Most agency people I know grumble about having to fill out a timesheet. I however am a big fan, and I spent my years in agency land geeking out over my own timesheets, seeing them as an intriguing lens on where my time and priorities aligned (or didn’t).
The Amazing If team recently did a great podcast episode on what your calendar says about your priorities and this is a handy route into this analysis for those without a ten year Toggl archive to call upon.
As always the episode was packed with practical tips for thinking about how to improve your impact and relationships at work.
“Your diary can tell you the truth about your priorities, whether you are investing in the right relationships and how effectively you are protecting your boundaries.” – Squiggly Careers Podcast
HR vs PR
The story about the Chick-Fil-A employee who was reprimanded for creating viral reviews of their products has been doing the rounds on LinkedIn and it got me thinking about the misalignment that often occurs between shiny recruitment-focussed branding, and the reality of onboarding at a new company. The excitement of joining your dream organisation can quickly be dulled by lengthy HR policies and rules.
How can we create a joyful and meaningful connection between employer and employees, and still have the coverage to keep the lawyers and insurers happy?
They can sometimes feel like opposing forces, but when there’s a good collaboration between the people who know your people (HR), and the people who know your brand (marketing), magic can happen.
(PS: For an honest appraisal of the fit between your recruitment and onboarding material, you know where we are…)
And finally…
Wise counsel in cartoon form, from the Better Briefs Project. Please don’t be that marketer.
If you’ve got time, Mark Ritson’s grumpy, sweary column that accompanied the original release of the research in Marketing Week is still a good read.
