After the resolutions, another couple of kilos, no more salt, call Mum more often, be kind to small children, come the predictions, what we want to see, what we don't want to see and maybe a few things that will disappear in 2013. I don't think we have the capacity to slow down now that we have turned the web tap on full bore, with all the pundits and boffins pointing out technology will rule the rest of our lives. I thought it already did, still it's predicted the cloud, broadband, in-line shopping, big data, everywhere commerce, data leakage, tablet market share increase, boundary and privacy elimination, along with gesture control will help leap us into Star Trek territory and beyond. I thought we had already passed James T Kirk in so many departments that only the second coming of Spock would surprise us now?
We'll continue to be inundated by vast amounts of information, especially from the world of entertainment, where we'll see Meryl Streep win another Oscar, regardless of whether she is in a movie, where chefs will continue to touch food too much while participating in innocuous TV cook offs, Mark Zuckerberg will fake his own death to increase the number of "likes" on Facebook and Apple will become the villain in the next Bond movie. Sports will continue to be the only reality show not conquered by the Kardashians, although Kim has indicated the "Lingerie Football League" has shown interest in her talent for avoiding contact and getting to the end zone unscathed.
2013 will be a year of no boundaries, with imagination and any and all ideas having suitors who will look to make our lives easier, more convenient, while building their personal brand for personal wealth. The possibilities at this time of year seem exaggerated, and it's as good a time as any to try and reinvent ourselves but the danger in following the trends and predictions leaves us open to the same pitfalls encountered by the obsolete, keeping up is hard, staying ahead is harder and keeping true to yourself is hardest.
After all, if we look back a few years, the obviously antiquated, the abandoned, the forgotten and the bygone could fill up warehouses filled with obsolescence. Whatever happened to palm pilots, video arcades, Kodak film, email you paid for, Blockbuster, paper maps, land lines, fax machines, running out of hard drive, book stores, losing touch, privacy, wires, blind dates and believing what you see on film?
So for 2013 to be your year, for 2013 to become a watershed year, for the resolutions to turn from predictions to absolute certainty, without concern for keeping to the trend cycle, you will be all about authenticity, trustworthiness, credibility and unimpeachable guarantee.
These are the only things that will separate you from the masses and give you a chance to show your point of difference, share your insights, make a difference and give back. Granted you'll need to embrace the new technologies and that will make for an exciting 2013.
Happy New Year.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
22/12/12
Okay, I've emptied the bath, thrown out the half eaten tins of beans and spam and eventually I'll take the mattress money back to the bank. Seems I've survived another apocalypse, although there is something about a cliff coming up that could derail my good fortune. For those of us who hung off buying the Christmas presents, it's crunch time to hit the mall and fight the crowds, serves us right. All is right with the world and its time to count our blessings and look to the future, a future filled with more online retail, social becoming business as usual, big clouds of information and a second chance to make a difference. With the future in mind, I looked for a couple of personal favourite, post apocalyptic reasons to rejoice in 2013.
My first rejoice comes from the arena that has captivated everyone from eight to eighty, I'm talking about the food fascination era brought on by the celebrity and master chef phenomenon. With that in mind I give you Pizza Hut, who have decided to celebrate the future, by breaking through the final pizza barrier not believed possible by lovers of the thin crust sandwich, first encountered in the Italian town of Gaeta in 997 AD. For those of us enamoured with this dish of infinite toppings, Pizza Hut has taken the greatest minds in the culinary world, stuffed them into a cramped kitchen and come up with the "Pizza within a Pizza". For so long just a theory, a hypothetical, existing in the minds of starving University students, this break through has seen the long unanswered question of what's my favourite pizza topping? Of course my favourite pizza topping is another pizza, so easy and yet so genius. With pizza one of the four main food groups required for a balanced diet, I see a resurgence in the once flagging empire of "The Hut".
The second reason we should rejoice is reality will finally take a back seat to fiction. We will no longer see the disengaged, the loud and obnoxious, the over bearing, the egotistical and the just plain abominably abhorrent take up space on TV and the net. We will be rid of the stupidity of the lowest common denominator becoming the bench mark for behaviour, for shopping trends and attention. The Kardashians, along with the housewives of all the cities we never visit, people from the Jersey Shore and anyone who has survived on an island by eating grubs will finally be vanquished to the outer limits of reception on web channels for the criminally insane.
So I say, what's not to rejoice post apocalypse? After all, if we believe all the hype, we were nearly destroyed, nearly erased from the planet and yet here we are ready to finish the Christmas shopping, wondering if Aunt Maude will finally shave off her moustache for your New Year's kiss and generally oblivious to what might have been. Lighten up I say, we were nearly destroyed, how bad can it be? Seems the only blight on the future is the resigning of the 75th season of the Kardashians.
Seems we can't have it all but second chances should be fun, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.
My first rejoice comes from the arena that has captivated everyone from eight to eighty, I'm talking about the food fascination era brought on by the celebrity and master chef phenomenon. With that in mind I give you Pizza Hut, who have decided to celebrate the future, by breaking through the final pizza barrier not believed possible by lovers of the thin crust sandwich, first encountered in the Italian town of Gaeta in 997 AD. For those of us enamoured with this dish of infinite toppings, Pizza Hut has taken the greatest minds in the culinary world, stuffed them into a cramped kitchen and come up with the "Pizza within a Pizza". For so long just a theory, a hypothetical, existing in the minds of starving University students, this break through has seen the long unanswered question of what's my favourite pizza topping? Of course my favourite pizza topping is another pizza, so easy and yet so genius. With pizza one of the four main food groups required for a balanced diet, I see a resurgence in the once flagging empire of "The Hut".
The second reason we should rejoice is reality will finally take a back seat to fiction. We will no longer see the disengaged, the loud and obnoxious, the over bearing, the egotistical and the just plain abominably abhorrent take up space on TV and the net. We will be rid of the stupidity of the lowest common denominator becoming the bench mark for behaviour, for shopping trends and attention. The Kardashians, along with the housewives of all the cities we never visit, people from the Jersey Shore and anyone who has survived on an island by eating grubs will finally be vanquished to the outer limits of reception on web channels for the criminally insane.
So I say, what's not to rejoice post apocalypse? After all, if we believe all the hype, we were nearly destroyed, nearly erased from the planet and yet here we are ready to finish the Christmas shopping, wondering if Aunt Maude will finally shave off her moustache for your New Year's kiss and generally oblivious to what might have been. Lighten up I say, we were nearly destroyed, how bad can it be? Seems the only blight on the future is the resigning of the 75th season of the Kardashians.
Seems we can't have it all but second chances should be fun, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
21/12/12
I'm not even sure John Cusack (2012 Columbia Pictures) could help me. It's a couple of days till the end of the world and I'm not ready, I'm not organised nor do I have my legacy in place. The Mayan calendar has predicted the end before but Friday seems a pretty definite date to many who have organised bucket lists, bought all the baked beans at the supermarket and are filling the bath with water. I know it has to be true because tour companies have organised groups to Mexico, visiting Mayan temples in the hope of getting one more payday. Just in case Friday is the last day, it behoves all of us to take a breath and think about what we might leave behind. Surely someone, maybe John Cusack, will make it through and he'll have the responsibility to read all about us and the legacies left behind.
Howard Stevenson, a noted professor at Harvard, is the subject of a book called "Howard's Gift", uncommon wisdom to inspire a life's work, dealing with the end of life to affirm a life well lived. Stevenson is all about the end and thinking about what you want on your tombstone, what you want people to say at your funeral and how you want to be remembered. From this view point, Stevenson wants people to think further ahead than the next iPhone release, think deep about how they want their life summarised and then make decisions that will make that happen.
Stevenson wants people to "consider how you’d want those you care about to describe you, on the most personal levels, separate from the structures and roles that define you to the rest of the world. Envision what you’d want your children to say when they describe you to their children. Or think about it this way: if a camera could take a “legacy” snapshot of you in the moment before you departed the earth, what do you want that picture to show? Starting at the end’ means investing time up front to develop an aspirational picture of your future as a guide for the decisions you make throughout your career and your life,”
According to Stevenson, defining that legacy and having a belief in yourself to achieve the end result will have strong influences on life and career decisions. Bringing all of life's possible endings together helps that decision making process become focused, giving you a clearer picture on why you should decide on a particular fork in the road. If you can't decide on your direction then maybe, Stevenson suggests, you haven't had a good look at the end. The book's author, Eric Sinoway construed that "identifying your legacy is the essential precursor to creating the road map of how you want to live your life and is the foundation for the decisions you make in your career". He suggests even the little day to day decisions are easier if you have your road and final destination mapped out.
In the book corporations are used as analogies for life, where the most successful have a definite end game in mind and do everything along the way to achieve that goal. That corporate strategy can be used for individual life choices, or as Stevenson describes it "business planning for your life's work". Developing an image of where you want to end up gives you the ability to make decisions based on a long term strategy, effective for the most successful companies.
Realising you have a choice to decide your end, is the start point for what Stevenson calls "defining your legacy" and the most successful people use this thinking as a tool to guide the major choices they make in their careers and their lives. If that is the case, I have a few hours left to polish up my end game but remember, “Everything will be okay in the end, if it is not okay, it is not the end.”—author unknown.
Howard Stevenson, a noted professor at Harvard, is the subject of a book called "Howard's Gift", uncommon wisdom to inspire a life's work, dealing with the end of life to affirm a life well lived. Stevenson is all about the end and thinking about what you want on your tombstone, what you want people to say at your funeral and how you want to be remembered. From this view point, Stevenson wants people to think further ahead than the next iPhone release, think deep about how they want their life summarised and then make decisions that will make that happen.
Stevenson wants people to "consider how you’d want those you care about to describe you, on the most personal levels, separate from the structures and roles that define you to the rest of the world. Envision what you’d want your children to say when they describe you to their children. Or think about it this way: if a camera could take a “legacy” snapshot of you in the moment before you departed the earth, what do you want that picture to show? Starting at the end’ means investing time up front to develop an aspirational picture of your future as a guide for the decisions you make throughout your career and your life,”
According to Stevenson, defining that legacy and having a belief in yourself to achieve the end result will have strong influences on life and career decisions. Bringing all of life's possible endings together helps that decision making process become focused, giving you a clearer picture on why you should decide on a particular fork in the road. If you can't decide on your direction then maybe, Stevenson suggests, you haven't had a good look at the end. The book's author, Eric Sinoway construed that "identifying your legacy is the essential precursor to creating the road map of how you want to live your life and is the foundation for the decisions you make in your career". He suggests even the little day to day decisions are easier if you have your road and final destination mapped out.
In the book corporations are used as analogies for life, where the most successful have a definite end game in mind and do everything along the way to achieve that goal. That corporate strategy can be used for individual life choices, or as Stevenson describes it "business planning for your life's work". Developing an image of where you want to end up gives you the ability to make decisions based on a long term strategy, effective for the most successful companies.
Realising you have a choice to decide your end, is the start point for what Stevenson calls "defining your legacy" and the most successful people use this thinking as a tool to guide the major choices they make in their careers and their lives. If that is the case, I have a few hours left to polish up my end game but remember, “Everything will be okay in the end, if it is not okay, it is not the end.”—author unknown.
Friday, December 14, 2012
KISS.
"Keep it simple stupid", has long been a catch phrase among business leaders and corporate presenters wanting to show it's easier for people to understand the message you are trying to convey with immediacy and imperativeness. With a world getting more complicated by the byte, with more messages being transmitted via more channels, with more interference and distractions everyday, we instinctively look for simple alternatives and clarity of message. That clarity of message is important for brands and products as we sift through a mountain of product detritus, trying to choose our next purchase or service.
The difficulty encountered in creating awareness and profile, trying to stand out from the crowd and surviving the fickleness of the buying public is dependent on conveying your message as simply as possible. Keeping it simple translates to understanding and that can translate to the bottom line. Siegel+Gale conducted a global brand survey trying to define simplicity by polling more than 6,000 consumers, asking them about clarity of promotions, messages, simplicity of experience online and offline. They were looking for brands that resonate with people's need to declutter their thinking and decision making process, thus providing an obvious line of decision.
What the simplest brands index pointed out, was if they concentrated on what they do best without muddying the decision process of why you have walked or clicked onto their premises, they become successful and are are able to charge a premium for the obviousness of your decision. This rational has seen Subway, Google, Amazon, Apple, McDonalds, Starbucks and Zappos lead the way for consumers who have grasped the messages of that simplicity, a single search bar on Google, unrivalled customer service on Zappos, the $5 footlong at Subways and the appropriateness of cleans lines at Apple. All of these messages are patently clear, making it easy for consumers to decide from a raft of competitors, whose messages are clouded by not being able to articulate their true worth or willing to test their resolve and move away from the pricing death spiral.
Consumer sectors that suffer from over complication and confusion from the public, are insurance, banking and financial, where they become mired in multiple messages around price, service, relevancy, credibility, integrity and usability. Simpler products and experiences are the panacea for this sector but no one jumps out as a leader. This complexity of thinking, leading to confusion was also indicative of brands expected to be higher up the index. Twitter at 93 and Facebook at 125 are instantly recognisable brands on the index that have slipped as they become more intricate and complex in their workings. The bewildering privacy policies, interface changes and constant tinkering on Facebook have frustrated users to where numbers leaving are now significant enough to be of concern.
Simplicity of design and message are not the only things to make great brands successful but the ones that have distilled their essence to communicate and resonate with consumers will always have a blue water advantage.
The difficulty encountered in creating awareness and profile, trying to stand out from the crowd and surviving the fickleness of the buying public is dependent on conveying your message as simply as possible. Keeping it simple translates to understanding and that can translate to the bottom line. Siegel+Gale conducted a global brand survey trying to define simplicity by polling more than 6,000 consumers, asking them about clarity of promotions, messages, simplicity of experience online and offline. They were looking for brands that resonate with people's need to declutter their thinking and decision making process, thus providing an obvious line of decision.
What the simplest brands index pointed out, was if they concentrated on what they do best without muddying the decision process of why you have walked or clicked onto their premises, they become successful and are are able to charge a premium for the obviousness of your decision. This rational has seen Subway, Google, Amazon, Apple, McDonalds, Starbucks and Zappos lead the way for consumers who have grasped the messages of that simplicity, a single search bar on Google, unrivalled customer service on Zappos, the $5 footlong at Subways and the appropriateness of cleans lines at Apple. All of these messages are patently clear, making it easy for consumers to decide from a raft of competitors, whose messages are clouded by not being able to articulate their true worth or willing to test their resolve and move away from the pricing death spiral.
Consumer sectors that suffer from over complication and confusion from the public, are insurance, banking and financial, where they become mired in multiple messages around price, service, relevancy, credibility, integrity and usability. Simpler products and experiences are the panacea for this sector but no one jumps out as a leader. This complexity of thinking, leading to confusion was also indicative of brands expected to be higher up the index. Twitter at 93 and Facebook at 125 are instantly recognisable brands on the index that have slipped as they become more intricate and complex in their workings. The bewildering privacy policies, interface changes and constant tinkering on Facebook have frustrated users to where numbers leaving are now significant enough to be of concern.
Simplicity of design and message are not the only things to make great brands successful but the ones that have distilled their essence to communicate and resonate with consumers will always have a blue water advantage.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Christmas conscience.
Two weeks before Christmas and many people are feeling the anxiety building up, building up because they haven't bought that perfect gift. What is the craze this year, Apple continues its trend of being the digital du jour, book readers are always in, cheap flights to everywhere except where you want to go are available and a variety of toys that will barely outlast their batteries continue the sell cycle. At Christmas the sell cycle is on steroids and everywhere you look you are accosted by the next poster entreating to buy before it's too late or before stocks run out. For many this is an unconscionable approach to a season of cheer and good tidings.
So imagine my surprise to see the folks at Patagonia continuing their 2011 campaign, when they implored me not to buy their jacket, to this year asking me to buy less. What would David Jones think, how could Apple continue and what would Nike do if they couldn't make the shoes you bought yesterday, obsolete today? Consumerism today is about replacing, not the old and worn out with the new but replacing yesterday with today as quickly as possible, before the midday rush. Aside from my Mother it is difficult to find anyone who has held onto anything longer than necessary, meaning until the next new range or new model is released.
Patagonia have worked hard at their passion for making the best outdoor gear in the world and making it last for more than one sale cycle. Everything they make is built to last and they have a full appreciation of what it takes to make their garments and outdoor equipment and who they are selling to. They were forthcoming in telling consumers how much last year's jacket cost the environment when they released their sales campaign information, “to make it required 135 litres of water, enough to meet the daily needs (three glasses a day) of 45 people. Its journey from its origin as 60% recycled polyester to our Reno warehouse generated nearly 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, 24 times the weight of the finished product. This jacket left behind, on its way to Reno, two-thirds its weight in waste.” Think twice before you buy it and if you do, use it for a very long time.
To stay true to their mission, “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis", Patagonia have embarked on a brand campaign to build more than loyalty and social awareness. They are creating brand evangelists whose values align with the company's and who become their greatest sales team, albeit one with a conscience. The power of information and the limited amount of money for the Christmas budget sees people looking to buy from companies with values aligned to their own and values they are happy to pass onto their children. Marrying the environmentally responsible with great products gives Patagonia the chance to connect with these consumers, work at the premium end of the market, sustain profits and continue to save the planet.
So when looking for that next great Christmas present, consider the socially and environmentally conscious companies who want to give you more than just a great product, they want to save the planet for more Christmas' to come. Now you know why I haven't bought you that new jacket, I'm just saving the planet.
So imagine my surprise to see the folks at Patagonia continuing their 2011 campaign, when they implored me not to buy their jacket, to this year asking me to buy less. What would David Jones think, how could Apple continue and what would Nike do if they couldn't make the shoes you bought yesterday, obsolete today? Consumerism today is about replacing, not the old and worn out with the new but replacing yesterday with today as quickly as possible, before the midday rush. Aside from my Mother it is difficult to find anyone who has held onto anything longer than necessary, meaning until the next new range or new model is released.
Patagonia have worked hard at their passion for making the best outdoor gear in the world and making it last for more than one sale cycle. Everything they make is built to last and they have a full appreciation of what it takes to make their garments and outdoor equipment and who they are selling to. They were forthcoming in telling consumers how much last year's jacket cost the environment when they released their sales campaign information, “to make it required 135 litres of water, enough to meet the daily needs (three glasses a day) of 45 people. Its journey from its origin as 60% recycled polyester to our Reno warehouse generated nearly 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, 24 times the weight of the finished product. This jacket left behind, on its way to Reno, two-thirds its weight in waste.” Think twice before you buy it and if you do, use it for a very long time.
To stay true to their mission, “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis", Patagonia have embarked on a brand campaign to build more than loyalty and social awareness. They are creating brand evangelists whose values align with the company's and who become their greatest sales team, albeit one with a conscience. The power of information and the limited amount of money for the Christmas budget sees people looking to buy from companies with values aligned to their own and values they are happy to pass onto their children. Marrying the environmentally responsible with great products gives Patagonia the chance to connect with these consumers, work at the premium end of the market, sustain profits and continue to save the planet.
So when looking for that next great Christmas present, consider the socially and environmentally conscious companies who want to give you more than just a great product, they want to save the planet for more Christmas' to come. Now you know why I haven't bought you that new jacket, I'm just saving the planet.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Things change, adapt.
How will your business look in 2013? What did it look like in 2005 and have you adapted to the changing world? In my youth, "coffee thanks", used to get you just that, a coffee. The best seller wall at the bookshop would get you just that, a best seller and the shoe shop sold one thing, shoes. Times change and a coffee is no longer a coffee, especially at Starbucks where a super venti frappa mocha chai with sprinkles no longer resembles the cuppa of my youth. Books disappeared at the book seller and went online via Amazon to be followed by shoes from Zappos and we all merrily bought from the new order who became experts selling one item. Times change and Starbucks no longer just sells coffee, in fact it has dropped coffee from its logo, Amazon no longer just sells books and Zappos no longer just sells shoes. Adaptability has become the catch phrase for business as new ideas and swimming in blue ocean will only give you so much time ahead of the pack.
Seems the production and mass efficiencies gained by global domination has allowed many of the larger players to look outside their field of expertise and expand into areas usually associated with supermarkets, malls and every bake house and delicatessen in your neighbourhood. Starbucks recently acquired juice companies, bakeries, tea retailers and is trying to stay ahead of consumer trends with technology initiatives started years ago with their in store CD sales. Amazon have become the world's largest online retailer, turning into a Walmart on steroids, selling everything imaginable while Zappos added clothing and accessories to their unlimited line of shoes.
The trend to diversify is not new and every global brand has tried it at one time or another. Success varies and there enough instances of companies going back to core product to marvel at how well companies like Starbucks and Amazon have been at creating new revenue streams while sticking to their original plan of world domination for one product or service, for as long as they did. Still it is the measure of truly successful companies who can adapt to change as well as Amazon and Starbucks. .
At one time Starbucks was a poster child of growth finding 55 countries desperate for a gallon of coffee for $5, in fact one satirical US newspaper joked in a headline "new Starbucks opens in restroom of existing Starbucks". When the tough years of 2008 and 2009 hit, they had to consider there was more than one offering needed to re-energise the brand, hence their foray into the world of tea, juice and the domain of the bakers to widen their approach to the consumer. With this approach they have seen a new clientele enter the "third place", the "third place" after home and work as Howard Schultz refers to Starbucks. This strategy has seen Starbucks increase their branding and awareness and increase their earnings to the highest levels in their history, serving 60 million customers every week.
Once Amazon figured out how to deliver a book to anywhere in the world, the jump to being able to deliver anything else was not a big one and the company morphed into the largest mall in the universe. Acquiring Zappos added to their domination and once this was assured, Amazon worked on aspects of their business that some thought unnecessary with such a large market share, great customer service. Adaptability is more than branching out into other products, it's about a holistic view of your offering and more often than not, it requires the human touch. It can work for all of us, after all we have adapted somewhat from the guys finger painting antelope on walls, all those years ago. Go adapt and succeed.
Seems the production and mass efficiencies gained by global domination has allowed many of the larger players to look outside their field of expertise and expand into areas usually associated with supermarkets, malls and every bake house and delicatessen in your neighbourhood. Starbucks recently acquired juice companies, bakeries, tea retailers and is trying to stay ahead of consumer trends with technology initiatives started years ago with their in store CD sales. Amazon have become the world's largest online retailer, turning into a Walmart on steroids, selling everything imaginable while Zappos added clothing and accessories to their unlimited line of shoes.
The trend to diversify is not new and every global brand has tried it at one time or another. Success varies and there enough instances of companies going back to core product to marvel at how well companies like Starbucks and Amazon have been at creating new revenue streams while sticking to their original plan of world domination for one product or service, for as long as they did. Still it is the measure of truly successful companies who can adapt to change as well as Amazon and Starbucks. .
At one time Starbucks was a poster child of growth finding 55 countries desperate for a gallon of coffee for $5, in fact one satirical US newspaper joked in a headline "new Starbucks opens in restroom of existing Starbucks". When the tough years of 2008 and 2009 hit, they had to consider there was more than one offering needed to re-energise the brand, hence their foray into the world of tea, juice and the domain of the bakers to widen their approach to the consumer. With this approach they have seen a new clientele enter the "third place", the "third place" after home and work as Howard Schultz refers to Starbucks. This strategy has seen Starbucks increase their branding and awareness and increase their earnings to the highest levels in their history, serving 60 million customers every week.
Once Amazon figured out how to deliver a book to anywhere in the world, the jump to being able to deliver anything else was not a big one and the company morphed into the largest mall in the universe. Acquiring Zappos added to their domination and once this was assured, Amazon worked on aspects of their business that some thought unnecessary with such a large market share, great customer service. Adaptability is more than branching out into other products, it's about a holistic view of your offering and more often than not, it requires the human touch. It can work for all of us, after all we have adapted somewhat from the guys finger painting antelope on walls, all those years ago. Go adapt and succeed.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Ho Ho Ho.
It's time for the annual month of merriment, where excess is agreed upon early and anything goes at the office Christmas party. Alcohol and attitude mixed with pent up emotions finally have a release valve in the gathering of colleagues at the annual Christmas event that will leave carnage for some and a sigh of relief for others. Countless experts will provide tips to survive this annual pilgrimage to loosening the tie and bringing forth that inappropriate garment, shimmering so brightly in the back of the cupboard. Yet even with all of this advice, the Christmas faux pas will live on in 2012 because many people see it as a golden opportunity to show off their less than funky dance moves, show off their fashion sense and of course show off parts of their anatomy hidden throughout the year by common sense.
Common sense is often the true loser at the Christmas function, months in the planning by the social committee or the marketing department, where the venue and the event seldom match up to expectations, causing people to take responsibility to liven up the night and bring forth their inner Robbie Williams. Flailing arms and legs, rotating pelvi and the obligatory John Travolta impersonations provide hours of fun and entertainment for the onlookers but often end up as career hiccups. It never ceases to amaze how many people volunteer for the guest magician having left their favourite underwear at home. The end of night sight, carrying stripper heels, antlers askance or tie used as a head band and last seen heading for the kebab van is not the objective the company had in mind when planning the party.
Dinner table discussions at the Christmas party should include how to get home safely, congratulations on jobs well done, how to spend the annual bonus and milestones everyone can celebrate. Not wearing antlers and asking if anyone needs a ride home, not asking the receptionist if she wants to retire to the cloakroom for the annual performance review and certainly not providing a running Twitter commentary on Marg from book keeping having trouble escaping the evil advances of Wayne from sales. With so many potholes to avoid, any wonder people become confused about expectations and apprehensive about wardrobe, dance moves and talking to the boss with a skinful.
The other side of the coin sees this event as an opportunity to get to the right people you may not have had the fortuity to meet or talk with, including the boss who is usually in a good mood and senior management who finally have to come out of their offices. You can hurdle the HR gate keepers and focus your discussions on the people who need to hear it, on subjects that need to be heard, all the while staying in the comfort zone of discussions over a friendly drink. It behoves the boss to be nice to you, even if its only at the Christmas party, so seize the champagne and seize the moment. Merry Christmas.
Common sense is often the true loser at the Christmas function, months in the planning by the social committee or the marketing department, where the venue and the event seldom match up to expectations, causing people to take responsibility to liven up the night and bring forth their inner Robbie Williams. Flailing arms and legs, rotating pelvi and the obligatory John Travolta impersonations provide hours of fun and entertainment for the onlookers but often end up as career hiccups. It never ceases to amaze how many people volunteer for the guest magician having left their favourite underwear at home. The end of night sight, carrying stripper heels, antlers askance or tie used as a head band and last seen heading for the kebab van is not the objective the company had in mind when planning the party.
Dinner table discussions at the Christmas party should include how to get home safely, congratulations on jobs well done, how to spend the annual bonus and milestones everyone can celebrate. Not wearing antlers and asking if anyone needs a ride home, not asking the receptionist if she wants to retire to the cloakroom for the annual performance review and certainly not providing a running Twitter commentary on Marg from book keeping having trouble escaping the evil advances of Wayne from sales. With so many potholes to avoid, any wonder people become confused about expectations and apprehensive about wardrobe, dance moves and talking to the boss with a skinful.
The other side of the coin sees this event as an opportunity to get to the right people you may not have had the fortuity to meet or talk with, including the boss who is usually in a good mood and senior management who finally have to come out of their offices. You can hurdle the HR gate keepers and focus your discussions on the people who need to hear it, on subjects that need to be heard, all the while staying in the comfort zone of discussions over a friendly drink. It behoves the boss to be nice to you, even if its only at the Christmas party, so seize the champagne and seize the moment. Merry Christmas.
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