| Issue 26, September 2004 |
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This is m-news, M Power's monthly e-newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it. Feel free to forward it to friends or colleagues who may find it useful. M
Power is a communication, consulting and training company. m-news
includes information about related themes - six quick snippets about
business, organisational and individual effectiveness, communication
and public relations. Communication empowers.
Karen Morath, managing director, M Power The ‘quick six’ for September are 1. Vote one - authentic communication
1. Vote one - authentic communication If authentic communication is a measure of success or at least winning people's support, then Mark Latham won't win the election. People, whether they are voters, consumers or bystanders, will tolerate a bit of spit and polishing and indeed generally expect people to be on their best behaviour when they are 'out'. But we can expect voters to see through Mark Latham's attempts to reinvent himself to win favour (but if you look closely - ie Laurie Oakes' interview last week on Sunday - there are cracks appearing anyway). If John Howard wins, it will not necessarily be an indication of support for him or because of
2. A quote we like
“Ironically, three out of four workers sitting in cubicles are expected to think outside the box.” Source - Kenneth 3. Gratuitous plug New magazine that celebrates life M Power is creating a new magazine that celebrates life in It’s a ‘no bad news’ magazine that reaffirms all of the reasons people choose to live in the north and reminds readers of the good things happening in their local community. It will also put them in touch with information about local businesses and offer them discounts as incentives to try a local business they may not have visited before. For more information, please call M Power on 03 95817 7522.
4. Flexible work arrangements work
Recent studies have shown that workers taking “sickies” cost Australian employers more than $7 billion a year in lost productivity and disruption. The reasons people take unscheduled leave included: caring for sick children; a lack of job satisfaction; their values or job expectations not being met; managerial policies and attitudes; or a workplace culture that promotes sick leave as a “right”. M Power’s people are encouraged to schedule in personal appointments and other ‘life’ commitments into their working days. We believe ‘work-life balance’ is best achieved by acknowledging we have one life, not a professional one and a personal one, and lots of things to get done.
Source – Centastaff’s (www.centastaff.com.au) August Centastaff Advisor newsletter.
5. Spam ban creates letter writing opportunity In the wake of heavy spam legislation, a well-written letter is fast becoming the newest method of old communication to be resurrected.
Organisations are beginning to delete email from people they don’t know, making electronic cold calling virtually impossible.
One of the good things to come out of the spam legislation is that it has created a new opportunity for well-crafted letters. This means letters written specifically to people within organisations have a great opportunity to make an impression, to be read and to start the process of communicating. This is true particularly if the sender has taken the time to get the details of the receiver correct – it creates a good impression right from the beginning.
It is ironic that a well-written letter which most people, and certainly those under 30, have rarely if ever been taught how to write, is emerging as our most effective communication tool. M Power conducts letter writing workshops for small groups. Call us on 03 9817 4111 for details.
6. This month's book review
Australian Anthill magazine (www.australiananthill.com) This Melbourne-based national magazine has just notched up a year in business (six issues) and that’s a credit to the team behind it. It describes itself as a ‘fast-growth business and venture capital magazine’ and uses the strap line ‘where ideas and business meet’. I am as interested in ideas and businesses getting together as anyone, but think the magazine needs to work out who its readers are and what they want to read about. It’s still a bit patchy, but it’s also still new so pick up a copy and lend them your support.
I’ll keep buying it and hoping, but meanwhile the American ‘Fast Company’* is the best and most innovative business magazine in the world.
*See review m-news issue 5 November 2002. © M Power CCT Pty Ltd 2004 |
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