Apologies if you’ve had RSS problems.

RSS is Really Simple Syndication, which allows you to check out what’s new on your favourite web sites without constantly going through the entire web site.

If you’re using an up to date internet browser, you should see a button like the one above on your browser toolbar.

If the button is a grey colour, then no updates are available for that web site. If how ever the button is orange as shown above, this means you can sign up to see new updates. You don’t need to even give an email address.

On the Quo Vadis website we host two blogs

The first one- opinions talks about work related issues.

The second one- events, provides details of free or low cost work related events in Ireland .( If you’d like us to mention your low cost, work related training or information event, don’t hesitate to email us with your full event details and we’ll post and link back to your web site.

Unfortunately, until a kind reader informed me, I had not realised the events RSS feed was over writing the opinions RSS feed. This is now fixed. I had to republish both blogs, so apologies for any problems. It’s now possible to keep up to date with both our blogs, very simply by using the RSS feed option.

For example, to sign up to the opinions blog, simply take ten seconds to click on the link below http://www.quovadis.ie/atom.xml

Then click on “subscribe to this feed”.

Once you’ve done this,

by clicking on your favourites button on internet explorer ,

and then clicking on feeds you can see new information without scrolling through old stuff.

The only down side, is you don’t get to see any graphics or the occasional video we use, you have to click onto the post entry itself for these.

If you’re trying to keep up to date with a particular web site or blog, use RSS.
It will save you time and ensure you don’t miss any updates.

career guidance Ireland
career training Ireland

Be a firewalker or a jet pack pilot!

The traditional image of the accountant as a dusty old bean counter is changing fast.
On the 27th of September, fifty of them are literally walking across fire to raise money for charity.

Even so, I was surprised at the latest student recruitment campaign from the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Last year, they had their biggest student intake ever, so existing campaigns were obviously working. However the Institute has obviously decided to move towards a more modern image. (Full disclosure, I’m a member of the Institute and Quo Vadis Solutions are currently in discussions with the Institute on career guidance services).

The new approach reflects the more positive aspects of our current economic climate. Colleges, professional organisations and employers all have to chase potential high quality candidates. Compared to the dark 80’s when my employer kicked us trainees out of his office because we’d dared to ask for the Institute recommended salary. His response was

“You used to have to pay for articles(training with a specific employer) and that’s coming back!”

So I think it’s great that these days people have so much choices, even if it does make life more complicated.

Anyhow, the current radically new recruitment campaign is a thirty second video of a carton character with a back pack which is jet powered. (see the video below) He rapidly alters appearance depending on the industry he’s working in. I showed it to a few teenagers and they all thought it made accountancy seem appealing. Only one complaint from the rabid business hating teenager, (my own daughter ) that the accountancy end with the logo was dull!

The ad will appear on TV stations like MTV, in cinemas, online and radio over the next six weeks.
It’s interesting the ad is aimed directly at students themselves, rather than at the parents who often have a huge influence on career choices.
Parents often encourage their children to do “safe” careers like accountancy so perhaps the Institute feel they don’t need to encourage the parents any more.
What ever the reason, it’s better if students make their own decisions on their own careers.
I always remember one fellow trainee, with a Dad who was an accountancy firm partner. The poor guy kept failing his accountancy exams and he was not cut out for the work. He always seemed to be miserable. Yet you just had to look at the ever present doodles on his books to see this guy had amazing artistic ability and a huge interest in this area.

So yes accountancy is a great career, if your personality and abilities match the job requirements. If you’re interested though, do the research. It’s not just about an ability with numbers!

You’ll find further student information from the main accountancy institutes listed below.

You can see the recruitment video by clicking below.







Student Information on Accountancy
websites.
ACA

CIMA

ACCA

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Slash and Burn in the HSE

There’s been comment in the news about the HSE actions to deal with a deficit to date of €140 million on it’s €14 billion budget. There’s been criticism of the actions being taken which include amongst others a ban on the recruitment of frontline staff i.e. staff who provide direct services to patients.

The bulk of the HSE budget is payroll costs, so I can understand why payroll costs are being tackled. Yet, one of the demoralising aspects of working in the HSE is the length of time it takes to recruit- up to two years in some cases. In May 2007 the manager of Cork University hospital wrote to the HSE saying they could not be held liable for the medical consequences of delays in filling crucial replacement posts.
It appears both HSE headquarters Finance and HR senior management do not appreciate the impact of this type of crude decision making.

I was speaking to a senior professional in a health care provider recently. He went to a special meeting to discuss this issue and he stated he could literally feel the increased stress and tension amongst staff as he walked through the building.
At one stage in this professional career, was the CEO of a major commercial organisation, so this guy knows all about targets and has a tough no nonsense approach. But as he says “how do you tell staff, Johnny can’t be replaced because of the recruitment ban and then expect them to deal with the ever increasing number of patients?

Often organisations have to take action to stay within budget targets. It’s a key responsibility of management. As an old boss of mine used to say though you had to do it “without doing violence to the future, slash and burn not allowed”. In other words, short term action now must not harm the future growth of the organisation. With unions threatening industrial action, confidence in the HSE is being further undermined by the ban on recruitment.

So as a manager what type of action should you take when you’re in a budget overrun situation?
First of all, identify what the Management guru’s call the “low hanging fruit or quick hits”. These are actions you can take quickly with impact in the short time and don’t do “violence to the future”

For example, HSE management could immediately reduce the temperature of hot water in their centres. I’ve been in three different hospitals recently (as a visitor thankfully) and in each hospital the temperature of the hot water for washing hands was close to scalding. Reducing temperature by 10F can give a 5% reduction in energy costs.
Other simple easy to take actions, include faxing instead of posting, telephone or video conferencing instead of travel to meetings. Every organisation(except possibly Ryanair who are notorious for their focus on costs ) will have short term opportunities to reduce costs without damaging customer or patient service.

Secondly, identify actions that may take longer to implement but will also reduce costs whilst improving service to customers. Sounds like a contradiction, does n’t it? But this is always possible.
For example in the BBC series “Can Gerry Robinson fix the NHS”most doctors were removing eye cataracts as a day case operation with a local anaesthetic. However one doctor was still doing cataracts under general anaesthetic, which not only uses more resources but also has increased risks for the patient.
By supporting this doctor to move to day case procedures, patient service would improve and costs would be reduced.

I don’t think any one would question that our health services have hugely increased resources at their disposal and that there is substantial waste and inefficiency.
HSE management in local centres need to take a lead on cost reduction. They should involve staff in cost reduction on the basis of reducing costs to improve service.
Creative thinking tools like De Bono’s six thinking hats can help generate ideas.
I can’t find the reference but I recall one De Bono project in an American public sector organisation where staff were allowed to take lucrative redundancy packages, if they eliminated the need for their job without adversely impacting customer service. Nearly 40% of staff were able to come up with qualifying ideas!

If such an approach was adopted in the HSE with it’s highly trained staff, the outcomes could be amazing.
This type of approach does require leadership and trust. It requires an ability to think creatively and laterally and questioning of all “sacred cow” assumptions. All qualities that successful high performing managers have developed.

So, rather than simply rely on ever increasing budgets,and blaming the “top HQ” . Local managers need to be proactive and take action to ensure budgets are used more effectively. National HSE management need to further develop budget structures which ensures local centres are rewarded and not penalised for more effective use of budgets.



Linking key words
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You & Your Money Expo

I’m speaking at the Eddie Hobbs “You and your Money” expo on Friday on the ten steps to setting up your own business. You can see a copy of the PowerPoint presentation by clicking here. A list of useful sources of information can be seen by clicking here.

So what personal qualities does it take to be an entrepreneur?
Well there’s no magic profile of the personal qualities required for the perfect entrepreneur. People set up in business for so many reasons, from a drive to be their own boss, to a passion for a particular idea or increasingly to achieve a better work life balance.
However we can point to some attributes successful entrepreneurs commonly display.

Relationships with people
Successful entrepreneurs tend to be independently minded and are prepared to follow their own approach, often ignoring common wisdom. They will ignore the people who say “it can’t be done” and will be very resilient. Denis O Brien, the Telecoms billionaire came within half an hour of the banks pulling the plug on his loans.

They are often persuasive, enjoying selling and changing other people’s views.

They like to control, and are happy to be in the lead.

Feelings and emotions
They are fairly focused and career centred, enjoying working to demanding targets. For example, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University to focus on developing computer software which was promised to a supplier – before it had been fully developed.

They dislike losing and can be fairly competitive.

Most successful entrepreneurs are self motivated and keep going even when they’ve achieved their financial goals. Irish examples include Michael O Leary of Ryanair, a multi millionaire many times but still looking for new challenges.

Thinking Style
They tend to take a long term view, setting goals for the future with a very strategic perspective. Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon.com would be in this category.

They are generally innovative, generating new ideas, they enjoy being creative and thinking up original solutions.

They are evaluative, critically evaluating information, looking for potential limitations, focusing in on solutions to problems.


The most successful entrepreneurs though are very self aware and self knowledgeable. They know how they are likely to react to different situations and they surround themselves with people who have strengths they lack. For example Richard Branson who is very much a visionary innovator, has an analyst type 2nd in command who develops the detail behind his vision.


Another good Irish example is a young insightful lad (whose name escapes me right now) who saw an opportunity when contraception was finally allowed into Ireland in 1979.

The only problem was he had was no funds! Undeterred by this he backpacked all the way to mainland Europe to a pre arranged meeting with the condom franchisers. On the day of the meeting, he changed into a good suit, rented a room in a swish hotel, arranged a limo to collect the franchisers' representatives, treated them to lunch, made his pitch and was awarded the contract for Ireland.
With the contract in his pocket he then backpacked back home again.

So if you’re considering setting up your own business and wondering whether you have the necessary personal qualities why not invest in a professional personality assessment?



Keywords
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Work is going to the dogs

A funny piece in Friday’s Irish Times via the Financial Times service.
Hills pet Nutrition allows employees to bring in their dogs to its English office, as do American Advertising Agency TBWA\Chiat\Day. They have approximately 40 to 50 dogs to 850 people! They say it creates a good environment with only the occasional scuffle.

The lengths employers are now going to in order to attract scarce talented employees!

Now we have two very gentle dogs ourselves, so I do like dogs. The Collie sheds hair however at an amazing rate and if patted at all by visitors, both dogs will tend to jump up on them. Many of our visitors are visibly nervous around our dogs.
(Ok, so may be we’re bad at training dogs. So is it practical to have dogs in the workplace? I know guide dogs are allowed in, but usually guide dogs have been extensively trained from an early age and must have a certain temperament .


A more serious problem is the poo (or poop to non Irish readers) and a real life example illustrates. We used to have a very boring teacher, for a particular class which took place in a prefab with an external porch. (This means the classroom was not part of the main school, but sat out in the school grounds) One day the teacher arrived in a very agitated state. A dog had pooed in the external porch. Seeing the chance to miss class, my friend and I immediately volunteered to clean up. When we walked out into the porch, the dog, a little Chihuahua ran off, who obviously had diarrhoea. That’s when I got the smell. The most disgusting, ammonia ridden, powerful pong ever. Worse than any stink bomb or blocked sewerage pipe.

My eyes started watering and we ran out to get the caretaker. Unfortunately, he just gave us some cloths and buckets and told us to do it. Every few minutes, we had to run back out into the open, before our stomach contents added to the mess. I’m sure I smelt of dog poo for days. Certainly the class room did. Thirty years later, I still remember it and am still astonished such a little dog could produce so much poo. The only upside was we missed the entire class, the teacher thought we were “little saints” and treated us very well from then on.

So how do dog friendly employers ensure non dog lovers don’t feel threatened? How to ensure all these dogs don’t poo in the wrong places? Our dogs poo all over the garden, and there’s always rows over who is going to pick up the poo this time. So you can just imagine the row when a dog poos in the wrong place in the office. It will put the arguments over washing the coffee break cups in the ha-penny place.

“ It was your dog that pooed, no it could have n’t been. My dog’s poo is always yellow, small and round, that turd is brown long and curved” and so forth


The same article also notes a three foot long python escaped from his cage at Google. (New York, not Dublin, so Dublin readers can relax) Expert herpetology assistance ensured the snake was recaptured. See the Google official blog for details if you don’t believe me.

On a less smelly note, if you’re currently in a rotten work situation, I sympathise. But at least this entry shows employers come in all shapes and sizes. There are some employers out there who do really try to make their employees happy. The Celtic tiger means you don’t have to put up with a difficult Doberman employer. So don’t be a lap dog. (Groan)


Key words
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