Newsletter: April/May 2007
Welcome to the second People First newsletter for 2007. Happy Volunteers Week this week for those in the USA... and for those in Australia next month.
.Effective People: Is messy better?
In a challenge to frustrated parents, nagging teachers and neatness freaks, a new book suggests that being messy and disordered isn't necessarily bad. It suggests that:
- messy desks are more efficient
overly ordered managers can hold organisations back
moderately messy homes are more inviting
many people who've impacted society were disorganised
The book A Perfect Mess, co-authored by Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman, identifies five types of people:
Mess phoney - hides order in mess.
Mess pervert - takes pleasure from mess.
Orderly procrastinator - avoids tasks by continually re-ordering them.
Order prig - lords it over messy people.
Mess-iah - holds their neatness as an example.
What about you? How do you and mess interact? Send an email telling us in 50 words or less by May 30 how you deal with the mess of everyday life. Best response wins a copy of the book, A Perfect Mess (Little, Brown and Company, 2007).
We offer coaching and training on work/life balance!
Better Organisations: Better interviewing
Many people who conduct interviews from time to time are not sure how to go about them. Interviewers who are out of their depth can ask questions that are insulting, irrelevant to the job, or - worse - actually illegal.
There are three basic steps to effective interviewing:
1. Preparation
Have a position or job description.
Plan your main questions in advance.
Ensure questions determine the match between the candidate and the requirements as identified in the position description; do not ask things which are not relevant to the role.
Structure interview process so it is same for all.
2. During the interview.
Don't judge on first impressions.
Help candidates understand the process.
Give the candidates a summary of the position.
Break the ice.
Give the candidates a chance to talk about themselves.
Create a positive image for your organisation.
Listen actively and respond to the information they give you.
Sometimes a person will reveal information that is not relevant, such as their age, nationality or marital status. Don't pursue, note or use this information.
3. After the interview.
Compare notes with other interview panel members.
Match skills, values and interests of candidate with role description.
Reach consensus.
Help candidate to learn by giving feedback.
People First -Total Solutions provides training in Better Interviewing.
Stronger Society: No time for barbecue
According to the most recent statistics, Australia now leads the world in average hours worked, with one in five working 50 hours a week and one in three working on weekends. This contrasts with Europe, which has limited the maximum working week to 48 hours per week.
Many Australians, according to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, are feeling "frustrated and disheartened by their family/work life juggling act".
A recent study in the USA has found that managers who were committed to family life were better at their jobs. Parenting teaches people how to multi-task, negotiate, handle stress and build esteem. The study suggested that employers need to build systems to allow people to achieve balance in their lives.
Our objective in life needs to be more than what we get done or how much we earn. The goal of life and our work needs to be about strengthening relationships with those we love, spending time doing the things we enjoy and having an opportunity to create to a better world.
How can People First -Total Solutions help you to do that?
Company News
This month, People First -Total Solutions expands to Ireland with Martin presenting our most popular training subject: Volunteer Motivation Key to Transformation. Martin has already presented this topic eleven times in 2007 with one Spokane, Washington, participant saying; "I have attended 20 years of multiple development sessions and this rates as the very top, uncontested, best ever. My gratitude".
In Victoria, Australia, we are conducting research in April and May in the arena of energy issues, an area in which People First -Total Solutions is a leading player. We are looking at the issue of Customer Protections in Energy Markets for the Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre.
We have just finished rolling out training for managers who run 94 St Vincent de Paul Opportunity shops in the southeast of Australia. These stores raise vital funds for the work of the Society, one of Australia's largest charities. Here are some comments from those who attended the training: "All sessions were well conducted and involved all members of the group"; "Extremely worthwhile and very informative. Best training day ever attended".
Australasian Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management. People First -Total Solutions, in conjunction with OzVPM, will be running the third Retreat, an annual educational and professional development opportunity for volunteer program managers who feel they are past the 'basics' of their profession and are seeking new challenges. September 23 to 25 in Hobart, Tasmania. Click here for more information.
People First -Total Solutions announces sponsorship of the Australasian Association for Volunteer Administration (AAVA)'s inaugural Volunteer Administrator Award of Excellence. This award will be presented to a manager of volunteers for outstanding contributions to the profession of volunteer administration and the promotion of volunteerism in the community. The inaugural winner of this award will receive a place at the next Retreat for Advanced Volunteer Management. For more information click here.
Martin and Kerrie will be available to present their world-class training at locations across the USA in July. Check out the whole team and the dates we are available soon. We'd love to bring our highly regarded training to you.