March, 2008

Go Green …Save the environment….spot new trends

I am not an environmentalist, but to live in clean and safe environment and to preserve our national resources it concerns me too. Everyday while driving on the streets of the country where I happen to be, I look around and just wonder how careless people can be about their environment. Of course I can not tell everyone I see on the street to be clean and to preserve the national resources, but as a manager, I can talk to my employees about the importance of preserving our resources and create work place policy where resource are used in the most efficient way.

As a manager in today’s work place, one of the first things I notice whenever I walk into a new office is how their resources are being used. Reducing costs while keeping quality is sometimes a delicate balance to maintain, but with little practice, you can maintain both.

Few tips you can use almost immediately:
1- Reduce the use of paper cups, ask each employee to bring her/his own drinking cup.
2- Most new printers come with a tool to help you lower ink consumption, check your printer’s manual.
3- If you work in an office with many computer systems, set the power saving mood on on those computers.
4- Encourage all your employees and clients to use e-mails instead of fax and letters, unless is absolutely necessary.
5- Where applicable, setup offices where there is enough sun light coming through the windows, so you don’t have to turn on the lights during day time.
6- Get into the habit of using ceiling fans or even small desk fans and reduce the use of air conditioning.
7- For taking notes, use your computer note pad program instead of paper note pad.

These are few tips you can use with little efforts. Adapting new ways to keep your work place environment friendly is not only helping all of us save resources, but it will also be the skills future managers must possess.

Luddites of the 21st century

According to merriam-webster online dictionary, a Luddite is “one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly: one who is opposed to especially technological change.”

As the spread of technological changes is already upon us, will we see the luddites of the 21st century? The advancement in technology is threatening the jobs of many workers, especially farmers around the world. We see governments imposing tariffs, import/export restrictions, and giving subsidies to protect the jobs of its workers, but will these steps will really stop the technological advances which will really make some jobs obsolete?

Companies and managers will do a great service to their employees by keeping them informed about the advances in technology and offer training options to those who are ready to embrace the new realities of their work place.
One advice I always give when I am managing a project is “never stop learning.” you may have a union membership or the government protecting your job, but that wont last for long, sooner or later, technological changes may make your job obsolete and being a luddite wont help you keep your job.