Diageo Bans PowerPoint
Diageo, an alcoholic beverages company, has banned PowerPoint presentations at some meetings. In an AdAge article, James Thompson, the company's North American chief marketing and innovation officer, describes his perspective:
"It stops conversation. It makes people feel secure they've communicated what they wanted to. But, in fact, it doesn't move anything on," he said. So he has instituted a PowerPoint ban in some meetings. "Just talk to me, please" is his plea. His goal is to ensure his marketing team is "not totally buttoned-up all the time," he said. "We just want people to be at their best, and that is usually when they are able to think and respond and build rather than sell."
The change is part of other efforts, for example, hiring, to revive the company culture. Thompson said, "I've got nothing against MBA programs," but he is recruiting people from different sources instead of "where people came into the organization in a very conventional way and worked their way up in a very conventional way."
Discussion Starters:
- Do you agree with Diageo's decision? What are potential consequences of the decision?
- What could be some alternatives to a ban on PowerPoint?
- If you banned PowerPoint at some meetings, which type of meetings would you include?
- Consider different types of PowerPoints discussed in the text book. How are some outputs better for some audiences?
Marriott CEO's Letter to Trump
Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson is the latest company executive to write about the election results. In an open letter on LinkedIn, Sorenson offers some leadership advice.
The letter starts with Sorenson's views about government's role:
"The government has no business in our bedrooms – or our bathrooms. Everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or identity, has a right to live without interference in their private lives. Similarly, everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or identity, gender, race, religion disability or ethnicity should have an equal opportunity to get a job, start a business or be served by a business. Use your leadership to minimize divisiveness around these areas by letting people live their lives and by ensuring that they are treated equally in the public square."
Sorenson then focuses on three areas: "infrastructure, immigration reform and tax reform." As a hotel manager, Sorenson clearly is concerned about potential reductions in global travel and talent. He also encourages a more realistic approach for immigrants who are already in the U.S.
Discussion Starters:
- Why do you think Sorenson chose an open letter on LinkedIn as the medium for his message? What are some alternatives?
- What principles of persuasion, discussed in Chapter 7 of the book, does Sorenson use? Try to find examples of logos, pathos, and ethos.
- How does Sorenson's role as the CEO of Marriott influence his positions? Which of his suggestions would benefit hotel companies?
- Should Trump respond? If so, how, and what should he say?
Grubhub CEO: Agree or Resign?
The CEO of Grubhub had a tough message for employees who disagree with his anti-Trump sentiment: "you have no place here." After the election, Matt Maloney wrote an email about tolerance and inclusion. He expressed his disappointment in Trump's election, particularly his "demeaning, insulting and ridiculing minorities, immigrants and the physically/mentally disabled" and his "nationalist, anti-immigrant and hateful politics."
He went a step further at the end of the email:
"If you do not agree with this statement then please reply to this email with your resignation because you have no place here. We do not tolerate hateful attitudes on our team. I want to repeat what Hillary said this morning, that the new administration deserves our open minds and a chance to lead, but never stop believing that the fight for what's right is worth it."
Media reports and social media responses interpreted Maloney's message as a threat: anyone who voted for Trump should resign.
Maloney has responded that his email was misinterpreted:
"I want to clarify that I did not ask for anyone to resign if they voted for Trump. I would never make such a demand. To the contrary, the message of the email is that we do not tolerate discriminatory activity or hateful commentary in the workplace, and that we will stand up for our employees."
This distinction is important; otherwise, the company may be discriminating against people based on political views.
Discussion Starters:
- Read Maloney's full message to employees and his statement. How do you interpret his original message and the explanation?
- Should Maloney have sent the email to employees? What are the benefits and risks to the company and to him personally?
- Could Maloney have revised the email to avoid the controversy? How so?
Danny Meyer Encourages Employees to Listen
Restaurateur Danny Meyer wrote a post-election message to his employees, reflecting on the Trump win. It's a mixture of election-hangover, reconciliation, and encouragement. Like other business owners, Meyer is taking the opportunity to support his staff's communication, particularly listening to one another.
Dear USHG Colleagues,
It is a gray, damp morning in New York City and by the empty, downward looks on the faces of some of the same pedestrians I see almost every morning on the way to work, it seems that many did not sleep a whole lot last night. Other than the usual sirens and periodic honking car horns – my morning walk was far quieter and more self-reflective than usual. Like others, I am working hard to sort out my own feelings so that I can be there for my family and for you. I'm not going to sugar coat it: this is tough.
Before any of us can make sense of what will transpire in America following this election, let's acknowledge what we do know:
1) Democracy works. This campaign was hard fought, and Americans came out in droves to make their votes count. We will have a new, democratically elected president who prevailed in the Electoral College, and the results will be accepted, even if not appreciated by the slight majority of voters who voted elsewise. Do not underestimate how important and how unusual that is among the world's nations.
2) For those who feel completely shocked and disappointed by the election results (didn't all the polls tell us it would be otherwise?), note that the outcome itself mirrors the very theme of the entire election: that as a country we have done an inadequate job of listening to or hearing one another, and when enough people don't feel heard, massive change is inevitable. When will we learn that it is far more important for people to feel heard – even than to be agreed with? As a country and as a society which too often prizes shouting over respectful listening, we have clearly done a poor job at that.
3) Donald Trump will be our next president. I acknowledge that I found it hard to type those words, but there, I did it, and it was actually therapeutic. Acceptance of reality is never a bad first step to healing.
4) My dogs woke up today wagging their tails, wanting to be fed, and needing their morning walk. They slept perfectly well last night, and I believe they are fully prepared to accept the election results so long as they continue to be loved and cared for by the human beings they love: their family. I learned something from them this morning.
5) Other than feeling really tired and somewhat off kilter, I did my usual morning routine. I remembered to shave, managed to put on both socks and shoes, and got myself to work. I've already given five hugs today, and received five in return. They won't be the last.
6) We are an incredibly resilient country and company, and there is no way that the results of this election are going to erode our ability to pick ourselves up and to persevere. When faced with any type of adversity, we have always found ways to end up in a better place, and this time will be no different. I feel confident that we will all see the sun shining – even before the end of this week.
As I wrote to you the night before the election – even before knowing these results – we have both a responsibility and a powerful opportunity to lead with our strongest suit: hospitality. The root of the word hospitality is hope, and hope is optimistic. I need each one of you to remember this : that every single person who chooses to dine at one of our restaurants – or anywhere we serve food, is primarily paying us to deliver the four gifts we are capable of doing better and more consistently well than anyone else:
1. Eye Contact – let people know you see them!
2. Smile – let people know you are happy to see them!
3. Hug – let people know that in making them feel good, you feel good!
4. Good food – give them the pleasure they came for!
Give those gifts with abandon, and we will show one another, and our guests why we are champions. It always works.
Enlightened Hospitality works and over the course of our company's history, whenever we have been tested by challenges, whenever our world has been rocked, and times are uncertain – we have turned to what we know and do best: first taking care of ourselves, so that we can do a remarkable job at taking care of others. I'm holding myself accountable to that, and need you to do the same. And that begins with listening.
I am aware that many in our community may have woken up this morning feeling just as elated by the election results as others are feeling deflated. I honor that, and want to learn from every single point of view. What a privilege we have to be a company that provides tables at which people can break bread, communicate their feelings, be heard, and advance what is best about being human!
Writing this has given me the opportunity to express myself to you, and if you've read this far, you've given me the gift of being heard. I hope you will examine your own feelings, and feel safe expressing yourself to your colleagues, and give them the gift of doing the same.
It is eminently clear to me that people who feel, express, listen, hear, and love is who we are, and what we must do for one another, and for our guests.
I promise to do that to my utmost for you.
Danny
Danny Meyer | CEO
Union Square Hospitality Group
www.ushgnyc.com
Restaurants are in the news after the election. Nation's Restaurant News summarizes, from a policy perspective, how Trump's presidency may affect the industry. And a New York Times article today, "Owner Was Target, but Restaurant Workers Are Swept Up in Immigration Raids titled," may justify concerns about immigration.
Discussion Starters:
- What are Danny Meyer's main points to his employees? How do you think employees could receive it? Consider people on both sides of the aisle.
- Read the Nation's Restaurant News article. How would you summarize the potential impacts of Trump's presidency on the industry? Restaurant owners seem to be mixed about whether it's good or bad news.
NY Times Promises Fair Coverage
The New York Times publisher and executive editor sent an unusual email to subscribers about election coverage. Poynter reports that this email and another to employees were in response to criticism of left-leaning coverage of the campaign.
The message is both reflective and forward-looking, questioning an unprecedented election and assuring readers fair coverage of President Trump in the future. The publisher and editor promise to stay true to the newspaper's core mission, and they thank loyal customers.
Arthur Sulzberger is the newest member of the family to be named publisher of The Times. A fifth-generation publisher, Sulzberger is a descendant of Adolph S. Ochs, who bought the paper in 1896.
The email comes after Sulzberger sent an internal memo to staff:
Dear Colleagues,
As we close one of the most momentous weeks in our nation's recent history, let's pause for a moment on those famous instructions that Adolph S. Ochs left for us: to cover the news without fear or favor.
As Donald Trump begins preparing for his new administration, those words have rarely felt more important.
The Times is certainly not afraid - our investigative report has demonstrated our courage many times over. That fearless, hard-fought journalism will always stand as the backbone of The Times, no matter the President.
But we also approach the incoming Trump administration without bias. We will cover his policies and his agenda fairly. We will bring expert analysis and thoughtful commentary to the changes we see in government, and to their ramifications on the ground.
We will look within and beyond Washington to explore the roots of the anger that has roiled red and blue America. If many Americans no longer seem to understand each other, let's make it our job to interpret and explain.
Our predecessors founded our singular newspaper for just this moment - to serve as a watchdog to the powerful; and to hold mighty institutions accountable, without fear or favor. We are more than ready to fulfill that promise.
Together, we have built the world's best digital newsroom and it, too, was made for just this moment. We will chronicle the new administration with a lightning-fast report that features stories told in every medium and on every platform.
Here is what we have all dedicated our careers to: Going after the biggest stories in the world, and telling them as ambitiously as possible.
Get some rest this weekend. We have lots to do.
Arthur
Discussion Starters:
- You might read this as either an admission or a defense. What's your view?
- What are the communication objectives of both emails? You might consider the newspaper business today. To what extent do you think they meet those objectives? Overall, are the messages effective?
- Assess the writing style against principles in Chapter 5. Pay particular attention to word choice and sentence structure.
Wells Fargo's New Commercial
Wells Fargo is trying to rebuild its image after facing the scandal that it opened accounts for people who didn't request them and weren't aware they had them. Until now, we heard little from the company, except an email to some customers and a full-page ad with plans that seemed quite basic.
A new, short commercial focuses on three points: fully refunding those impacted, proactively sending new account confirmations, and eliminating product sales goals.
These actions are a bit more specific than what has been communicated in the past. However, a skeptic like me might say these steps are still the bare minimum that the company can do for customers. Also eliminating product sales goals, which arguably caused the trouble because they were overly aggressive, should have been done years ago, particularly now that we know employees had reported issues but were ignored or retaliated against.
Discussion Starters:
- Assess this commercial. Who are the primary and secondary audiences? What are the communication objectives? How well does the company achieve them?
- Consider the language choices. The three actions aren't quite parallel. What other changes could be made?
- What else should Wells Fargo do at this point to rebuild its image?
Managers Encourage Unity at Work
Last week, we read about increasing divisions at work because of the contentious presidential election. Now that the election is over, companies are trying to unite workers who may have been on opposite sides.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz had emailed employees before the election:
Many Americans have allowed the vitriolic nature of the presidential campaign to ignite our differences and strip away our civility and dignity. In the process, we've lost faith in what we all know has always been true, the promise of America.
But you are the true promise of America.
…
Kindness, compassion, empathy, and yes love is what we need. It is what we must display and share. We are all longing for a deeper sense of human connection and humanity because, when we are touched by it, it fills us up.
Now, several companies are trying strategies, such as videos and chat sessions, to help employees move on from the high emotions during the campaign season.
The news isn't all bad at work. In a commercial real estate firm, The Wall Street Journal reports, managers believe difficult conversations have offered a type of "team building in this weird sort of way."
Discussion Starters:
- What has been your experience post-election at work and at school? How are people managing differences?
- If you were to write an email to foster unity among students at your school, what would you say?
Acceptance and Concession Speeches
After a surprise Donald Trump presidential victory, the future president and Secretary Clinton gave their respective speeches. Both candidates were respectful to the other, with Trump complimenting Clinton on a hard-fought campaign, and Clinton encouraging people to support Trump as our new president.
Clinton's concession speech asked people to give Trump a chance to lead. She said she hoped he would be "a successful president for all Americans."
Discussion Starters:
- To introduce Trump's speech, future Vice President Mike Pence said, "This is a historic night." It is: this is the first U.S. president who has had neither military nor government experience. Besides Trump's background, what else makes this election victory "historic"?
- Assess Trump and Clinton's delivery skills. Understandably, they are both tired! What other observations do you have?
- Both Trump and Clinton were, shall we say, political in their comments. Which parts are least believable?
FBI Says Nothing New in Clinton Emails
Just under the wire-two days before a close election-the FBI has announced nothing worthy of attention, after all, in Hillary Clinton's emails. The news comes just eight days after the FBI, led by James Comey, said the organization discovered new emails during an investigation of Anthony Weiner. At the time, no charges were made, and the FBI said they had no information about the emails, which wasn't helpful just 10 days before the national election.
Some question whether the FBI could reasonably read all messages, but it seems that most emails were personal or duplicates of what the FBI already reviewed.
In his letter to Congress, Comey stressed the work of the FBI agents to review the messages and said their conclusion from July was unchanged: no charges will be made in relation to Clinton's email server.
The news made The New York Times' biggest online front page headline as well as The Wall Street Journals'.
Discussion Starters:
- Once again, did Comey do the right thing? What kind of pressure do you think he's been under?
- How, if at all, do you think this latest news will affect the election results? The first announcement did seem to tighten Clinton's lead. Will this announcement reverse it?
- Why are people influenced by this news-either way? The candidates have starkly different approaches, backgrounds, and plans.
Christie Associates Found Guilty
Two former associates of NJ Governor Chris Christie were found guilty of causing traffic problems for political gain. In what has been called "Bridgegate," Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Baroni conspired to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge in 2013 as retaliation against the mayor of Fort Lee. At the time, Kelly was Christie's deputy chief of staff, and Baroni was the deputy director of Port Authority. Previously, two other aides admitted guilt in relation to the scandal.
The most incriminating piece of evidence was an email exchange between Kelly and David Wildstein, who leaked the plan. The message is clear: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."
In a statement released after the verdicts, Christie says he's "saddened," but he continues to maintain his innocence.
Christie reiterated this point during an interview with CBS News.
But the verdict is bad news for Christie-and possibly for Donald Trump. On the stand during her trial, Kelly said that Christie knew about the plan, and text messages from another aide said he "flat out lied." Trump had named Christie to lead a transition team should he become president, and Christie is actively campaigning for Trump in these last days before the election.
Discussion Starters:
- Does this verdict hurt Christie's chance of maintaining his innocence? Why or why not?
- Assess his statement to the press. How effectively does he stay clear of the case and verdicts?
- What, if anything, should Trump do at this point? He didn't choose Christie as his vice presidential running mate, but he's clearly a Christie fan.
Election Causes Emotions to Run High at Work
A Society for Human Resources (SHRM) survey found more "political volatility" at work than in previous election years. The rate is up from another SHRM survey conducted in June. Respondents said that employees are more concerned this year about the candidates and more vocal about their opinions.
This infographic summarizes the survey responses.
Politics are part of life, and perhaps this is just part of "bringing your whole self to work," which we discuss in Chapter 2 of the tenth edition. Or should we avoid talking about politics in the workplace?
Although these conversations may be uncomfortable, a Harvard Business Review article quotes Joseph Grenny, coauthor of Crucial Conversations:
"[Y]ou spend the majority of your waking hours with your colleagues, and so it's natural to "feel the need to process your thoughts and feelings" with them. In fact, he says, learning how to talk about politics in a productive manner can help you "manage other difficult conversations at work," including peer performance reviews or disagreements over strategy and policy. Politics is just another topic where "emotions run strong, the stakes are high, and opinions vary," he says.
The article suggests strategies for managing political discussions at work, for example, viewing them as an opportunity to learn more about each other, focusing on the process instead of a candidate, and knowing when to "disengage."
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view? Should we avoid talking about politics at work, or is it an opportunity for building a better team?
- Have you been in an awkward or frustrating situation with a coworker about a political situation? How did you handle it, and what did you learn?
- What do you think will happen after this year's election? Will we all go back to normal, or is that just wishful thinking?
Verizon's 2016 Fact Sheet
In addition to annual reports, many companies publish fact sheets-shorter, friendlier versions for financial and other company information. In Verizon's recent Fact Sheet, the company puts its message clearly up front: A clear purpose. A new identity. Verizon mentions the recent AOL acquisition, but it's too soon to include the bid for Yahoo. 
The company is clearly proud of its girth: big numbers are listed throughout the two pages. However, we have little context for the data. For example, $308 million was spent on training and development. Who benefited, and how was that money shared throughout the organization? Did senior managers attend executive MBA programs? Or was it spent on basic skills required for the company instead of developing more transferable skills? How does that compare to training investment at similar firms, etc.?
Discussion Starters:
- Looking at the Fact Sheet, what other questions do you have about the data?
- Graphically, the two pages are very simple. Why do you think Verizon made this choice? What are the alternatives? Research other companies to explore other designs.
Student's Blog Post Gets Attention
Suffolk University student Tiffany C. Martinez was accused of plagiarism, and she wrote a blog post that's gone viral. According to Martinez, her professor returned a paper to her in front of the classroom and said, "This is not your language." She then reviewed her comments.
"Hence" was one example circled in the paper, and Martinez said her professor wrote on the paper, "Please go back and indicate where you cut and paste."
In a blog post titled, "Academic, Love Me Back," Martinez explained what happened and the impact on her. Here is an excerpt:
At eight o'clock this morning, I felt both disrespected and invalidated. For years I have spent ample time dissecting the internalized racism that causes me to doubt myself, my abilities, and my aspirations. As a student in an institution extremely populated with high-income white counterparts, I have felt the bitter taste of not belonging. It took until I used my cloud of doubt and my sociological training to realize that my insecurities are rooted in the systems I navigate every day. I am just as capable if not more so than those around me and my accomplishments are earned.
The acting president and provost wrote a letter to the university community, promising an investigation.
Discussion Starters:
- Read more of Martinez's account in her blog post. How would you describe her point of view?
- What's your view of the university's letter to the community?
- What response do you think the professor may have? How, if at all, can he or she explain her actions?
Does Comey Regret His Decision?
FBI Director James B. Comey made headlines today for reporting new allegations against Hillary Clinton because of, you guessed it, her use of email. This time, new emails have been discovered in connection with Anthony Weiner, the former NY congressman who was caught "sexting." His ex-wife is Huma Abedin, a Clinton aide.
Comey apparently went public with the news, in the form of a letter to Congress, without any specifics, with no decision to bring charges, and despite warnings from the Department of Justice. Soon after Comey went public, he issued this email to FBI employees, perhaps indicating his ambivalence about the release.
To all:
This morning I sent a letter to Congress in connection with the Secretary Clinton email investigation. Yesterday, the investigative team briefed me on their recommendation with respect to seeking access to emails that have recently been found in an unrelated case. Because those emails appear to be pertinent to our investigation, I agreed that we should take appropriate steps to obtain and review them.
Of course, we don't ordinarily tell Congress about ongoing investigations, but here I feel an obligation to do so given that I testified repeatedly in recent months that our investigation was completed. I also think it would be misleading to the American people were we not to supplement the record. At the same time, however, given that we don't know the significance of this newly discovered collection of emails, I don't want to create a misleading impression. In trying to strike that balance, in a brief letter and in the middle of an election season, there is significant risk of being misunderstood, but I wanted you to hear directly from me about it.
Jim
Clinton's approach to the news is to go on the attack, criticizing Comey's decision as "unprecedented" and "deeply troubling."
Discussion Starters:
- Did Comey make the right decision? Why or why not? Is this just a distraction from the election, which is just 10 days away, or is this essential to Americans' decision?
- Will Hillary ever live down this issue? If she becomes president, what is the best way for her to handle the situation?
Layoffs at Twitter
Twitter is laying off about 9% of employees and closing Vine, the short video app it purchased in October 2012 before it launched. When Instagram offered video options, Vine immediately lost much of its user base. About 350 employees are affected.
Layoffs are awkward for Twitter, a site sometimes used for "live tweeting" bad news. In this case, a former employee created a Twitter Moment, "Last Day at Twitter." Exiting employees also used the hashtag #TwitterLayoffs. This could be risky for a company, but the posts are positive. It could be that employees enjoyed their time at Twitter and understand the rationale for layoffs. It could also be that employees are in high demand from other companies, so they won't be out of work too long.
Discussion Starters:
- Why do you think employees tweeted nice messages on their last day? I offered two theories. Any other ideas?
- Should the company have created its own hashtag for the event to pre-empt something worse? Why or why not?
Giving Feedback to Someone Who Doesn't React Well
A new Harvard Business Review article offers tips for giving feedback to "people who cry, yell, or get defensive." No one likes to be on the receiving end of that behavior, but most managers will be at some point.
The author certainly doesn't suggest shying away from the feedback, which may be some managers' tendency. Instead, she asks managers to remind themselves to focus on the value of the feedback to the employee. Presumably the feedback will be useful to the employee's career. Being prepared also helps, as can staying calm in the moment and stopping the meeting to continue another time if things get too tense.
For emotional people, you might hold meetings at the end of the day and offer tissues. But hold your ground. If someone is yelling, you have every right to address it. The author suggests the following:
- "I need to have a conversation with you. I need you to lower your voice."
- "I need you to take a deep breath or we will have to reschedule this. This is not constructive."
More good advice in the article is for managers to, separately, address the employee's reaction, for example, "I notice every time we sit down to discuss feedback, you get [upset, angry, defensive]. I have your best interests at heart. What can I do to help you receive feedback with more openness? And here's what I need in these interactions."
Emotions in the workplace aren't necessarily bad, and they are inevitable. Dealing with them in a humane, professional way may help build trust in an otherwise shaky relationship.
Discussion Starters:
- Have you tried to give feedback to someone who gets emotional? What strategies worked for you?
- Have you been emotional when on the receiving end of feedback? What would help you maintain your composure?
- The image is from an article about positive anger in the workplace. What's your view of the researcher's perspective?
AT&T Defends Time Warner Deal
AT&T is planning to acquire Time Warner, and it's already facing skepticism. Critics say the deal will increase prices and reduce consumer choice. But AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson argues that they are trying to reduce prices, increase quality content, and increase innovation, for example, by creating new ad models. He promises to be a "head-to-head, nationwide competitor with the cable ecosystem."
In a press release, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes' quote starts with enthusiasm about shareholders: "This is a great day for Time Warner and its shareholders." He goes on to discuss innovation:
"This is a natural fit between two companies with great legacies of innovation that have shaped the modern media and communications landscape, and my senior management team and I are looking forward to working closely with Randall and our new colleagues as we begin to capture the tremendous opportunities this creates to make our content even more powerful, engaging and valuable for global audiences."
Whether the deal would stifle competition concerns both Republicans and Democrats. Donald Trump said, "As an example of the power structure I'm fighting, AT&T is buying Time Warner and thus CNN, a deal we will not approve in my administration because it's too much concentration of power in the hands of too few." And Bernie Sanders tweeted, "The administration should kill the Time Warner/AT&T merger. This deal would mean higher prices and fewer choices for the American people."
Discussion Starters:
- How well did the AT&T CEO address concerns about the acquisition? What principles of persuasion did he use in the interview?
- Read Time Warner's press release. How consistently are the two companies speaking about the deal?
- What's your view? Do you think the acquisition would be bad for consumers as some people fear?
Wells Fargo Failing Damage Control
Wells Fargo has been embroiled in a scandal for weeks and is finally communicating directly with customers. In an email, the company didn't quite apologize, but it did acknowledge mistakes. An FAQ on the company's website says little more.
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The message may be too little, too late. Oddly, the email was sent within a day of CEO John Stumpf's resignation, but we see no mention of leadership changes. This may be a missed opportunity. In addition, these types of messages typically take a more personal approach: we would expect to see a signature at the bottom-an indication of someone taking responsibility for making things better, as the company promises. In addition, Wells Fargo has taken out full-page newspaper ads with the same four points as in the customer email.
In the meantime, the news is getting worse. More employees are coming forward saying they had complained about company practices but were ignored. Employees report extreme pressure to sell, and more news is surfacing about which customers were targeted, for example, immigrants with little English and older people.
A New Republic article, "Corporations Ignore Whistleblowers at Their Peril," includes the subtitle, "Wells Fargo could have saved itself some trouble by listening to employees." Employees report worse than being ignored: they suffered retaliation.
Discussion Starters:
- Assess the email to customers. How could the message be improved?
- What hope do you see for Wells Fargo? If you were the new CEO, what would you do now?
"Top Skills" According to LinkedIn Analysis
LinkedIn analyzed recruiting activity on the site in 2016 and identified the top 10 skills employers want. A more accurate heading may be skills for which employers search. Not surprisingly, all are technology related.
I'm glad to see Data Presentation make the list; it's a core skill in our Management Communication classes at Cornell. LinkedIn's commentary expresses companies' growing interest well:
Show me, don't tell me: For the first time ever, data presentation, which is visualizing data, makes the list with the #8 spot. With statistical analysis and data mining holding strong again this year at #2, employers need employees who can organize data so it's easy for people to understand.
In addition to the overall number, LinkedIn identifies skills by country, and we seem interesting differences. A few non-technical skills emerge when we drill down:
- HR Benefits and Compensation (Australia, Brazil, UK)
- Corporate Law and Governance (Australia, France, Singapore, UAE)
- Business Development and Relationship Management (Brazil)
- Public Policy and International Relations (China, India, South Africa, UAE)
- Social Media Marketing (China)
- Business Intelligence (China)
- SEO/SEM Marketing (France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Singapore, UAE, UK)
- Compliance and Employment Law (France)
- Marketing Campaign Management (France, Ireland, Singapore)
- Retail Store Operations (Germany)
- Channel Marketing (Germany)
- PR and Communications (India)
- Economics (India)
- Recruiting (Ireland, Netherlands)
- Foreign Language Translation (Singapore)
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy (UAE)
- Mining and Commodities (UAE)
Of course, many of these involve technology, but they are not as tech heavy as, say, algorithm design.
LinkedIn's analysis also indicates, "Demand for marketing skills is slowing because the supply of people with marketing skills has caught up with employers' demand for people with marketing skills."
Discussion Starters:
- What, if anything, surprises you about these lists? Consider the source: LinkedIn. Could some of the data be skewed?
- Looking at the list of non-technical skills, what conclusions do you draw about business and about supply and demand in those countries?
NFL's Image Problem
The NFL's image is further damaged by a New York Times article today titled, "N.F.L. Shows It Doesn't Really Care About Domestic Violence." The piece starts by highlighting declining viewership, for which the league blames the current election. Certainly, people are sensitized to sexual assault incidents, but the NFL isn't helping itself:
"Yet again, in the case of Giants kicker Josh Brown, the league has shown that it could not care less about women and really, really doesn't want to call out its players for doing bad things to them."
Tough words. But the Times explains that Brown "was charged with assaulting his wife" "more than two dozen times." After investigating the case for 10 months, the NFL decided to suspend Brown for only one game.
The Times also said the league blamed the victim: "Brown's wife had failed to cooperate, the league said, and that's why its investigators couldn't get to the bottom of what he had done."
People are voicing their dismay on Twitter, with the second tweet here retweeted almost 2,000 times.
Discussion Starters:
- What's your view of the Times' headline: overstated, unfair, spot-on, or something else?
- To what extent do you think these assault issues are causing declining viewership?
- What should the NFL do to restore its image?