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It's been said that the more things change, the more they remain...
insane. We think it's crazy -- and cool -- that the humble bar code,
first introduced in 1974 on a package of Wrigley's chewing gum, has
morphed into the QR code that can unlock special prizes for savvy
smartphone users. It's equally nuts that women continue to bump up
against a glass ceiling in corporate America, more than three decades
after Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin rocked their sexist boss'
world in what iconic movie about women in the workforce? (Be the first
to email me the name of the movie and win a fabulous prize!)
Read the April issue of Dialog for ideas on how to engage employees with contemporary communication tools and fresh thinking.
Best,
Jill
Is It Hip to Be Square?
 Calvin
Klein, Best Buy and Ford certainly think so. They are just a few of
the companies using QR (Quick Response) codes for advertising and
marketing. Developed in Japan by a subsidiary of Toyota, QR codes are
square, black and white, two-dimensional images that can be scanned by
QR readers and camera phones. The information encoded might be text, a
URL or other data.
QR codes are free to create, free to scan and only take a minute to generate on sites like qrcode.kaywa.com.
QR codes can be printed on just about anything from business cards and
bumper stickers to tattoos and t-shirts, and are used for communicating
product information, movie trailers, special offers, coupons, contact
details and even nutritional information. According to a study by Burson-Marsteller,
22 percent of Fortune 50 companies are placing QR codes in magazines,
on billboards, or at any convenient location to deliver relevant content
to smartphone users. And a recent CNN article confirms that marketing professionals are embracing this technology. Read more...
Smartphone users: Can you guess where the QR code in this issue of Dialog might take you? Simply download a free QR app (such as QRReader).
Then scan the code right from your monitor (no need to print it out)
and see if you guessed correctly. You might agree that it's hip to be
square!
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You Go Girl!
Statistics show that 76 percent of all American women ages 25-54 are
in the workforce; 2 - 3 percent of them are CEOs of Fortune 500
companies. This "leaky talent pipeline" negatively affects the nation's
ability to unlock its full economic potential.
The Wall Street Journal convened an executive task force to examine Women in the Economy.
The full report, published on April 11, is packed with interesting data
and opinions. The 200-member task force offered its Top Five
Recommendations to effect change:
- Profit & Loss Leadership - make more opportunities for P&L responsibility available to women
- Leverage C-Suite Power - hold CEOs accountable to hire women for top jobs
- Promote Women on Potential - identify talented women and give them the same opportunity for advancement as men
- Mentors and Sponsors - develop company- and industry-wide programs
- Strong Talent Management Programs - leverage diverse networks to recruit talent; provide training in effective communication
The link between leadership and the ability to communicate is well
established. What's not often discussed is the importance of what women
communicate to themselves. Don't miss the fascinating McKinsey &
Company report, Unlocking the full potential of women in the U.S. economy.
Read more...
The Catalyst Pyramid Sources: Catalyst Research | Catalyst, 2010 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (2010). | Catalyst, 2010 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Executive Officers and Top Earners (2010).
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010 Current Population Survey, "Employed
persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity." | Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010 Current Population
Survey, "Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population
by age, sex, and race."
Manager Engineering
Managers are the prime point of contact for the best employee
engagement. If someone could just crack the code on how to build a
better manager, engaged employees would be the norm. Well, according to a
New York Times article, Google may have done just that.
The company mined its own HR data and produced the Google version of
the Eight Habits of Highly Effective Managers. Turns out Google
engineers don't want a manager who is technically superior. They want a
better manager—a person who can serve as the glue, the translator of
business strategy into WIIFM. Read more...
Upcoming Events
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April 27 - 29
2011 Council of Communication Management Annual Conference
Network.Communicate.Inspire
The Four Seasons
Las Vegas, NV
What happens in Vegas doesn't stay there. This year's CCM conference is
sure to be a high roller with a keynote speaker from Zappos and an
information-packed Best Practices Session on Thursday, April 28. Can't
attend the event? Read the May issue of Dialog for a recap.
May 16
2011 Garden State Go Red for Women® Luncheon
The Palace at Somerset Park
Somerset, NJ
Special note: Jill Vitiello is serving on the 2011 Garden State Go Red for Women®
Leadership Committee and would be delighted to tell you more about how
you can participate at the event -- and throughout the year -- to fight
heart disease and stroke in women.
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