There are certain times when employee motivation is easier to achieve than others. If your organisation has recently been forced to reduce headcount, it’s understandable that remaining staff may feel anxious and worried about their future. Knowing how to motivate employees during such times is crucial to bringing them together and keeping them focused. This will help to maintain peak...

If there’s one thing social distancing measures have shown us, it’s that a large percentage of the workforce can work productively and successfully from home. The traditional perspective that people must be physically present in one set workplace during standard business hours has been turned on its head. Scepticism has been replaced with a new-found awareness that output, performance and...

Social distancing rules aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus forced mass remote working onto a significant percentage of Australia and New Zealand’s skilled professionals. While this was designed as a temporary stop-gap, many employees have come to appreciate the benefits of working from home and wish to retain some form of flexibility once they transition back into co-located...

For so many of us, the coronavirus crisis has led to a feeling that the world as we know it has been put temporarily on pause. While government restrictions have taken some of life’s simple luxuries away from us momentarily, one luxury that most of us aren’t lacking right now is time – bar, of course the heroic healthcare and essential workers who are currently doing so much to keep our...

Our lives will never be the same again. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration, it’s a fact. COVID-19 has already, in a matter of just a few weeks, completely changed our world. If you take a step back and really think about the magnitude and speed of what’s happening around us, it’s remarkable - we probably won’t experience anything like it again in our lifetimes. It feels like a line has been...

It’s been a few weeks, and in some countries, months, since huge swaths of managers and leaders have seen their team members in person. For the vast majority, this complete lack of face-to-face interaction was simply unheard-of pre-crisis, but now, communicating with our teams solely through digital technology, seeing their faces on a screen every day, is starting to feel a little more normal...

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, one of the main concerns employers had over the idea of mass remote working was whether or not they could trust their employees to remain productive. But now that a large percentage of New Zealand’s workforce is several weeks into remote working, the opposite is proving to be the case.    A great number of us, it seems, now feel the need to be seen to...

It’s normal to feel nervous before a job interview, especially if it’s a job you really want. In today’s world of work however, it’s understandable that you may be feeling an even heightened sense of nerves because your interview is also being conducted remotely.  Perhaps you’re afraid you won’t present well or sell yourself well over video. Or perhaps you’re worried about possible...

“Culture” as a term is hard to define, as it means something slightly different for every organisation. From trust and mutual respect to a clear vision and regular communication, people describe culture in many ways. The one thing most people agree on is that culture can ultimately be distilled down to the unique and collective way in which a team behaves and works together as a cohesive...

In just a few short weeks, the world of work has undergone significant change. Teams that worked closely together in one physical location now operate remotely and are learning how to adapt to the changing needs of their customers while doing so. Clearly, we are in a moment of unprecedented and rapid transformation, which calls for teams that can pivot quickly. Today, major change can...

Successfully managing a remote team requires a different approach to managing people who are in the same physical workplace as you. Here are a few tips to manage a remote team, drive outcomes and maintain engagement, collaboration and employee satisfaction. 1. Trust your staff The first step is to trust your people. This is the foundation of any successful working from home experience, but...

Working from home is becoming the new normal for many, but it isn’t without its challenges. Here are our top 12 tips to work from home effectively, productively and successfully. 1. Designate a workspace “What do I need to work from home?” is often the first question people looking to work remotely ask. Firstly, you need to find a dedicated space that you can use solely as your work zone....

Receiving poor feedback during a performance review is never easy, regardless of whether you’d anticipated it or not. Not only can it feel like a personal attack on you as a person, it can also be difficult not to take it to heart, or let it knock your confidence. If you’ve been left feeling blindsided by a performance review, then what you do next is key. So, I’ve detailed some crucial...

January is behind us and the new year is well underway. If you’ve decided to look for a new job in 2020, then the following key points will help you boost your employability this year and beyond. 1. Think about the skills you will need to achieve your future career goals: If you really are to move closer to reaching your professional goals, it’s crucial to subjectively take stock of your...

For many people, the start of a New Year is a good time to wave goodbye to bad habits and look ahead to new beginnings. We take time to consider what we want to achieve, improve and learn to make this year more successful than the last. But all too often and all too soon, our lofty resolutions are forgotten. By 31st January, our workload has intensified, other priorities dominate our time...

Most jobseekers understand the importance of showcasing quantifiable evidence of their skills and competencies on their CV. Stating the percentage increase in new sales, clients or website visitors that you were personally responsible for, for example, serves to demonstrate to a potential new employer your expertise and the value you could bring to their organisation. Such outcomes are easy...

So, you’ve been searching for your next tech job and you’ve landed an interview for what you think might be your dream role. You’ve taken the time to consider how you’ll answer the interview questions to get yourself to the top of the candidate list and one step closer to securing a job offer. However, it’s important to recognise that an interview isn’t just a one-sided cross-examination. It...

Is a new job on your radar for 2020? If so, you might think you’ve mastered the art of the job search – but think again. In 2020, it’ll take more than tailoring your CV and preparing thoroughly for interviews to get your dream job. This year, there are several new recommendations to add to the list. From taking a calculated risk to highlighting transferrable skills for a sideways move, 2020...

A good mentor can change your career for the better. They’ll share their knowledge and expertise, open doors, guide your upskilling, offer career advice and help you get ahead professionally. Their advice is invaluable and is given voluntarily, without expecting anything in return. But despite this, it’s common for people to think that it’s the mentor who shoulders the responsibility of...

Be honest with yourself, how good are you at talking about the future with your team? When I say, “talking about the future”, what I really mean is: how good are you at talking to your employees about their future career goals and aspirations? In my experience, some managers are good at it, but most are not. While some skilfully weave these types of forward-looking career conversations into...