Are You FUNGIBLE? (Hint: You Don’t Want to Be in Today’s Labor Market)

I just finished reading Business Week’s article entitled, “Management by the Numbers,” in which they review how IBM has been building mathematical models of its own employees with an aim to improve productivity and automate management.

I’ll let you read it and draw your own conclusions, but I have to mention a new workplace term I learned that they’re using over at IBM these days. Fungible is a word used to describe workers who are “virtually indistinguishable from others” in terms of the value of their contributions in the workplace. You see, IBM’s study is enabling them to identify top performers from average ones, with the latter being fungible – and I would assume that translates into expendable as well.

Share or Showcase? Your Decision Could Hold Back Your Career

Imagine you are in a meeting (don’t fall asleep on me now) with your boss and several co-workers. You are discussing a problem the team is experiencing and the best way to solve it. You feel anxious in the meeting because you’ve been dealing with this problem for a long time – longer than any of the other meeting participants. You’ve researched the situation, considered the options, and in your mind, have concluded there is only one solution. The question is this: When it’s your turn to talk, do you share or showcase your thoughts? Regardless of your choice, it’s certain that your ego will play a significant role in your decision.

Job Shoppers ALWAYS Get the Best Opportunities – So Can You

Ever heard of a job shopper? They are a rare but successful breed of employment seeker who always knows how to get the best jobs and climb the ladder on their own terms. These people make finding a new job look too easy. Well, you can too. Job shoppers are no different than savvy car or clothes shoppers. Follow the rules of smart shopping and you can be on your way to a better opportunity, regardless of job market conditions.

Young Talent vs. Old Bosses: Here’s How Generational Differences Have Evolved in 2008

Last year, I wrote a post for Employee Evolution entitled, Helicopter Managing Fails With Some Gen Y & Corporate America’s Pushing Back. In it, I outlined the frustration felt by managers and some of they ways they had chosen to revamp their workforce strategy so that they didn’t have to deal with developing Gen Y talent. The post created a lot of discussion and inquiries, and hopefully, shifted more than a few readers perception of the situation.

Fast forward a year and the job market is a very different place. So, the question arises: Has the situation changed? The answer is both, “Yes” and “No.” Let me explain…

What A 4-yr Old Can Teach You About Managing Your Boss

This is true: My 4-year old is gifted at managing up. Does she work? No – but as I see it, right now, I’m the boss and she’s an employee in our family firm. And I’ve noticed that she’s become quite adept at getting what she wants from upper management. Please know, I’m no push-over. I stand my ground on the important issues like ‘no popsicles for breakfast’ and ‘socks are not optional when it’s 2 degrees outside.’ But on the fuzzier stuff, I must concede that she’s mastered the art of persuasion. So, it occurred to me that we could all learn from her expertise. Consider these three techniques as performed by my pint-sized employee:

My Compliment to the World’s Most Evil Co-worker

I posted the compliment challenge last week – here’s my own response to it…

She was pure evil at work. No, really, I mean it. There is but one word to describe her impact on everything she came in contact with: toxic. Here’s the evidence to support it:

Managers: Throw Out the Mission Statement – Create A Culture Club Instead

G. L. Hoffman, author of the widely-successful blog, What Would Dad Say, and one of the early executive team members of JobDig, where job seekers learn to ‘dig their job,’ recently sent me several photographs of a typical summer morning at his company. The photos were of his employees competing in crazy contests at 9am in the morning. A pregnant woman rowing a boat across the floor had just won for her team. It was all part of a Olympic-themed sales contest he and his two fellow company leaders, Paul Moquist, the VP of Sales, and Toby Dayton, the President/CEO, created as a way to have fun and inspire their team to reach their goals. For many managers, the mere idea of holding weekly events during prime work hours seems ridiculous. Not to mention, the fact that they were acting like kids. So when I asked G.L. why they actually encouraged this activity when most others would shun it, he simply said

Workplace Challenge: Do YOU Have What it Takes to Give A Great Compliment?

This week, I tweeted that I was giving out compliments for FREE – all you had to do was e-mail me. One of the first responders was Etienne over at The Happy Employee. Giving him a compliment was easy – I’ve been a fan of his blog and the innovative content he serves up for a while. In fact, I was able to share two specific examples of how his content had helped me in my consulting practice. His reaction to my compliment was very positive. Ironically, he had recently been doubting a bit as to whether or not his thoughts were cutting-edge. Thus, to get complimented on this very subject had been quite validating for him. Not to mention, it felt great knowing my compliment was helpful.

The exchange with Etienne proved my point: When done right, compliments are extremely powerful. It also led to an idea. What if we decided to challenge everyone out there to give more compliments in the workplace? Here’s why:

Most Powerful Job Perk for 2008 (And It’s FREE!)

In the midst of our struggling economy and significant job losses, it’s no surprise that funds are tight and companies are thinking of cutting back on employment perks – a real morale booster for sure. And yet, there is a valuable, powerful and free (now there’s a word we all like to hear these days) perk that managers and employees alike can give away to one another that instantly improves a work environment.

Did You Just Take the CAREEREALISM Career-Readiness Quiz?

Three college grads, but ONLY ONE succeeds….watch and listen!

CAREEREALISM, is a professional satisfaction guidebook written by career expert and nationally syndicated advice columnist, J.T. O’Donnell. It offers readers the chance to finally take control of their careers. CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to A Satisfying Career is the one book you must read this summer!By the time you are done reading this book, you’ll know: