I have no problems with physical labor, but I don't expect to be one of the few people schleping tables around the gymnasium while one of the organizers hangs outside on her cell phone. Another volunteer arrived to help, so I thought. Imagine our disappointment (me and the other schlepper) when she too chose to spend her time on her cell phone, while we continued to pick up the slack.

If you are going to lead a project, then you have to be prepared to work side-by-side with members of your team. That means getting your hands dirty, right along side your employees or volunteers.

If you are going to volunteer for a project, then commit. Showing up is not committing. It's simply showing up.

For those of you leading teams, how many of your people are simply showing up? If the answer is even one person, then you are not doing your job. Coach and counsel them and if all else fails, fire them. Yes, even if they are a volunteer. Or you will run the risk of having your best people disenchanted with the whole idea of pitching in.

This just in from Vanity Fair. An incredibly well written (yes, I know she is a writer) piece on what a hostile work environment feels like, as well as the damage that it can cause.

Warning: This article is not what you think. See for yourself and by all means, do share you comments below.

Letterman and Me

According to the survey:

54% of employees plan to look for a new job as soon as the economy turns around.

Sentiment is even stronger among younger workers. Of those ages 18-29, 71% say they are likely to look for new jobs once the economy turns around.

Listen to our podcast for tips on how to retain top talent in turbulent times.

Blog Podcast Oct 2009

We've seen the dramatic impact the Millennials have made on the Workplace. We Boomers thought e-mail was cool. However, Millennials took it one step further and added texting to increase the speed of communication. Gen 2020 (workers born after 1997), may not even know how to send an e-mail, since their preferred method of communication includes, texting, Instant Messaging, Tweeting and Facebook.

Employers, whose workforce primarily consists of young people, will need to quickly change the way they reach out to potential employees. We suggest skipping the career fairs and focusing on the field of social networking. Employers will also need to rethink the way they communicate with a generation, that is used to doing so with less than 140 characters. Come to think of it, it's probably a good idea to look at ways to cut back on those long-winded memos. You know, the ones that no one reads. The world of training, as we know it will be unrecognizable as programs like e-coaching and on-line game simulations replace classroom learning.

These are just a few of the many ways in which the workplace as we know it will change over the next five years. The sooner you start getting ready, the better off you will be!

You see, we rarely hear our son sing and we certainly have never heard him belt out an entire song. It's as if someone has unleashed his inner voice. Now unlike many parents, I'm not going to brag and tell you that you'll be seeing him on tour shortly. However, he certainly put a smile on our faces as we could hear the passion in his voice. We could also tell that this move to the hoop (or shall I say mike) was a big move for him.

Have you been holding back? Is it time to unleash your potential? Consider letting go. Who knows, you may be a star and you don't even know it.

Some of you may be trying really hard to achieve the objectives you have set out for yourself. Yet, you may not be getting results quick enough for your own satisfaction. Perhaps it's time to back off a bit. Here are some ways you can do this.

Schedule yourself a day off - If you are a job seeker, you may be thinking every day is a day off. This couldn't be further than the truth. We all need a break. Take a long walk or go for a hike. Spend the day with a loved one. Do whatever you need to do to rest your mind.

Pass the baton - Give someone else an opportunity to lead an initiative. You don't always have to be front and center.

Work smarter, not harder - There are ten different ways to get into a particular yoga position. Some ways are easier than others. Choose the path that works best for you.

Stop comparing yourself - I'm the Queen of looking around the room and seeing others as the competition. Not very zen like! I get into real trouble when I try to make my body do things it isn't designed to do just because the guy next to me is doing it. Focus on yourself. Build on your strengths and ignore what others are doing.

I guarantee you the moment you begin to back off, you will feel better. Try it and share the results in our comments section!

Namaste

Sadly, this is not the case. Some grads are working as rental agents, while others have taken part-time work with retailers. These jobs don't require a college degree, nor do they justify the $200K that has just been invested to set these kids up for a better life.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for paying your dues and learning the business from the ground up. However, I suspect some of these kids took these jobs without doing their homework. They probably didn't ask to speak with people who used to have the jobs. Therefore, they have no idea if their next move, within the organization, will require relocation. Many are still receiving a "paycheck" from their parents, which means they still haven't figured out they cannot survive long-term, making these kinds of wages.

Newly minted grads are advised to ignore the encouragement they may be receiving from their parents for a job well done. Instead, take a step back and look at your life. The life that you would like to build. Is the job that you are currently in going to help you get there? Is it really a stepping stone or are you being weighed down by the rock that is tied around your ankle.

I'm not suggesting that you go out and quit your job. However, I am suggesting that you begin to dream again. Go back to your alumni placement office and ask for help in finding work that is more closely aligned with your degree. Polish up your resume and prepare yourself for a full job search. Show your parents that you don't need their help in order to thrive in this world. Believe it or not, others have done this in worse economic conditions. Ask for their help and learn from their experience.

Don't discount outside help. Now that you are a bread winner, you can decide to invest in a better life. Don't be afraid to raise your hand if you need some help. Click here if you are ready to reach for your dreams again Job Search Programs .

Here is what I shared:

A recent survey from Adecco Group North America, highlights the increased dissatisfaction workers in America have with their employers. According to the survey:

• 54% of employees plan to look for a new job as soon as the economy turns around.

• Sentiment is even stronger among younger workers. Of those ages 18-29, 71% say they are likely to look for new jobs once the economy turns around.

I don't know why these numbers are surprising, as most of us know at least one person who will be jumping ship as soon as they can. Yet, CEO's are still in denial. How do I know this? Because they are walking around saying inappropriate things like, "Our people are lucky to have a job." "Let them go try and find work somewhere else."

Instead, they should be listening when their HR Manager walks into their office and says, "We need to talk." They may actually have a point and a few suggestions on what can be done to improve employee morale and retention. Sure you can slam the door and stay in denial. But don't be surprised if there is no one left in your office, when you finally decided to open your door.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll keep this posting brief. For the young people in the audience, this piece of high-tech equipment, he is trying to place this disk into, is a typewriter. We "older" folks used to use these back in the day when we used to walk five miles in the snow to school (oh wait, that was the other generation.)

There was no spell check in those days, so we actually had to pay attention in school or at least have a dictionary close by in case we needed assistance. I'm thrilled that we now computers that do spell check. Of course I would caution those who rely on it too heavily to proof their work, as mistakes can easily slip by.

Images like this one remind me of how fast technology is moving. I'm doing my best to keep up. I've now deep-sixed all the cassettes and have become an i-pod junkie. One can only imagine what's next. Kind of exciting, eh?

Summer Retreat, by Jeff Scher

Enjoy.