private areas where people can go to focus on tasks demanding attention. This is the recommendation of almost all architects who give credence to the open office concept. Mark Zuckerberg walks the talk. He is just another white desk at Facebook’s open office and this is extremely important if employees are to embrace the open office space as an improvement that’ll work in their favor instead of a cost cut made by the management. Creativity and purpose are built into the DNA of the Facebook HQ. Bold colors, quirky furniture and the quiet reiteration of the company’s purpose position the open office as a place for innovation that’s rooted in the common desire to make Facebook the best social network in the world. The provision of a rooftop garden, showers, and ergonomic desks and chairs put health first, beyond the shadow of a doubt. Not every company has the budget to pull a Facebook though! This is why  Gensler breaks down the salient features of a highly effective open office space. Choices are important Distraction minimization is another non-negotiable trait Finally, access is the best complement to an open office The shift to the open landscape should be made when collaboration is the real motivation and the management is ready to execute a thoughtful design that values privacy, flexibility, and empowerment. About the author: Norberts Erts is the co-founder of HR software company CakeHR, that streamlines attendance and performance management for customers worldwide. Keeping a sharp eye on HR, marketing, business, finance, science, technology and the connections between them.  

Reviews For Best Resume Writing Agencies

Reviews For Best Resume Writing AgenciesThe internet is the best place to find reviews for best resume writing agencies in the country. But it is also important to note that some of these companies are fly-by-night operations, which will often cause you more problems than they are worth.One of the first things that you should look for when you go online is going to be who the company is that you are considering hiring to do your writing for you. When you know who they are and what their credentials are, you will know where to begin your search. If you can find reviews for best resume writing agencies that cover a number of different types of agencies, then you are going to be ahead of the game.It may take you awhile to find one, but you will be able to go down to the local library or check out a section of one's phonebook that would have a listing of agencies that are available to hire. These directories are there for your benefit, so you need to make sure that you take advantage of them. While they may not contain all of the potential candidates that you need, they should be enough to get you started on your search. Using a directory can save you a lot of time and effort.If you still cannot find the right company, then try a few other options. You could try asking around. Find someone that you know in your circle of friends, or even an acquaintance that has found the perfect company for them. They may have written glowing reviews about them.There are those that will give you a free report on them that will allow you to perform background checks on each of the companies. The reason why it is important to perform a background check on any company is because they may not have all of the necessary qualifications that you need for the position. You may even end up coming across candidates that may be better suited for the job.Another way to find reviews for best resume writing agencies is to use search engines such as Google, Yahoo or MSN. If you want to go with th ese sites, you can input keywords related to writing resumes and get a list of the results that you can choose from. This is a great way to locate those agencies that are most likely to be providing you with the best information.In order to ensure that you are choosing the right agency, you will need to know how to narrow down your search. For example, if you are looking for a specialized writing service, then you can go with sites that specialize in a particular industry. Not only will this help you to find the best agency, but you will also be able to find those agencies that have writing expertise.Resume writing is a very important aspect of getting a job. It can literally be the difference between landing a new job and having to settle for what you already have.

Lighting Ideas for New Offices

Lighting Ideas for New Offices Lighting up your workspace properly is super important. Not only do you need to ensure there’s sufficient light to be able to see your screen properly, it has also got to be comfortable enough to be able to spend long periods in there. On top of all these concerns, there’s also the fact that you need your office to be looking great so that you want to spend lots of time in there. With all this to juggle, here are some lighting ideas to get you feeling inspired: Desk lamps One of the best sources of light to have in an office is a desk lamp so you can target the light to focus on particular areas. With there being such an amazing array of desk lamps available you’ll be able to find the perfect ones for you whatever your color scheme or style. From minimalist styles to classic designs, a desk lamp is particularly important for those who do a lot of close work such as graphics and need a bright light for working in the evenings. Floor lamps Floor lamps are the best way to light up a whole area of a room and can look really stylish when positioned in a corner. They’re a great way to work with the natural light, especially in an afternoon when it might still be a little too light for the main light. There’s a huge variety of different shapes and styles when it comes to floor lamps depending on the type of office ambience you’re looking to create and they really help to make an office space feel homelier and less corporate. Windows One of the best lighting sources in an office is definitely a large window. Positioning your laptop or computer in front of a window means that there’s a decent amount of natural light for you to work with and ventilation. A supply of fresh air is always great in an office as it can be hard to concentrate properly if it’s too stuffy. Great ventilation in an office is also important from a safety point of view so make sure that you have adequate smoke ventilation, like the ones available at Rocburn should there be a fire risk. There are so many different lighting ideas to choose from when it comes to brightening up your office space that it can be tricky deciding on the right ones. By following these tips and integrating all three you’ll be sure to create a light and airy office space perfect for spending hours in. Image Source; Image Source

Personally Dominate Mobile Marketing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personally Dominate Mobile Marketing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Mobile is an area of fascination for many advertisers and marketers, partially because it is confounding. Ideally, mobile commerce is more efficient than search because its targeted consumers aren’t those sitting on couches and thinking about purchasing something. Instead, the campaigns are focused on consumers who are out in the real world and are very open to suggestions on where to go next. Mainstream mobile marketing While mobile marketing is going mainstream, mobile commerce is also expected to increase steadily to an estimated $630B by the year 2014. Mobile entertainment in the form of wallpapers, iTV, and games will continue to be the biggest application for purchasing and selling through mobile phones. Here are 5 mobile marketing strategies that will help you dominate your industry as the “go to” personal brand on the go! Make sure you consider your objectives, goals, target market and other metrics before even setting course for your mobile marketing campaign. The personal brand on the go! Search is king. For any brand being visible is important it is vital that your customers find you. This also translates to search and other related services like Google Maps and the social platforms you choose to publish a profile.  If you have a mobile profile site be sure it’s listed so that you are visible even with mobile searches. Social media on the go! Social media goes beyond personal computers. Participants view social media as real time and as an asynchronous channel of communication. Connect through social media sites and highlight your unique brand attributes, personally, not just what you do for your company. Join me here! Location based services are focused on major players like FourSquare, Facebook and Gowalla. Don’t forget other related services such as Google Maps and Yelp. You need to think beyond Foursquare mayorships and see whose checked in.    People still delight when they hear their name, when they’re valued and when they’re recognized. SMS continues to grow! Text messaging has already extended its reach. Even with SMART phones we now see the ability to “ignore call with text”. So, what is your outgoing text saying about your personal brand? The smartphone is where the fight for attention  is moving. This is where consumers examine what the competition has to offer, where they find their news and where they stay ultimately connected. As mobile devices are becoming prevalent as a search method and there is a greater adoption of web-enabled devices, it is vital that personal brands engage their targeted audience in this platform. Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog and is also the CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks.com â€" a word of mouth marketing firm. She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. She is co-founder of #brandchat a weekly twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding.

Using VA Resume Writing Services

Using VA Resume Writing ServicesVA resume writing services can help to put together an effective cover letter, which is absolutely essential if you want to secure a new job. This is something that many people are not aware of.When it comes to applying for a job, the number one thing that employers look at is your resume. The fact that you have spent money on a professional resume is also vital because if you do not get a call-back for an interview, that resume is useless.It is vitally important that you spend time to create a resume that will stand out and show employers why they should hire you. No one wants to hire someone who has wasted their time by putting together a poorly designed resume. That is why it is vital that you find a reputable VA resume writing service that can make you an excellent resume.VA resume writing services are companies that offer resume writing services and the jobs that they do require a resume. The resume is what you use to showcase your skills and abil ities as a person, so you want to make sure that you are prepared before your first meeting with the hiring manager.The next step that you must take to make sure that you make the best impression when applying for a job is to make sure that you have a well-formatted resume that has been written by a professional VA resume writing service. Your resume should include your contact information such as name, address, telephone number, email address, work history, any certifications or awards that you may have, etc.In addition to including your contact information, your resume should also highlight all of your accomplishments. When employers see that you are a self-starter, that you are hardworking, and that you have some hobbies that you like to participate in, they will be impressed.One important step that you should also take when you are applying for a job is to get all of your references. It is not uncommon for employers to contact all of their previous employees to see what they tho ught of them and who they thought should be hired.As you go through your resume and make sure that it is properly formatted, you should make sure that it includes your resume. Remember that if you do not make sure that your resume is up to par, you may find yourself with a rejection letter or even worse, no job.

Is A Day At The Beach Worth Falling Behind In Your Job Search

Is A Day At The Beach Worth Falling Behind In Your Job Search Is A Day At The Beach Worth Falling Behind In Your Job Search? This weekend marks the unofficial end to summer. Despite the endless rain and 90-degree days, I’m sorry to see it go. I’m guessing you are too. I plan to enjoy summer’s last, long holiday weekend. You should too. But, if you’re looking for a new job, squeeze in a little work as well. Here are 5 easy things you can do that will help you get a jump on your fall job search. Do 1 or do them all. They are in no particular order. #1 Target Employers Create a list of 10 target employers. Places where you’ve always wanted to work. Maybe they’re your company’s competitor or what they do inspire you or they exude the culture you seek.  Set up Google alerts on them. Schedule a time each week to visit their websites for career and business information. #2 Create Friends / Colleagues List Develop a list of 20 people you know, and maybe more importantly know you, that would be happy to help in your career pursuits. Notice the key her is they must know you. #3 Aspirational Contact List This is a list of 5 people you’d like to know. Maybe it’s the CMO at one of your target employers. Then find 2 people who may be able to help you with an introduction. #4 Networking Events Most industry organizations go on hiatus over the summer. They will be back in full swing in September. Choose at least 1 live event that you will attend each month until the end of the year. When you get there have a few meaningful conversations rather than run around passing out your business cards. #5 Industry Associations This kind of goes with #4. Select a few industry associations to join. Many have local chapters with monthly events which are a great place to make connections. Being involved with your industry is also important when you’re looking for a new job. Shouldn’t someone passionate about marketing belong to the American Marketing Association (AMA)  and Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG)? None of these suggestions should take more than an hour, or so, in our computer age. Complete at least 1, if you’re ambitious do all 5. Isn’t it worth an hour of your time to help move your job search forward? P.S. Remember dont rely on job boards. They should be only part of your job search strategy.

One of our clients won a prize for being happy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

One of our clients won a prize for being happy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I just got an email from Anders Pallesen, the HR director of Danish IT company Elbek Vejrup. They recently made it to the top of the Danish Great Place to Work list and heres what he wrote: Yesterday we won an award as the best IT workplace in Denmark. This journey started 3 1/2 years ago with your workshop. Thank you very much for helping us and for inspiring us to go in this direction. The things you taught us back then are very much alive and often mentioned and happiness is still a fundamental theme for us. Wow. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that the things we teach our clients work and makes them happier and more successful. Congratulations to Elbek Vejrup on their continued focus on happiness. Heres a Google translation of an article about their award. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related