Always On

I was just taking stock the other day about how I spend the twenty-four hours in any given day. Much like any corporate employee, I have a combo phone/email device. I also have an iPhone for personal use. So, anyone can more or less contact me at any time. Like most connected citizens, I will probably respond to any ping, SMS, email or tweet as they come, whenever they come.

In the mornings, before leaving home, I check my mail (iPhone). During the walk to the station, iPod playing, I scour through the work device. On the train, it’s Twitter and blogging. In between meetings and, well, work, I flit between personal mail and Twitter (again) then topping off the commute home with more personal mail.

At home, after the family goes to bed, I cycle through blogs, email, Twitter and Facebook. It’s arduous and tiring to keep up with everything.

In such a hyper-connected society, am I missing out on real life and who I really am? Can this dedication to an online identity mean the detriment of my physical self?

Dead Man Walking

With the noted staff reductions still to come, it’s evident that there are people that have been given some bad news. While there have been tears, there are others who have held their dignity and ploughed on with their work.

Those in the latter category seem to be in a good place emotionally; they’ve got jobs or other plans. I feel sorry for the ones who have struggled with the news. In particular, I know someone who is being targeted, with the sole intention of being pushed out of the business. This person has been pressured to work long hours and with no possible hope for success. During our hallway discussions, there is enormous pressure being mounted and the only dignified option is to leave.

The worst thing is that I’ve heard from other sources that the manager had been bragging about performance managing the employee out of the business. This is questionable ethics in times of great uncertainty and difficulty. One can only hope that actions like this have a sense of kismet about it.

Safe – for now

So, it was announced a couple of days ago that I’ve held on to my job. In fact, not only have I held on to my job but I’ve been promoted. Yet, I have the same pay and greater responsibility. I guess it’s better than the outside option.

It does mean that I need to learn more about our consumer tracking methodologies and that is scaring me. I now have the freedom to set my own path and without the handrails of a more hands-on manager, there is an element of fear there.

Onward into the great recession!

Lucky breaks and perfect timing

It’s not always about ability but having the right connections and walking onto the stage on time.
I think that my current position owes a lot to timing. A year ago, I shared that long road trip with the former head of the area. That meant a lead position to getting my old job. Now, there were some departures that opened up a path to a more senior position. I was in the department, able to express my preferences. So, I’m here. It’s a good role and one that sets me up for better things later on.
As with most things, timing enhances ability and inter-personal know-how.

The Way Ahead

In light of last week’s announcements, is it time to think about outside options, especially in these troubled times?

I’ve never experienced extremely difficult financial times and pondering what I would do should the worst happen is a new to me. Perhaps it’s a reflection of our (meaning, societal) affluence that I’d never really thought through what it could mean – cutting back on costs, thinking more wisely about saving/investing for retirement, paying school fees for kids, and generally living on much, much less. All these fiscally responsible things are just so darn new that I feel somewhat unprepared. It’s not that I feel that I won’t cope but more that I didn’t seriously plan for it and that I neglected being true to myself.

Perhaps this isn’t just about me, but the general surprise that has beset us all.

Tomorrow’s a Big Day

Tomorrow the company goes to the Market with our half year numbers. Along with that comes our long-awaited company restructure. So, my diary has been loaded thus:
- 9am: CEO presents the new structure
- 10am: Marketing Director explains ramifications to the department
- 11am: my GM tells us if we have a job or if it’s a spill and fill

Good times.

Adventures of the Colleague

I was at a work BBQ the other day. It was open to family and pets and there my wife met my employee. (Remember him?) Thankfully I was occupied by some child-minding so I didn’t have to listen to his ceaseless babblings on. Soon after she sides up to me and says, “I don’t know how you can work with that guy. He’s so annoying. He’s like an eighteen year old. He just talks crap. The only reason why people listen to him is because he’s pathetic like a puppy – they just feel sorry for him.”

If it only were that simple.

Back from the holidays

Coming back from a month away and not much has changed. There’s the same tensions and the same need to mop up the mess made by others. This is along with clearing the 500 emails in my inbox.
With the looming job cuts to be made, people are also incredibly tense. It didn’t take long for the post-holiday lull to be blasted away.

Bad Hiring – Totally My Fault

I’m a little bit frustrated with my latest hiring decision. I think it’s because I’m too easily convinced by people who can answer one good question really well. That singular answer taints the rest and I lose a little perspective.

The current hire was a very convincing. He spoke well and gave very clear and effective answers to all the questions posed. My fault was that I didn’t probe him sufficiently and took everything at face value.

As I’ve mentioned before, the work I do is heavy on the numbers and that means some heavy duty Excel work. My fault was not to probe deep into this. Although Excel can be taught, it takes time to acquire the level that I’m looking for. The Hire has good analytical thinking. His main deficiency is in condensing that into something that stands on its own – without him having to explain it.

The moral here for me is that if I have the luxury of time, compromising is possible. If not, then I should have asked the questions that would prove that a person could hop into the job and run. In this instance, at this very point, I’ve screwed up royally.

In these troubled times……

Courtesy: dilbert.com

… it becomes necessary to tighten our belts and to lose all reason.

Our CEO declared a few weeks ago a number of cost-saving initiatives:

- All travel has to be approved by him (recently loosened – approval needs to be at Director level)

- No coffee or beverages to be purchased for customers or agencies should they come to visit our building; they need to pay for themselves, die of thirst, or drink tap water

- No Christmas parties for all departments; there will be a single Christmas party to be held in training rooms 1 and 2 on Christmas Eve (duration 2 hours)

- Made 44 jobs redundant last week as part of an “efficiency program”; he sent a company-wide email last week stating that the program will continue to run into the New Year.

Yes, I agree that tough times means tough measures. I’m not sure that it’s necessary to arbitrarily suffocate the joy out of life.