If you have a good friend for a colleague you are more likely to be engaged and satisfied at work. Part of being happy at work is having at least a few colleagues with whom you get along well with. For some, these constitute true friendships that transcend location, circumstance and peer level. But for many […]
9 skills you need to get ahead at work
Even if you’re not especially ambitious, many of us want to get ahead at work. It’s not really possible to remain hidden in a corner and hit the repeat button, although some jobs seem to require this. Whether you’re stagnating or gunning the motor, particular skills are called for if career progression is in order. Try these […]
5 ways to sharpen your strategy and get your ideas heard
Introducing new ideas into a workplace can be a delicate task, and one that is often carried out ineffectually. When you come up with ideas, don’t expect people to rush to adopt them; but don’t feel like it’s not worth trying just because you get little or no reaction. Instead, sharpen your strategy to be […]
5 ways to inspire creativity
We all possess the capacity to be creative, but not all of us have the opportunity to work in conducive surroundings, with supportive colleagues and management. Any industry or organisation where strategic planning is called for can be guilty of excluding the really good ideas that bubble up from surprising sources. Creative work environments are […]
Why we should all care about office design and productivity
The modern workplace is seldom depicted as a congenial way to spend the majority of your waking existence, and it’s little wonder — the average office layout is not optimised for happier staff (and consequently improved productivity). In virtually every decade since the modern workplace burst into existence, some film, poem, painting or television program has […]
What is everyone doing for lunch?
Lucky Victorians take the day off and make the most of Melbourne Cup Day. But around Australia it can be a day for a big lunch and fun time for many – yet still somehow classified as a work day. Bringers vs buyers Have you noticed some people always bring lunch while others always buy […]
7 ingredients for creativity and innovation
“Discovery” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi wrote, “is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought”. Very true, which is why all workplaces seeking to make their mark should provide the following necessary conditions for creativity and innovation. Space This means a certain amount of latitude to pursue a problem or consider alternatives. […]