The new book Sleeping With Your Smartphone by Leslie Perlow reinforces the need for professionals to have some time away from their ICT devices, according to this Harvard Business Review article.

The book offers a timely reminder that most professionals are now linked to their smartphones to the extent that it often seems impossible not to be lured back to work at any time of day.

The book tells the story of several top US consultants who experienced productivity increases after regularly disconnecting from their smartphones for some "predictable time off" (PTO).

According to the author, study participants experienced the following benefits:

51 per cent (versus 27 per cent of "always on" workers) were excited to start work in the morning

72 per cent (versus 49 per cent of "always on" workers) were satisfied with their job

54 percent (versus 38 per cent of "always on" workers) were satisfied with their work-life balance

It's also claimed PTO results in better team work. As Perlow put it, "When people work together to create 'predictable time off,' people, teams, and ultimately the organisation all stand to benefit."

Newcrest Mining has been named as Australia's most attractive employer in a study conducted by recruitment firm Randstad, news.com.au reports.

According to the article, Newcrest earned the award based on its competitive salaries, training opportunities and promises of long-term job security.

National broadcaster ABC was named as Australia's second most attractive employer in the 2012 list while last year's winner, Virgin Australia, was placed third in the ranking.

Mining companies dominated the list with five of the top 20 most attractive employers coming from the booming sector. Two travel companies also made the list.

Randstad says career mobility, competitive salaries and benefits, work-life balance and positive working conditions have emerged as the most important factors for Australian employees.

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

How to Encourage People to Change Their Own Minds (via PsyBlog) http://bit.ly/Kdl504

Ready to Grow and Innovate? Begin by Driving Out Fear and Apathy (via Blanchard LeaderChat) http://bit.ly/LDWbIw

Thinking of making the hot-desk switch? (via HC Online) http://bit.ly/JRbPPr

Training Leaders Before it is Their Turn to Lead (via Leadership & Learning @KevinEikenberry) http://bit.ly/JRbxbk

A New Philosophy for Leadership (via management-issues) http://bit.ly/KDYQ5F

Calming Down an Upset Client: The ASAP Model (via Adecco) http://bit.ly/LHSZMa

Fanatic Discipline and Productive Paranoia (via Chief Learning Officer) http://bit.ly/J2GFIr

9 Attitudes of Emotionally Intelligent Leaders and Managers (via hrdaily) http://bit.ly/KEuvnB

How to Conquer Self-Sabotage in Yourself and Others (via SmartBlog on Leadership) http://bit.ly/JcDxEe

12 Most Dangerous Beliefs in Marketing (via 12most.com) http://bit.ly/JaSFbW

Rookie Hiring Mistakes (via @TimSackett) http://bit.ly/J64xKV

8 Steps to Build Relationships After a Networking Event (via @careerealism) http://bit.ly/JEUM4d

The 6 Passages of Leadership and Management (via Great Leadership) http://bit.ly/LMQAQn

Vary Your Routine for a Change (via @artpetty) http://bit.ly/J8dP9I

Why Product Simplicy Always Wins (via thoughtLEADERS) http://bit.ly/Kcde0Y

5 Proven Tactics to Increase Your Productivity (via @workawesome) http://bit.ly/J8NGaq

Innovation: A Path To Talent Development? (via @TanveerNaseer) http://bit.ly/IZRwiH

Declining Employee Loyalty: A Casualty of the New Workplace (via @LeadingCo) http://bit.ly/JOrfVW

The Inexperience Advantage (via HBR) http://bit.ly/JfmwPA

Fostering a Strong Company Culture (via OPEN Forum) http://bit.ly/IYN3LG

The Value of Adaptive Leadership (via HRE Online) http://bit.ly/LVwS4Q

10 Things A Sales Manager Should Avoid (via Eric Jacobson on Management and Leadership) http://bit.ly/JK2pa5

How Leaders Complain (via Lead Change Group) http://bit.ly/KhDLKo

How to Get 'Change Front and Centre in Your Business (via @FirebrandTalent) http://bit.ly/KC3ZeZ

Did You Confabulate Today? (via More Than a Minute) http://bit.ly/KnZKky

A growing number of US retailers are attempting to fight the erosion of their market share to online stores with the implementation of geofencing tactics, the Wall Street Journal reports.

According to the article, geofencing describes the process of offering signed-up shoppers special deals via their smartphones when they are within a certain physical distance of a store.

It's suggested geofencing is a means of slowing showrooming, a process that occurs when consumers look at a product in a physical store before making a purchase online at a cheaper price.

A recent study by Forrester Research suggests 15 per cent of US shoppers use their smart phones to compare prices to online-only rivals.

The article highlights some clever possible uses of geofencing, including placing umbrellas on sale when shoppers outside may be getting damp during to a rainstorm.

The days of the mass-market economy are over. Today we live in an "intention economy" in which consumers make the rules, according to academic and author Doc Searls.

In this HBR podcast Searls explains that in the intention economy consumers have the power to express their purchasing intentions to sellers, a shift that affects more than just the price of an offering.

Gamification, the use of computer game dynamics to influence behaviour, is achieving a lot of attention in marketing circles as a means of engaging with consumers, Marketing magazine reports.

To help brands understand the power and potential of the trend, some of the word's best gamification campaigns have been identified by the publication. In summary, these include:

• Fruit Ninja – a game in which players smash virtual fruit is being used by neuroscientists to help the elderly recover from operations
• Coinland – the Commonwealth Bank has created a virtual world in which children can learn about earning, saving and investing money
• Sparx – this New Zealand based fantasy game has been designed to help young people learn about depression management

More case studies can be found here.

The secret to highly effective workplace collaboration is to allow team members to "do their own thing", Inc. magazine reports.

While the suggestion that beneficial team outcomes result from individual processes may seem counter-intuitive, the article explains that people are ultimately more creative when working alone.

It's claimed too much teamwork can result in people not being given private time required for deep thinking; the constant interruptions involved in group work are also highlighted as a drawback.

But rather than being an all or nothing proposition, managers are advised to balance the individual needs of staff with group directives. Here are some tips for effective individualistic collaboration:

• Communicate a shared purpose – the manager must let people know how the project contributes to organisational success
• Foster independence – working both independently and collaboratively allows the collection and review of different viewpoints
• Team focus – make it clear the team will only succeed if members cooperate throughout the process
• Collective reflection – reflection shouldn't just be an individual process, reflective group experiences can also deliver insight

Twitter speedlinks from last week on @aimqld:

How Emotional Intelligence Can Help Resolve Conflicts and Build Tough, Kind Leaders (via Knowledge @ Wharton) http://bit.ly/Iyt4Dy

When Core Values & New Ideas Collide (via Inc.) http://bit.ly/JUWEEE

The Top 5 Mistakes Leaders Make (via Great Leadership) http://bit.ly/KAoepn

The 4 Doors to Loyalty: Your Welcome Mat to Customer Intimacy (via Marketing Profs) http://bit.ly/IQlfZm

7 Tips for Networking (via Entrepreneur) http://bit.ly/Jb0mJx

10 Predictions for What the CIO Role Will Look Like in 2020 (via CIO.com) http://bit.ly/IT2GHi

How Effectively Does Your Board Use Committees? (via @Directors_Aust) http://bit.ly/JRb235

What are the Common Mistakes of New Managers? (via Wall Street Journal) http://bit.ly/Ke4CdQ

5 Benefits of Investing Time in Innovative Leadership (via Innovation Excellence) http://bit.ly/IEtTjl

The 12 Essential Traits of The Modern-Day Leader (via @Starbucker) http://bit.ly/JWC1I2

Global Leadership Begins With Learning Professionals  (via T+D Magazine) http://bit.ly/IXPDVa

7 Suggestions to Strengthen Your Group's Performance (via @artpetty) http://bit.ly/Ki8OcE

Checking In with Employees (Versus Checking Up) (via HBR) http://bit.ly/KC1vzu

Land Critical Conversations Right the First Time (via @recoveringleadr) http://bit.ly/Jb0aze

Reverse-Engineering Leadership (via Managing Leadership) http://bit.ly/JP39XG

Fascination is the DNA of Innovation (via The Heart of Innovation) http://bit.ly/JYP2Dy

Marketing Clutter (via @TomFishburne) http://bit.ly/IHQhmW

Cialdini's Six Principles of Influence: Convincing Others to Say "Yes" (via Mind Tools) http://bit.ly/JYQkOS

Moving From Managing to Leading - Taking on the Big Picture (via SmartBlog on Leadership) http://bit.ly/JTo2AU

What 'The Avengers' Can Teach You About the Workplace (via The Workbuzz) http://cb.com/JY0gno

3 Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic (via @ScottEblin) http://bit.ly/JC9jw8

Communication Choices During Evolutionary Change (via ChangeFactory) http://bit.ly/JC7kYK

3 Things You Should Never Do in Employee Recognition (via @humancapleague) http://bit.ly/JyGVOe

5 Practices to Achieve Level 5 Customer Service (via SmartBusiness) http://bit.ly/JiEmhV

Whether advancing a cause, asking for assistance or changing stakeholder attitudes, every entrepreneur needs to be well versed in the art of negotiation, according to this Fast Company post.

To help entrepreneurs perfect the “art of the ask” Selena Rezvani, author of pushback: how smart women ask, describes the following two pathways to stronger negotiation experiences:

• Set the pace – it’s claimed the world’s best negotiators understand the power of asking progressively for something: “Putting a key reasoning out there and then allowing ample time for the dialogue volley helps you maintain power in the conversation.”
• Think co-investment – determine your most important outcomes then remind yourself that negotiation is a two way street: “Be willing to make assertive claims but be equally comfortable giving up or adding on provisions that sweeten the deal for the other side.”
• And while negotiation may often seem like a complicated dance that only some people are good at, Rezvani uses a series of case studies to argue that it is a skill, like any other, that can be learned.

Corporate wellness services, wineries and ethnic supermarkets are just a few of the business categories set to achieve "next big thing" status this year, according to a new IBIS World report.

This recent Business Finance Store post offers a good overview of the start-up categories that rate a mention in the report. While US focused, some ideas clearly have global potential. The list includes:

• Relaxation beverages – forget energy drinks, more people are now focusing on beverages that help them unwind
• Social network game development – demand for apps that amuse and engage show no sign of abating
• Corporate wellness services – employers are increasingly looking to prevent staff health problems before they become productivity issues
• Wineries – demand keeps increasing in the US while the popularity of beer continues to drop locally as more Australians embrace wine
• Street vendors – gourmet food trucks are chipping away at the profits of established fast food providers
• Ethnic supermarkets – changing consumer tastes and immigration trends are seeing demand grow for specialty grocers