Learn Practical tips on Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce.
2010 Diversity Women’s Business Leadership Conference & Mosaic Woman Awards Luncheon
October 28-29, 2010 The Gaylord Resort & Conference Center National Harbor, MD “
Addressing The Diverse & Multicultural Women’s Leadership Gap”
Executive Coaching Panel: Someday Could You be Working with Your Son or Daughter?
It makes sense that today’s
leaders want to prepare their gifted young people to fill organizational roles in the future. Or does it? With four generations working side-by-side in the workplace, it is increasingly difficult to predict intergenerational interplay in an organization. Each generation seems to have its’ own set of inflexible job requirements. Join us to learn practical tips for managing a multi-generational workforce. Talk with us as we uncover how women are poised to lead organizations through this challenge.
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Take This Quiz Before Traveling Out of the Country
At the Positively Powerful Breakfast with international business leaders Betty Pinchon and Rodrick Miller, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (the post on his speech will be online soon), we were treated to Betty Pinchon’s Excellent International Quiz and strategies.
If you are interested in taking your business global, it is important to be aware of the proper protocol and customs of the nation you visiting and want to do business with. Test your knowledge with this sample of the questions she asked us.
While there are always “exceptions to the rule”, the answers that apply most of the time are at the bottom of this post. See how you do. If you want to know why a particular answer is correct, you might send an email to Betty for her response. If you are interested in a consultant for your business development Betty and Rodrick are great resources.
- You’re giving a presentation to a Japanese business. As you look around the room, many of the attendees have their eyes closed. Why?
- You are a poor presenter and need training
- Japanese love parties and are sleepy
- This is how Japanese show concentration and attentiveness
- They are giving you a signal to stop
- In Mexico when sending a gift of appreciation, the one appreciated the most is
- A bouquet of Yellow Daffodils
- An expensive box of chocolates
- Anything silver
- Small items with a logo
- Bringing a gift of food to a dinner party in Singapore is considered
- Appropriate only if it is rare and expensive
- Rude
- The food must be a food of Singapore
- Welcome no matter what it is
- What is the Capital City of Australia?
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Canberra
- The currency in Columbia is the
- Dinar
- Peso
- Dollar
Betty Pichon is founder and president of The Pichon Group, a firm that offers comprehensive training and consulting available in contemporary business. She directs her international expertise to corporate executives, management and sales and marketing personnel who desire a greater knowledge and awareness of organizational and cultural behavior. Betty’s objective is to promote greater self-confidence and better strategies in today’s competitive global economy by enhancing personal a3-2, nd professional skills that place firms in control of any business or social transaction.
Betty is a certified consultant in Business Etiquette and International Protocol. Her client base includes many For5tune 500 companies in telecommunications, microprocessors, energy and various service and retail organizations throughout the country. Her email address us pichongroup@cox.net
ANSWERS
1 – 3
2- 4
3- 2
4 – 4
5- 2
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Women, make your home based business even more successful
Here’s a blog of good info for small, entrepreneurial and home based business written by Alexandria Brown. I really liked this artilce about ways to be productive. It’s positively powerful good news for the beginning of 2009. Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown publishes the ‘Highlights on Marketing & Success’ weekly ezine. She’s an award winner with over 36,000+ subscribers so if you’re ready and really want to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, you can get free tips at www.AlexandriaBrown.com.
Look for more good news like this in the future at this site for women entrepreneurs and corporate contributors too.
“Run Your Business From Home? Here’s 10 Ways to Be More Productive”
by Ali Brown
Ah, working at home sweet home… Visions of leisurely days, conference calls in comfy sweatpants, increased productivity with fewer interruptions. But the distinctions between work life and home life soon blur. You really should throw some laundry in the wash before you write that proposal. You have an hour before a meeting: Should you balance your books or clean the kitchen? And remember to call that client back right after you empty the cat box.
Welcome to the real world of the home office: unforeseen distractions, a lack of structured time, and sometimes a perceived loss of identity. But don’t give up the dream just yet! By putting into place a few simple ideas, you can reap more of the rewards of staying home-bound. Based on my experiences and those of my clients, here are 10 simple ways to help you stay on track.
1. Separate Your Space.
Keep a separate, distinct work area in your home. Very important. (This is especially difficult if you’re living and working in a shoebox apartment, like I was when I started my business in New York City!) If you don’t have a separate room, at least define an area, and know that when you’re in it, you’re in “work mode.”
2. Structure Your Time.
As your business and personal time mesh, it’s more important than ever to structure your day. For example, if you regularly take a walk or go to the gym, try to do it every day at the same time. Value that personal appointment with yourself — even when you’re very busy. It will actually help you keep your business on track! I like to get up early and work until 1 pm, then I take a few hours off to enjoy lunch and go to the gym or jog on the beach. Then I’m back at my desk at 5:00 until who knows when!
3. Outsource All You Can.
When I began my business, I made the mistake of doing all my own administrative work. Whenever you start thinking, “Well I can just do that myself,” STOP. Streamline your business, making everything as automatic as possible. Use outside services to stay focused on your *real work*. Get accounts with an overnight delivery service, virtual assistant, messenger service, errand service, bookkeeper, etc. Save your time and energy for your brilliant ideas!
4. Use Technology to Your Advantage.
In-person meetings are very valuable when appropriate, but schedule them sparingly. Try to do most of your business via phone, fax, and e-mail using the best equipment you can afford. For most of us, when we’re out of the office, we’re not bringing in the bacon! So it’s important that you can communicate flawlessly from where you are. PLEASE do us all a favor and get separate lines/services for your phone, fax, and Internet! No one likes getting a busy signal or having to call first before faxing.
Get separate lines for home and business, or ask your phone company about getting “distinctive ring”. Also, voicemail is better than an answering machine, because if you’re on an important call and don’t want to be disturbed, other callers can still leave you a message.
5. Group Your Errands.
Try to group your meetings and errands together to minimize your out-of-office time. Make a list in the morning of all the outside tasks you need done for the day, and attempt to complete them in one fell swoop. Even better, do what I used to do and designate just one day a week as your “blitz” day for errands and meetings. Plus, then you only need to get dressed up one day a week! : ) (Nowadays I use an errand service to run around for me.)
6. Stay Focused.
Make your workspace off-limits to other roommates or family members when you’re working. For you animal lovers, this may go for pets as well. (My dear old cat Francine would get extremely jealous when I wasn’t giving her complete attention!) Keep all personal paperwork such as bills, magazines, and to-do lists out of sight, so they won’t distract you from your work projects.
7. Beware of Yappers.
Many of your friends and family will be immediately delighted when they learn that you’re now home-officing. They picture you lounging on the couch, eating potato chips, and waiting for their calls. When they call you simply to chat, politely remind them that you’re working, and ask them if you can call them back after your day is over. It may take them a while, but they’ll eventually get the idea.
8. Work With Your Moods.
Keep track of your moods and productivity compared with the time of day. For example, if you find you’re more alert in the morning, use this time to make important calls and do your creative work. Take advantage of your natural cycles. If you feel better after an afternoon nap, go for it! (I’m a BIG proponent of the catnap. In fact, I may start a support group.)
9. Suit Yourself.
To bring out your best work, make your environment perfect for YOU. How do you work best? With plenty of breaks, or with no interruptions? In silence, or with some light music in the background? On a cushy couch and coffee table, or at a business desk in an ergonomic chair? (My friends thought I was nuts when I spent $750 on my Herman Miller Aeron chair, but they quickly understood why I did once they sat in it! It will last forever and my spine thanks me every day.)
Also, find some places you can do work when you need a change of scenery. How about the library, the park, or your neighborhood coffee shop? When I need to do serious reading, thinking, or editing, I take my work outside to the beach. The sea air, sunshine, and soothing waves help me think much more clearly.
10. Break for People.
Feeling sluggish, lonely, or moody? Arrange for at least one social break during the week. Schedule breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even just coffee with a client, vendor, or friend. Join a business networking group, or sign-up for social activities such as dance class or recreational sports league. Don’t go into hermit mode — it can be self-destructive!
© 1999-2009 Alexandria Brown International Inc.
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Self esteem check.
Here’s to all of the wonderful women who are not letting a “poor is me” conversation get the best of them. Check out the book HOW TO BE A POSITIVELY POWERFUL PERSON. It contains ways to increase self esteem and rise above all of the doom’s day conversation. Believe it or not, there are people who are still making money, feeling self-assured, loving life – not being “Pollyannas”. Consider this: What if this was the best time in the world for you right now? What if we are all in the right place at the right time? What if we are making the choices in our lives and creating the only results that are possible given these choices?
If you are interested in a self esteem workshop Jan. 14 or Feb. 15 in Phoenix, AZ, Dr. Wanda Henderson is giving one. The cost is $5. Her email address is Dr Wanda Taylor [drwanda@cox.net] for more information. I’ve not participated in her workshops but why not go and make a difference if you’re in the area.
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