jobs in the future – flowingmotion

5 questions to find the best place to be during a prolonged recession

Published November 19, 2009 by Jo Jordan

Where is this recession going?

I’ve spent some time following economic information about the recession and I think there is a fair chance that it will be L shaped. I think the financial shock has been so bad that it is not good enough to wait. I think the correct analogy is that we have had an earthquake, the house has cracked, and we would be smart to attend to the foundations. In fact, why not take advantage to ‘build a better’ house were we have a more comfortable, more sociable and more exciting life.

I think that is the project politicians should be attending to, and I think we should too. The sooner we identify the kind of “house” we want to live in, the sooner they can get on with organizing it!

Where do we find exciting opportunities during a prolonged recession?

As a psychologist, I listen out for the way people describe things. I look to the structure of their statements to identify what really excites them, what is going somewhere and where there is room for other people.

#1 Does the person describe action?

Do I know who is doing what, when, where and how?

#2 Is this a project that other people can join?

Do I know when and where other people can join the party? Is the description an invitation to me and others?

#3 Is the person responsive when other people chip in?

Is the person looking for responses and did they allow time to reply to people? Did they expect people to want to join them?

#4 Is the person curious about other people?

Does the person respond to inquiries and suggestions with requests for more information or elaboration? Do they believe that other people can add value to their project?

#5 Through the entire conversation, does the person keep their eye on their goal?

While the person is responding to inquiries and following up, do they maintain their momentum and movement toward their goal?

Here’s my little acronym: AIRINGOAL

Action

Invitation

Responsive

Involvement

Goal

5 questions to tell whether a businesses is going somewhere

These are the 5 questions I ask to tell the difference between a business that may look thriving, and may go the same way as banks and newspapers, from business that will thrive despite the profession.

Once we have found a business that is vital and exciting, then we can ask more detailed questions about our role within it. More on that tomorrow!

Your first job in social media

Published November 4, 2009 by Jo Jordan

I was delighted to see that Daryl Tay of Singapore has outlined what he is doing at BLUE. He doesn’t tell us what he is doing for their clients. For that we should hasten over to the Blue website.

Daryl tells us about the rhythm of his day. The routine and regular tasks, how he sets priorities, and how he balances work and play.

If you are looking for your first job in an agency, have a look. If you have an internship in a social media agency, perhaps add a post and we can make a carnival?

One Comment

Where will you be when the recession ends?

Published January 14, 2009 by Jo Jordan

Where are you going to be when the recession ends? And when will it end?

Out-and-about the parks and landscapes of the internet, three broad scenarios are being discussed:

Nothing has changed. This is a temporary downturn. Be careful with your money. Try to avoid being laid off. We’ll be back to normal in 2010, or soon thereafter.

The end is nigh. Capitalism is over. And if capitalism is not over, we are going to have a Depression. So go down to the video store to get out some movies on the Great Depression because that is were we are headed.

In recent years, we have been spending beyond our means and we need to rethink the basis of our wealth and political power. Cutting back is not the issue. Re-jigging the economy is the issue so that we can emerge ‘re-conditioned’ for the next 30-40 years.

Which camp do you fall into? This is my thinking.

Rough summary of our economic position

The USA has an economy around 5 times the size of the UK’s, and and they have 5 times the population. So we differ in size but not so much in wealth.

China and India have either overtaken the UK last year, or are overtaking us this year in the size of their economy, but they have around 15-17 times our population (each), or over 3 to 4 times the US population.

The US is well ahead of everyone else by a long margin. To stay ahead, though, whether there was a financial crisis or not, they have to do something about their economy.

Obama has been spelling out the issues. The US economy is too dependent on oil. Too many people are reliant on ‘old’ industries, which can be run more efficiently in China and India who also have lower input costs. The numbers of well-educated Chinese and Indian graduates far exceeds the numbers of comparable US graduates.

The issues are not dissimilar in the UK.

My sense of what is important

I get so annoyed to see people being advised to ‘hang on to jobs’ in industries which are in their twilight years. It’s true that as parents we may feel that we have to hang on to whatever income we have, just as as immigrants, for example, run corner shops and drive taxis to give their children a good start in life. But to be too defensive, is not wise.

Since I arrived in the UK, almost one and a half years ago, I’ve been amazed that so many people want to leave. And almost all the young people do.

This is ‘discourse’ to some extent. People talk about going to New Zealand as a way of getting away from something that irritates them. They don’t mean to go, but the idea that they could, relieves them of the trouble of sorting out what bothers them.

When young people say fiercely, “I am going to get away from here”, this too is ‘discourse’, and in part, a currently fashionable way of expressing ambition and determination.

My sense of what we should be giving priority

But, what if we treated the young people of the UK differently?

What if we celebrated their achievements more? What if paid more attention to their dreams? What if we put their dreams more clearly at the top of our national agenda?

Would that be molly-coddlying them? Would that sap their ambition and drive? I don’t think so. I think that knowing we value their dreams as much as their achievements would allow them to pursue their dreams with more confidence and to waste less energy on worrying about failure.

David Whyte, British corporate poet, talks of the dreadful alienation that adolescents feel when they realise that their parents are burdened with life. If we are not living joyously in expectation of where the economy is going, how do we expect our children to?

Come with me

Which industry do you believe is fit for the teen years of this century?

What is catching your eye?

How big will this industry be?

What are its opportunities?

Why does it fascinate you?

I would like to know your dreams.

Which industries do you feel are like daffodil bulbs, and like to be planted in a good frost, so they can burst into exuberant life at the first hint of spring?

P.S. Thanks to John-Morgan for this wonderful picture of daffodils via Flickr

UPDATE: For an HR Managers perspective on the Recession, I have written a summary on a new post.

3 Comments

3 conflicting views of management and the recession

Published November 3, 2008 by Jo Jordan

Image via Wikipedia

1

Hmm, my little survey of our reactions to the credit crunch show surprising optimism. Briefly we haven’t been hit yet, we are doing little planning and we expect to use the recession to leap ahead.

2

Management gurus such as Henry Mintzberg believe that we have less of an economic crisis and a massive management crisis – our structures don’t allow good decision making. Very much in the lap of HR?

3

And Watson Wyatt report HR responses to the crunch/recession. Cut back on costs including training.

Is that all that is necessary, and possible? Tidy up a little and slow the economy by spending less?

UPDATE: For an HR Managers perspective on the Recession, I have written a summary on a new post.

UPDATE: Best to carry on living, but with verve and vigor! Step into your dream and make it happen in spite of the recession!

2 Comments

Tag: jobs in the future

5 questions to find the best place to be during a prolonged recession

Where is this recession going?

Where do we find exciting opportunities during a prolonged recession?

#1 Does the person describe action?

#2 Is this a project that other people can join?

#3 Is the person responsive when other people chip in?

#4 Is the person curious about other people?

#5 Through the entire conversation, does the person keep their eye on their goal?

Here’s my little acronym: AIRINGOAL

5 questions to tell whether a businesses is going somewhere

Like this:

Where will you be when the recession ends?

Where are you going to be when the recession ends? And when will it end?

Rough summary of our economic position

My sense of what is important

My sense of what we should be giving priority

Come with me

Like this:

3 conflicting views of management and the recession

1

2

3

Like this: