Are you REALLY ENGAGING your team or JUST MANAGING them? TAKE THIS TEST AND FIND OUT!…By Darren Saul, Carnegie Hill

They turn up to work, they do what they are asked/told, they might even do a little work after hours. BUT ARE THEY INSPIRED? Better still: DO YOU INSPIRE THEM?

Inspiration needs no introduction nor excuse. An inspired person will hit you like a freight train with equal intensity at 8am or 6pm, work day or weekend, in the office or at the counter waiting impatiently for an espresso before racing back to his/her desk.

BIGGEST CLUE: The eyes!

The passion and energy just jumps right out at you through that committed gaze and it’s as contagious as hell. There is no stronger force to push someone through their comfort zone and get results.

SIGNS OF AN INSPIRED EMPLOYEE:

• Confidence
• Passion
• Energy
• Enthusiasm
• Willingness to learn
• Honesty
• Team spirit
• Pride
• Uncompromising work ethic
• Self-motivation

“How do you inspire your people?” You ask.

ANSWER: Good question! Read on.

One of the greatest gifts known to man is the ability to inspire and engage. It’s the difference between being GOOD or GREAT. The rewards are infinite. You will earn respect, trust and loyalty. You will benefit from increased productivity, profits and stronger team morale. You will evoke leadership and creativity!

TRY THESE:

1. Treat your people better than you treat your customers
2. Delegate wherever possible and thus empower your employees to take ownership, build confidence and develop pride
3. Consult your staff on issues
4. Acknowledge them as much as possible without being fake (too much of anything can ruin your appetite)
5. Implement a staff mentoring/buddy system to train new staff with experienced members
6. Conduct frequent two-way reviews to build the lines of communication and confirm expectations (including career path management)
7. Create a friendly/approachable/fun atmosphere where people are happy (even better: proud) to work
8. Invest in training and development
9. Seek help with employee recruitment – recruiters are specialists in the recognition of inspired individuals
10. Pay them well!!

Yes, easier said than done, however if you’re not doing it and your competition is you risk losing your greatest asset!

“TO INSPIRE OR NOT TO INSPIRE” THAT IS THE QUESTION…

Would love to hear your thoughts!

CARNEGIE HILL'S MONTHLY eZINE "IT SPICE" - JAM PACKED WITH SPICY INSIGHTS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT! WHY HAVEN'T YOU SUBSCRIBED YET?? www.tinyurl.com/ITSPICE

What has been the REAL impact of the economic downturn on IT Managers and their teams? How can we (recruiters) help? Sydney IT Managers explain...

Yes, we have seen it all over the past months – redundancies, recruitment freezes and frustration. HOWEVER it is not all doom and gloom! We can learn a great deal from times like these. In fact I would dare say that they are fundamental to our growth, both from a personal and a professional level. Before we can begin to seriously make positive changes in the name of development, though, we do need to understand the subtleties of the situation. How has the behaviour of IT Managers changed? What changes have their team members undergone? What would they like to see from Sydney’s finest (us recruiters of course)?

We asked and this is what we discovered...

There has been a definite swing towards contract hires when our managers have needed extra hands on deck. There has also been a strong tendency to recruit in-house (either directly or by outsourcing to their internal HR teams). Open communication with their teams has proven a fundamental ingredient to limiting any potential collateral damage brought about by uncertainty. In some cases redundancies have caused a period of decreased moral and disruption of daily activities, however frequent and open communication has paved the way to a rapid recovery. One very positive impact of the downturn has been the ability for managers to “catch-up” and “clean-up” and thus move into the realm of proactive management rather than purely reactive management.

Recruitment practices have definitely changed with an increase in “cowboy” tactics driven by desperation. But it doesn’t have to be so. Managers are looking to partner with their recruiters and thus we should be constantly striving to become those sought after TRUSTED ADVISORS to our clients providing them with invaluable insights into realistic salary/contract rate expectations, quality and availability of candidates, and realistic time-frames. I would say that niche specialisation is even more important than before! Managers are interested in flexible payment models that are better tailored to their needs. They want information on hiring trends in other sectors and they thirst for the provision of education and training for their teams.

Now is the time for re-innovation and renaissance! The beautiful thing about a downturn is the fact that it is always followed by an upturn. Let’s get ready!

Would love to hear your thoughts!

CARNEGIE HILL'S MONTHLY eZINE "IT SPICE" - JAM PACKED WITH SPICY INSIGHTS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT! WHY HAVEN'T YOU SUBSCRIBED YET?? www.tinyurl.com/ITSPICE

The TRUTH about IT Professionals! What do they REALLY want from their colleagues and managers?...By Darren Saul, Carnegie Hill

They say “you’ll never know until you ask” so that’s exactly what we did! We surveyed over 50 IT professionals of different technical flavours to find out once and for all what actually makes them tick – what are the key factors that contribute to their work satisfaction. What do they REALLY want from their managers and colleagues? No speculation, no second hand information!

Our IT professionals were asked to grade (1-5, 5 being very important) a number of different parameters and of course add any that we may have overlooked. As it turned out the most important ones were - Location, Management Style, Remuneration, Training, Career Progression, Work/Life Balance, Team Fit, Sense of Accomplishment, Acknowledgment from Managers/Colleagues and Other Benefits (eg. mobile phones, laptops, air conditioning, gym membership, access to corporate loans and financial planning advice).

Pretty extensive list – wouldn’t you agree?

Well as one could imagine there was some degree of variation (after all we are dealing with human beings who are also IT people) however there were a select few factors most important to our technical knights in shining armor that came through LOUD and CLEAR! Remuneration, Management Style, Acknowledgment and Career Progression all rated 4-5 by every individual surveyed. Funny enough and contradictory to what I had always believed, Training averaged 2-3!

There you have it! If you want to keep your most valuable assets happy make sure that they are being remunerated at least according to market rates, make sure that you develop the best way to manage and engage each individual daily (and they will be different), acknowledge their strengths, value and accomplishments, and wherever possible co-develop a defined career progression path for them.

The one very INTERESTING thing that came out of this exercise is that not one of our IT Professionals sounded even the slightest murmur about the need to work with up to date/latest and greatest technology! I’ll leave that one to you…

Would love to hear your thoughts!

CARNEGIE HILL'S MONTHLY eZINE "IT SPICE" - JAM PACKED WITH SPICY INSIGHTS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT! WHY HAVEN'T YOU SUBSCRIBED YET?? www.tinyurl.com/ITSPICE

Good old-fashioned conversation! A fundamental ingredient too often overlooked when searching for opportunity. Antennas up!...By Darren Saul

Facebook, Skype, SMS, Twitter, Blogging, email - look how far we’ve come and isn’t technology fantastic! Absolutely, I am the first to embrace it, HOWEVER, look how much we have left behind!

Particularly in this economic climate most of us are finding ourselves in the position of needing to identify opportunities. Whether we are looking for a job, more business or simply more contacts, we are all hunting for something. With so many mediums out there with which to interact nowadays it’s so easy to be swept up in the technology tide and forget that fundamentally we are still human beings - and what were human beings actually built to do? Interact with other humans, not technology.

Now, coming from an IT Recruiter this may sound a little strange, however I assure you that I do speak from personal experience. Over the past few months the need to develop new business relationships has forced me to sharpen my prospecting skills and I have been constantly astounded by the opportunities that have presented themselves while immersed in good old-fashion conversation (preferably face to face). This has not necessarily occurred during a planned business meeting but also through GENUINE conversations with neighbours, patrons at the regular watering hole (caffe’ across the road), car park attendants, and even the caretaker of my building.

With regard to Job Seeking, I have heard a range of statistics however it is well-known that approximately 70% of job opportunities are never even advertised. They are obtained through 1st, 2nd or even 3rd generation referrals and why do you think that is? Exactly. Every conversation is a potential job interview and thus it is crucial to leave a favourable impression. Master the art of “active” conversation and you’ll never be short of opportunities.

Now of course there is a place for Facebook, Skype, SMS, Twitter, Blogging and email, but remember that only real genuine conversation has the power to unleash unlimited potential.

Antennas up!

Would love to hear your thoughts!

http://www.carnegiehill.com.au

Enjoy the journey more than the destination!!...By Darren Saul, Carnegie Hill

Well 2009 has arrived, and as I continue to observe the world around me, I can’t help but notice the increasing sense of urgency and pace evident in everything we do. The world is at war, traffic is getting worse, drivers are displaying less patience for pedestrians, everyone’s life is so “hectic” and the simple act of waiting in a queue for an extra few seconds seems an arduous task. We seem to be caught in a strong current dragging us NOWHERE fast!

It’s time to take a step back and blend the old with the new. By the “old” I of course mean “ancient wisdom”. Pause, take a breath, and LIVE the moment. The journey is far more rewarding than the destination – let’s not miss it!

Now you might be wondering what this ever has to do with recruitment or career development. The answer – EVERYTHING. In fact, this simple philosophy can be applied to just about everything we do on a daily basis. Not only can it render your daily living experience more meaningful, it can also assist you dramatically in the achievement of any goal you might be working towards. Training yourself to be constantly aware of the moment will limit your tendency to focus too much on the small stuff. One moment is always followed by another, and brings with it a totally new set of circumstances. Dwelling on them too much will only distract you from focusing on the big picture. Now this might seem to be a contradictory statement – how can we focus on our long term goals if we are constantly thinking in terms of the present? Well living in the moment doesn’t necessarily have to always mean thinking in terms of the present. There will be plenty of moments of pure reflection and analysis. We can buy into negative and unproductive thought or we can think in a positive, useful and enjoyable way, while keeping our sights firmly on the ultimate finished line. Awareness is the key!

I was watching the latest Chris Rock comedy special the other night and Chris did a “bit” about the difference in mindset when thinking of what we do as a “career” or “just a job”. This relationship really stuck in my mind and is a perfect example of how enjoying the journey can be applied to the workplace. When we think of what we do as a career, we tend not to focus on the small disappointments and we strive forward with ease to achieve our long term goals. I’m sure you can fill in the rest…

I leave you with a couple of relevant quotations:

“Every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent success” Napoleon Hill

“The happiest people are not necessarily those who have the best of everything, but those who make the best of what they have. Life is not a question of how to survive in a storm, but how to dance in the rain!” Unknown.

HERE’S TO A GREAT 2009!!

Would love to hear what you have to say!

http://www.carnegiehill.com.au/

Working from “inspiration” vs. “routine”…By Darren Saul, Carnegie Hill

We all know that when we are passionate about something time seems to fly, the task consumes us and we don’t feel like we have spent even one minute “working”. We enjoy every moment of what we are doing and very little can distract us from achieving our goal. I direct you to a fantastic post by Silvana Avinami entitled You either have it or you don’t where Silvana advises to exploit your strengths when choosing a career. Now you might argue that just being good at something doesn’t always mean that you are passionate about it. This may be true, however I have definitely noticed that if we are good at something, the more we practice that activity the more we tend to develop a passion for it even if we didn’t have one in the first place.

This is a philosophy I am extremely passionate about and I would like to take it one step further. Practicing your chosen specialty day to day (the one you are very passionate about) still carries with it the risk of it developing into a mundane and lifeless routine if you let it. This is where the art comes in. Learning how to stay “inspired” wherever possible and not allowing the “routine” to overcome you is the secret to success and longevity in your chosen field.

How do you do this? Very simple! Be sensitive to your energy levels and motivation. If you don’t feel “inspired” take a break and do something you enjoy – grab a coffee, go for a walk or read something that does inspire you in some way. This does two things. Firstly, it removes you from your unproductive mindset and allows you to again think from a place of creativity. Secondly, if indulging in a totally different topic, a cross-fertilisation phenomenon can occur whereby thought in this seemingly non-related area generates inspirational parallels that can be adapted to your work (and vice versa). You must have noticed that most of your greatest ideas have “spontaneously” been born while focused on a totally different task. The art is being AWARE of your where you’re at mentally and harnessing the hidden potential laying dorment in your different mental states.

The general working environment also plays a major role. Some people are more productive in the morning while others are far more productive late at night. Certain individuals thrive in an open office environment while others find it very distracting and would be much more productive in a single office or even working from home. We are all different and thus respond differently to various stimuli. That is what makes us great! Why not exploit it instead of suppressing it.

Of course, this flexible working style can only be applied to its full potential if you are self-employed and might not be 100% suited to every situation. I am certain, however, that applying this style of thinking in some way to whatever you do will only enhance potential and manifest happiness and greatness at work!

Would love to hear from you!

http://www.carnegiehill.com.au/

A trusted advisor or just another supplier? Observations of an IT Recruiter…By Darren Saul, Carnegie Hill

After having recruited in the IT space for many years I can honestly say that I feel extremely fortunate to have developed very strong relationships with clients who really value my service and counsel. Trusting business relationships like these only further fuel my passion for the recruitment industry and inspire me to continue to strive to provide my clients with the best service possible.

Of course, relationships are always a two-way street and I would like to share some of the insights I have gained into best practice recruitment and the development of a strong client/recruiter relationship; the very life-blood of my profession.

“The Unspoken/Unwritten Word” - The art of recruitment is heavily based on subtleties, judgements and reading between the lines. Dealing with human beings and their various personalities can be a challenging process that requires much care, finesse, and most importantly face to face contact. I am always astounded when I hear of consultants presenting candidates they have not even met to clients they have not even seen. How can we possibly hope to make great matches in the dark? We are consultants and advisors - NOT gamblers! There are many subtle messages conveyed by an organisation’s premises, a client’s expression and a team of employees in motion. We need to perform our craft based on SENSORY information as well as verbal and written information.

“Information is King!” - The recruitment of a new team member is a very important step for any organisation. It can make or break team productivity. It can energize or strain morale. If it is handled properly it can be a very pleasant experience. Handled poorly, it will almost certainly bring pain and frustration. “Information is King!” We need to obtain detailed knowledge of our clients’ businesses and the people involved. We thirst for detailed job descriptions and extensive candidate feedback (verbal is preferred). A client must take the time to communicate this information and a recruiter must be willing to LISTEN - a skill that perhaps we sometimes heavily undervalue. Recruiters must be honest and forthcoming with their clients during every exchange. Only then can mutual trust and respect develop.

Hidden Treasure – The client/recruiter relationship can be feared or it can be embraced and cherished. Yes the recruitment of a company’s most valuable asset is no small accomplishment, however we can offer so much more! Insights into market trends, employees’ fears and expectations, market rates/salaries and availability of particular skills are very precious commodities. Many organisations are unaware of the untapped resource lying dormant in an under-developed client/recruiter relationship. We will be treasured and treated like royalty when we “stack the value!”

A nurtured and valued relationship equals a respected and successful partnership! Not just another supplier but a trusted advisor!

Would love to hear your thoughts!

www.carnegiehill.com.au/