CAREER PA
While the internet has created great networking opportunities for businesses and individuals, the value of face-to-face communica- tion should not be forgotten, according to international recruit- ment company Hays. In Hays Journal (
www.hays-journal.com), critics argue that technology
is causing people to lose their interpersonal or soft skills, both in external networking and communicating with colleagues. “The technology boom has opened up many networks online
and created real, focused commercial opportunities. One merit of making connections online is the opportunity to tap into a vast international knowledge base,” says Hays Office Support regional director Lisa Morris. “The internet is not just a new, expansive way to communicate with other individuals. Businesses are exploiting these networks, such as crowd-sourcing sites, that allow new ideas to be shared with user communities, many of them specialists.” But detractors believe the result is a static workforce that is
losing confidence, dynamism and the tangential benefits of real human contact. “In a knowledge-based economy, it’s a high-risk strategy for
individuals to neglect person-to-person connections,” says Morris. “Companies should help their staff to learn to network more effectively. If you want your business to succeed, sooner or later you’ll need to meet the people you would like to turn into clients or staff. And you should not underestimate the need to get people together physically to create trust and common understanding.”
WARNING: how to boost stupidity
Many common behaviours have been shown in various studies to make people more stupid, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report. It lists activities that decrease intelligence or IQ, or cause neurological decline, and recommends the first priority as turning off TV. Other recommendations...
PowerPoint: PowerPoint presentations are making us stupid, according to the US Army. Commanders say the Microsoft program “stifles discussion, critical thinking and thoughtful decision-making”.
Multitasking: Stanford University research shows that multitaskers regularly bombarded by electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time.
Stress: Yale Stress Centre has found that stressful situations can impair the ability to manage tense events.
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All the career news and advice top PAs need.
Value seen in human touch Five top networking tips from Hays Journal:
1. People should cultivate their “weak ties” (individuals met casu- ally or unexpectedly who could become useful contacts). Potential networks are everywhere and not always in work-related places.
2. Besides technical knowledge, “loose knowledge” (what and who we know outside of work) is also relevant and could be used for career development. Such data should be exploited appropriately.
3. Creativity is stifled by the “global green room” (the elite networks that welcome senior people but shun those further down the professional chain), but opening up established groups to share knowledge and best practice on a more meritocratic basis could revitalise networks.
4. “Marzipan managers” (employees who sit beneath the leader- ship icing and often feel frustrated and swamped in a sea of email and paperwork) should be a source of concern for organisations. Responsible employers will encourage them to network for their own benefit and that of the organisation.
5. Organisations should aspire to becoming “curious”. To flourish, businesses must not be insular but engage with the broader world through external networks and information-sharing.
Women gaining wings
With more women in the global workforce, services geared for female business travellers are being introduced. A study by travel technology company Amadeus predicts
a sharp increase in female business travellers across Asia- Pacific over the next two decades. Covering more than 1500 travellers, it reveals that about 4.5 million international business trips were made by women from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea in 2011. By 2030, that number is expected to increase 400 per cent, driven mainly by growth in the Chinese and Indian corporate sector. “We’ve seen a steady increase in inquiries from female
executives flying around and into the region as they become more aware of these services,” Asia Fast Track general manager Philip Ho says. His company provides female-only meet, greet and chauffeur services at airports. Women can also hail pink-roofed cabs in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. With a female driver, these are solely for women and families. Women-friendly hotel rooms are also springing up, and
a new traveller Maiden Voyage network keeps women travellers informed. With about 2000 members, it enables female road warriors to meet for dinner or a drink.
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