In July of this year, I took a short break from the grindstone that is Network HR, and headed home to Sheffield in the north of England. Whilst there, I took a trip over the Pennines - the small mountain range that runs down the spine of England - to Manchester. One of Manchester's biggest attractions is the newly erected Wheel of Manchester. From the highest point of the wheel, it is possible to look across the whole city, and out into the lush English countryside. As I drank in the fabulous view, I noticed how dull and grey the rooftops of the whole city were compared to the countryside beyond. It also made me think that perhaps many of the shops, office blocks and apartment complexes were missing an opportunity to save money and save energy.
My health problems started over ten years ago when I was working in a kitchen in northern Canada. At that time, my typical day featured lots of heavy manual work - lifting, stooping and generally giving my poor back a very hard time. After just one month of this intense toil, I began to develop a medical condition known as sciatica. This was not pleasant, nor easily manageable with my work responsibilities. Indeed, every day at work was extremely painful, causing persistent pain across my lower back and also shooting pains down one of my legs. Although I did not realise it at the time, I had actually developed one of the world's most common workplace ailments.
There is an old English saying, ‘the way to the heart is through the stomach’. Roughly translated this means that the best way to win someone’s affections is to make them some delicious food. This may well be true. However, it is also possible that you could use the same route to deliver high employee performance. In China and across the world, many organisations are beginning to understand the value of good nutrition and the impact it can have upon their staff.
Looking out at a gloomy Shanghai skyline, the low clouds and smog mask the lustre of many of the city's impressive buildings. It is an uninspiring scene. Unfortunately it is not unique. In major cities across China, smoggy scenes serve to dampen enthusiasm and stifle spirits almost every day. However, this is indicative of a wider problem - poor air quality across the country. This manifests itself as an everyday issue for most of us, but just because it is ‘normal' does not mean it is something that should be accepted unquestioningly. There must be another way!
Last week, I arrived outside the gates of a multinational organisation at which I do Business English training. As I stepped out of the taxi, I pulled my overcoat tight, wrapped my scarf around my face and hurried inside to escape the cold. On my way, I noticed the seemingly obligatory group of employees looking cold and uncomfortable, hunched over to avoid the wind, ‘enjoying' their cigarettes. It was so typical that I barely gave it a second look. Two hours later, on my way out, the situation was the same. The faces may have changed, but the cold, discomfort and nicotine dependence remained. As I wended my way home through the cold Tianjin night, I began thinking that there must be a better way.
There will be thousands of people involved in
next month's Olympics in Beijing. The vast majority of these will have a strong
overriding objective in mind. These objectives will all differ tremendously.
For instance, the organisers will be hoping for a smoothly organised event that
will showcase China to the world.Read More
Legal
Recruitment Transparency
In the last issue of Network HR, Allan Nee of Baode Law in Tianjin wrote a detailed and insightful article about the ways in which your organisation needs to adapt to China's new Labour Laws. Allan offered a myriad of fantastic advice. However, there was one factor he mentioned that really captured my attention - transparency.Read More
Benefits
The Power of Acknowledgement
he seeds of this article were sewn as I put together the last edition of Network HR. First, as I edited the Training & Development section, I read the following prophetic words from Jennifer Peterson, "If you want your customers to feel cared for, you must care for the employees that serve them." This started me musing about the way organisations across China treat employees.Read More
Training
Synchronicity for Success
A single droplet of sweat trickled down my neck as the glowing amber sun beat down on us. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw our competitors lined up alongside us. It was the moment we had been preparing for over the last 5 years. Our goal was crystal clear and I had visualised this very occasion countless times.Read More
Recuitment
War, what is it good for?
I believe I can bring the War for Talent to a peaceful end. I came to this realisation two
months ago after I was invited to present at the ‘Corporate Travel and Technology
World' conference in Shanghai. The topic, "Selecting Potential Leaders and Turning a Company from Good to Great", was
provided some months earlier, giving me time to source opinions from
around China. Read More
There will be thousands of people involved in
next month's Olympics in Beijing. The vast majority of these will have a strong
overriding objective in mind. These objectives will all differ tremendously.
For instance, the organisers will be hoping for a smoothly organised event that
will showcase China to the world.Read More
In the last issue of Network HR, Allan Nee of Baode Law in Tianjin wrote a detailed and insightful article about the ways in which your organisation needs to adapt to China's new Labour Laws. Allan offered a myriad of fantastic advice. However, there was one factor he mentioned that really captured my attention - transparency.Read More
he seeds of this article were sewn as I put together the last edition of Network HR. First, as I edited the Training & Development section, I read the following prophetic words from Jennifer Peterson, "If you want your customers to feel cared for, you must care for the employees that serve them." This started me musing about the way organisations across China treat employees.Read More
A single droplet of sweat trickled down my neck as the glowing amber sun beat down on us. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw our competitors lined up alongside us. It was the moment we had been preparing for over the last 5 years. Our goal was crystal clear and I had visualised this very occasion countless times.Read More
I believe I can bring the War for Talent to a peaceful end. I came to this realisation two
months ago after I was invited to present at the ‘Corporate Travel and Technology
World' conference in Shanghai. The topic, "Selecting Potential Leaders and Turning a Company from Good to Great", was
provided some months earlier, giving me time to source opinions from
around China. Read More
