No size fits all: Getting the best out of introverts July 23, 2014 Shyer staff have different needs, so cut down on background noise. There’s a problem with using stereotypes like “introvert” and “extrovert” to inform office policy. Setting aside whether or not these broad terms actually apply to all staff, how many other employee caricatures should be actively catered for? Do alpha males and females require [...]
Value stocks: A canny investor’s choice July 22, 2014 There is a long-running tug of war between two styles of investing: value and growth. The former sees investors select stocks with an intrinsic value. The definition varies, but tends to focus on companies with lower valuations and higher dividend yields. Growth investing is when investors tend to select stocks with growth potential, with valuation [...]
Investment Comment: How to spot the dog funds – and what to do if you own one July 22, 2014 When it comes to crowing about so-called “star” performing fund managers and handing out endless awards, the investment industry certainly doesn’t hold back. Yet the simple fact is that, over the long term, after the impact of charges, many fund managers fail to deliver a better return than the benchmarks for the markets they operate [...]
Risk savvy: Why simple rules of thumb are best July 22, 2014 A new book lays bare the pitfalls of complex decision-making. Imagine you’re a turkey – one that understands basic probability theory. Each day, a farmer brings you a bucket of corn, and any initial wariness over the human’s presence turns into an expectation that you’re about to be fed. This confidence increases week by week, [...]
The sanction spiral: Russia and Europe may fall into recession July 21, 2014 A trade “tit-for-tat” would hit both sides extremely hard EVEN before the tragic Malaysia Airlines plane crash in Ukraine last Thursday (allegedly the work of Moscow-backed separatists), Russia was already reeling from the US’s tightening of the screws. The country’s Micex stock index tumbled 2.3 per cent to 1,440.63 last week after news that financial [...]
CNBC Comment: Why instability isn’t spooking markets July 21, 2014 THE BIGGEST point markets are making at the moment is that they aren’t making a big point. Given increased tensions around Russia and Ukraine, we are closer to war in Europe than we have been for a long time. Simultaneously, the death toll in Gaza tragically keeps rising. Yet despite these dominating geopolitical events, involving [...]
How to get the best out of your older colleagues July 21, 2014 Retaining experienced staff is becoming a challenge. With the Prime Minister clearing out older men to promote younger women in the Cabinet reshuffle last week, older employees will no doubt be questioning their position in the workplace. But reassuringly, Doyle Clayton’s recent Age Before Beauty report found that 66 per cent of the 1,000 employees [...]
The responsible way to unplug from emails while on holiday July 20, 2014 Summer holidays – a time for rest, relaxation and a regular supply of cocktails on the beach. Unfortunately, the demands of a full-time job have a nasty habit of creeping in. A survey of 1,000 people by Origin Storage found that 73 per cent admit to being in contact with the office while away on [...]
Are you ready to move on to another job? July 17, 2014 Find a career mentor and don’t get caught up in the day-to-day When did you last change jobs? We’re all familiar with the phrase “seven year itch” (even in the workplace), and a hyper-connected world does mean careers are more fluid. But are people moving on a lot more frequently now? With unemployment [...]
ACCA Comment: For women in business, small steps are no longer enough July 16, 2014 We must fire on all cylinders for gender equality to happen. As an analogy for the barrier women face to career progression, the glass ceiling has been around for so long that it seems unusually robust for something supposedly so fragile. Yes, more women are breaking into the higher echelons of business and [...]