PCB Blog - Generations & Presentations
Generations & Presentations |
| 2011/08/10 |
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Melanie Veness: PCB CEO Things have changed so dramatically in the last 30 years. Remember party telephone lines, Springbok Radio, LP's and handwritten letters from Grandma? Since then, we've had cellphones, television, PC's, cd's, dvd's, laptops and now tablets. All of this technological change has had a profound effect on how we do business. Mpho Makwana, ex Chairman of the Board of Eskom, recently gave a very thought-provoking address at our Presidential Induction Gala Dinner. According to Mpho, we should first establish what generation we are talking to before we plan any business presentation. The silent generation (those born between 1901 and 1924) are mostly retired or near retirement and are generally quite averse to technology. While baby boomers (1946 – 1964) can take credit for shaping the course of technology (after all, Bill Gates is a boomer), studies have shown that boomers are not generally early-adopters of new technologies, and also feel that most of the content on the web is not targeted to them. Mpho made the point that members of the silent generation and boomers are generally auditory, because they grew up listening and using their imagination. They become frustrated by PowerPoint presentations and visual displays. So if you want to close a deal with someone from either of these generations, then it is recommended that you talk them through a proposal.
I am part of generation X, and am therefore much more visual. Not quite as visual as the new generation (or generation Y), who will seldom "buy" something without all the flashing lights and bells and whistles. He also said that different businesses have different odours - and that the "smell of the place" is what creates the first and lasting impression. So, what does your business smell like? Hopefully not stuffy and constrained? He went on to say that Professor Sumantra Ghoshal, a teacher, author and consultant in the field of international management, is of the opinion that various organisations’ operating environments can be compared either to a Kolkata summer or a Fontainebleau forest. Some organisations are so full of control mechanisms and dictates, that employees feel stifled, disempowered and unenthusiastic, while others are free, full of energy and embracive of new ideas. The “smell of the place” affects the ability of your executives and employees to achieve the work-life balance necessary to unleash their full potential. If it smells like Kolkata in July, you will be getting less than the best from your people. Being able to deliver work-life balance for your employees is becoming increasingly important. It is interesting to note that generation Y individuals place a high priority on work-life balance when selecting a company to work for. Listening to Mpho has certainly inspired many of us to go back to our businesses and to take a deep breath, to get a sense of our work places. I'll also never just prepare a presentation without first establishing what era my audience hails from! |
| Tags: Generation(1) Presentations(1) Smell(1) workplace(3) |
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