On the train this morning I read an interesting article on the future trends of the business world. The article quotes the recent economic downturn as the main catalyst for these future trends; but i have feeling that this is overly simplistic and a certain amount of stimulus has to do with the natural evolution of business. You make the call; here are the future trends to watch out for (these were published in the Metro paper on Monday, June 30, 2008):

1. The End of Business Travel

   Rising airfares and pressure to become environmentally responsible could drive corporations to opt for teleconferencing rather than sending employees on frequent business trips.

   My Commentary: I think this trend has less to do with the environmental reasons and the rising cost of air travel and more to do with ease of communication in this modern age. It’s true that there is no replacement for face-to-face human contact when it comes to successful business, but many of the minor engagements no longer require the lengthy and expensive traveling – do a web conference, conference call, send some emails; much cheaper and efficient.

2. Four Day Workweeks

   Given the rise of gas prices and the availability of portable technology, four day weeks could become a new standard for corporate America.

   My Commentary: I understand the reasoning for this trend, but what the authors fail to account for is the American work ethic. Their is a reason America has been on top for so long! Contribute it to the protestant work ethic or the lack of siestas after lunch, but I don’t see too many Americans willfully taking a four day workweek. People would go stir crazy. It’s not in Americans’ nature to sit idle; not as long as the “American Dream” is still alive and well.

3. Saying goodbye to corporate headquarters

   Real estate costs force companies to reconsider massive corporate complexes. Instead, they may rent out smaller office spaces with easier access to employees.

   My Commentary:This one just makes sense. I never really saw the use of having large, lavish corporate headquarters; why not just have people work in the most efficient manner possible? (Shameless plug: if anyone company needs helping with this, Aspen Organization Development is ready and able to help make your organization more efficient!)

4. No more cubicle

   Employers are increasingly replacing confined cubicles with common areas, conference tables and community work spaces to promote interaction and team work. With employers using laptops and moving space to space, flexible designs will also benefit telecommuters who work in the office sporadically.

   My Commentary: All I have to say is thank goodness this is finally happening! Cubiclces are sterile, confining, and stifle creativity/efficiency. Increased people interaction and team work will help projects to get done more efficiently with better quality – ultimately, the improves an organization’s bottom line.

So I am in full conference mode! A plan has been devised and now I am beginning to put it into action. We are splitting our services, as we typically do, into three area (change management, talent management, and performance management), and tailoring them to fit the conferences horse racing theme: “The HR Triple Crown: Stategize, Lead, Deliver”. We are going to have brochures on our services, business cards, a stand set up with a demonstration of our Team Management Systems services, and a nice little Aspen Organizations Development magnet give away for potential clients and contacts to keep in the their respective offices. On Wednesday I am going to starting putting together our booth so watch out for some pictures!

So it has fallen to me to take the lead on writing a services proposal for a new potential, Manhattan based client. I have helped write proposals in the past, but this one is a little different. I wont name the potential client for fear of jinxing our chances of helping them with their organizational development needs, but they are very progressive, cutting edge company, with tons of creative growth potential who we would help achieve the next level of organizational performance. The proposal that I am writing differs from all the others in that it is geared toward a more creative audience than the traditional “corporate” (I’m sure that word brings up many stereotypical images) audience. So instead of just creating a boring 10 page document or an uptight PowerPoint presentation – I am creating Aspen Organization Development Consulting’s first storyboard proposal. I am really excited about it because I think it will really resonate with our target audience, it will be aesthetically pleasing, and it will demonstrate all of our great change management, talent management, performance management, and organization development services. So stay tuned and ill let you know how it works out and maybe even post a small sample to demonstrate what I am talking about.

In the past we have written about interview questions and how managers should go about evaluating job candidates. This post reflects on the other side of of the interviewing process and what job candidates can do to land the job they are applying for.

Yesterday I went on for a job interview with a small but dynamic company looking for someone to assist their e-commerce department with their marketing and sales initiatives. In order to prepare for this job interview I went through a four step process that I felt would ensure maximum success and leave a lasting, positive impression on my interviewers. The following steps will not guarantee that you will land the job, but they will definitely put you in the running and help you stand out among the rest!

• Step One: Know your stuff
  If you have managed to arrange an interview with a potential employer, chances are, on paper, you are qualified for the position. However, when you walk into that room for the formal interview, you better be able to put your money where your mouth is. Before the interview, read up on the fundamentals of the position you are applying for and make sure you know them inside and out; if you don’t know what you are talking about, it will shine through quickly and, chances are, you will not be offered the position. This advice extends beyond just the technical requirements/competencies of the job and also applies to the industry you are entering and the company you are hoping to join. If you know nothing about your potential employer, google them – you will make a great impression if you understand your interviewer’s organization and the needs you could potentially fill.
• Step Two: Look Sharp
  This one may seem like common sense, but do not go into a formal interview wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals! I may be exaggerating this point, but a good rule of thumb (assuming you do not know the interviewing organizations corporate culture – which you probably will not) is to wear formal business attire. If you are applying for a professional job, try your best to look professional. Employers will want to see that you are a mature adult who can effectively contribute to the success of the organization – wearing a hoodie, your favorite pair of jeans, and flip flops may make you feel more comfortable during the stressful process, but will do little to impress your potential boss.
• Step Three: Be Positive and Engaging
  From the minute you walk into the building, make sure you project an aura of confidence and positivity – even if you are a natural introvert. Employers want to see that you are a go getting, energetic team player willing to make significant contributions to the organization. Here are a few tips on how to project confidence and sell yourself to the interviewer: sit-up straight; shake hands with a firm but not overpowering grip; make eye contact at all times; speak clearly and do not ramble; do not fidget; ask questions.
• Step Four: Follow-up with a “Thank you”
  Within 24 hours of the interview, make sure you send a note, whether it be in an email or some other form, thanking them for taking the time to meet with you and the potential opportunity to work with their company. Incorporate some of the points that were discussed during the interview to show that you were listening to their needs and that you are a thoughtful and considerate prospect.

As I said before, these steps will not guarantee that you will land the job, but they are a bare bones minimum requirement for leaving a positive lasting impression with the company.

-Ben Nash

Her e are some quick updates on what has been going on with Aspen Organization Development Consulting recently. We have been extraordinarily busy preparing proposals for some great new, exciting potential clients. Though I don’t want to give too much away, some of the proposals we are preparing are geared to employee assessments for hiring, promotion, and team building, team building consulting, and our other organizational development services.

Some other exciting news happening around here is that our new services catalog is finally done and I have received very positive feedback on the document. It took a lot of time, proof readings, and incredibly frustrating alignment adjustments, but I finally got it done on time to show a potential client (who loved it by the way). So ill just put it out there – if anyone wants the new Aspen Organization Development Consulting Catalog of Services in which we detail all of our world-class services (from employee assessments to workplace diversity training), please send me an email at bnash@aspenod.com.

Also now that it is getting close to July, I’m going to start talking more about the upcoming NY Society for Human Resources Management (SHrM) conference in which Aspen Organization Development Consulting will be promoting our services at our booth. This will be our third experience with exhibiting at conferences and they have become increasingly important in our marketing efforts. Our first time presenting at a conference was at the CT Small Business Conference and Showcase, which unfortunately was a bit of a joke. The conference was not tailored to our target market and we found ourselves stationed in between a party clown who was promoting her birthday party services and a guy who was demonstrating his mini-donut maker machine. Now I don’t want to take anything away from those other people at the conference, they were there just promoting their services, just as we were. However the biggest lesson I learned from the conference was that the target market needs to be there in order for the effort to make sense.

We took that lesson into our next conference experience at the CT Convention Center where we participated in the Human Resources Association of Central Connecticut (HRACC) fall conference. This one, in which we partnered with The Write Design Company, worked out really well for us. We managed to make a lot of connections, which led to a lot of meetings for services presentations. This time, at the NY SHrM we are presenting by ourselves at an Human Resources specific conference for the first time – and it is up to me to get everything ready for it. So as I said, for the next month stay tuned as I provide updates on my progress. Here is a short list of everything I have to do before the conference: construct a aesthetically pleasing booth (naturally on a budget), design and create all the hand out materials, get some sort of give away developed for potential clients, hotel and travel arrangements set up. As you can see, along with everything I do, the next month is going to be a little crazy.

-Ben Nash