When, if ever, is it appropriate to use profanity in the workplace?
CareerJournal has a good range of opinions. I think the sales executive who has negative conclusions about sales reps who don't swear is as strange as someone who'd run and hide in the corner if profanity is uttered. I suppose that someone who has religious beliefs against swearing couldn't work for him.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Nit Pick Report
Australia, in a move to attract tourists, has had an ad campaign using the line, "So where the bloody hell are you?"
Britain objects to one of the words and Canada objects to another.
Details here.
Britain objects to one of the words and Canada objects to another.
Details here.
Dave Barry on the Liberal Arts Advantage
Dave Barry explains how he chose his major in college. An excerpt:
I discovered that in the sciences, they expect you to know the right answers to questions. For example, if you took a chemistry class, you might be asked how many protons are in a uranium atom, and you would be expected to know EXACTLY the right number. Math has the same problem. So I picked English, where there often is no right answer, and even if there is and you don't know it, you can get a good grade by writing about how you FEEL about not knowing it. This is the essence of the liberal arts.
I discovered that in the sciences, they expect you to know the right answers to questions. For example, if you took a chemistry class, you might be asked how many protons are in a uranium atom, and you would be expected to know EXACTLY the right number. Math has the same problem. So I picked English, where there often is no right answer, and even if there is and you don't know it, you can get a good grade by writing about how you FEEL about not knowing it. This is the essence of the liberal arts.
Please Take One of Our Worthless Brochures
Marketing wizard Seth Godin looks at organizational and corporate brochures and has this observation:
People won't read them.
[That's been our take on most employee handbooks. They are written in such dry prose that any employee with an IQ greater than a clam chooses to chuck the darned thing into a drawer.]
People won't read them.
[That's been our take on most employee handbooks. They are written in such dry prose that any employee with an IQ greater than a clam chooses to chuck the darned thing into a drawer.]
Going for the Gold
BusinessPundit examines a study that indicates that given the choice between pay for performance and a fixed salary, women are more inclined than men to go for the set pay.
Could this indicate a greater skepticism toward pay systems, especially ones presented by men?
Could this indicate a greater skepticism toward pay systems, especially ones presented by men?
Quote of the Day
"Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything."
- John Kenneth Galbraith
- John Kenneth Galbraith
Personality Testing
CareerJournal has an excellent article on the use of personality testing to screen job applicants.
Such testing can be helpful, but it also has some dangers, not the least of which is exposure to Americans with Disabilities Act claims.
One observation that I'd add from experience is that the type of employer that rushes to use such testing is the same type that rushes through the selection process. They want some magic mood ring to sort out candidates and don't want to do the hard work that a thorough selection requires. Some outfits spend more time determining which computer to purchase than in personnel selection and yet hiring an employee is a far more costly and important decision.
Read the article here.
Such testing can be helpful, but it also has some dangers, not the least of which is exposure to Americans with Disabilities Act claims.
One observation that I'd add from experience is that the type of employer that rushes to use such testing is the same type that rushes through the selection process. They want some magic mood ring to sort out candidates and don't want to do the hard work that a thorough selection requires. Some outfits spend more time determining which computer to purchase than in personnel selection and yet hiring an employee is a far more costly and important decision.
Read the article here.
Read All About It
Glenn Reynolds explores what newspapers could do to save themselves.
One of his best recommendations: Stop insulting the intelligence of the readers.
I don't expect that to be adopted soon.
One of his best recommendations: Stop insulting the intelligence of the readers.
I don't expect that to be adopted soon.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Fear of Flying
If you believe that your fear of flying is affecting your career, you may be right.
On the other hand, you may also be in good company.
Details here.
On the other hand, you may also be in good company.
Details here.
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