Workplace
IRREPLACEABLE YOU?
Firm hires first robot accountant
WITH AN IPAD FOR A HEAD and a Segway-style body, George may not look like the other employees of Auckland accounting firm Wise Advice, but he’s a valued team member all the same. Firm director Brad Golchin bought “George” — named aſter futuristic cartoon dad George Jetson — from California-based Double Robotics so staff could remotely attend conferences, meetings and training programs using the robot’s virtual technology, he told The New Zealand Herald. Employees can control George’s movements from any location, and use a real-time Skype-like video feed to communicate. At press time, George was scheduled to attend New Zealand’s largest accounting conference, Xerocon, and already had his own Twitter account (@george_Robot). As for any actual accounting work, Golchin says he hopes George will be able to do clients’ books. — Tamar Satov
SLIDING ALONG A fun twist on PowerPoint presentations
THE LATEST TREND SWEEPING SILICON VALLEY may soon find its way to an office near you. Colloquially referred to as “PowerPoint karaoke” — although technically there’s no singing involved — it requires presenters to get up in front of a crowd and improvise a speech based on an impromptu subject, riffing off whatever slides appear on screen. But the images aren’t your run-of-the-mill graphs and charts; instead think funny cat photos, comic book illustrations or celebrity outtakes. The aim is not only to lampoon a technology that’s way past its prime, but also to build employee engagement and improve workers’ comfort level with public speaking. While companies can easily set up their own PowerPoint karaoke sessions, firms such as San Francisco-based Speech- less will tailor a slideshow special for you. — TS
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Accounting Ninja, at your service
CORPORATE JOB TITLES just keep getting wackier, a trend fuelled in part by the pressure social media puts on professionals to establish a cool personal brand. Some of these revamped titles, however, are more than a little tricky to decode. To that end, staffing firms and human resources managers recently deciphered the following unusual monikers for Fortune magazine: • On-Demand Executive temp • Growth Hacker marketing manager • Director of First Impressions receptionist
• Scrum Master project manager • Design Consultant sales rep
Now you’ll know exactly who you’re dealing with. — TS
JUNE/JULY 2015 | CPA MAGAZINE | 15
CORPORATE COACHING
Desperately seeking self-awareness
IT’S NO SECRET THAT BUSINESS LEADERS consult executive coaches when facing work-related challenges. But the specific areas senior managers most commonly seek help with might surprise you. According to a survey of 200 business coaches from around the world con- ducted by corporate recruiter Korn Ferry, self-awareness is one of the most frequent skills leaders ask to work on with a coach — and it’s the No. 1 request made by C-suite executives. Other top coaching subjects are interpersonal relationships; listening skills and empathy; influence; leading during times of change; communication skills; and motivation and engagement. In other words, all the abilities you’d hope someone in a leadership position would already be good at. Well, better late than never. — TS
Wiseadvice.co.nz
John Lund/Getty Images
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78