Careers Panel advice for Legal Executive Journal

This month the careers panel looks at the impact that suing a former employer can have on your future prospects, and whether it is OK to be happy as you are and not want a promotion.

• I am seriously considering suing my former firm for unfair dismissal, and my lawyer says I have a good chance of winning. However, even if I do win (and especially if I don't), will this mark me out as trouble and make it harder to get another job?
• I have a job I like, with a work/life balance I am happy with, and a perfectly good salary. I have been in my role for some time and my boss is pushing me to take the necessary steps for promotion. I'm not sure I want the extra stress, work and responsibility, but is it OK not to want promotion? I don't want to be seen as deadwood.

The members of the panel have a broad range of background and experience and includes Trafalgar Director, Patricia Wheatley Burt.

How to open a bottle of wine with a shoe

For a bit of fun, and in the spirit of innovative thinking watch 'How to open a bottle of wine with a shoe' video below for inspiration!

Hows this for customer service?

As some of you may already know, my daughter has just given birth in Singapore and I will be out of the office for a few weeks whilst visiting her, along with various Singaporean Managing Partners to continue researching my book on leadership in law firms, and gain a global perspective.

After almost 2 weeks past the due date, her lovely baby boy has just arrived. I just wanted to share with you the hilarious 'package' offered to mums-to-be in Singapore, as I think this is a great lesson in Customer Service.

If you are giving birth in Singapore you must choose to have to have 'the package'. This is cheaper than having 1 night in the hospital, and for 2 days and 3 nights (and probably a lot of pain and drugs too) you get hot & cold running nurses, a baby, a candlelit dinner for 2, a 50 min massage, baby clothes, blankets and a limo to take you all home! Now how's about that for client service - hospital or hotel?

Winning in a Downturn – Tactics to Survive and Thrive in Turbulent Times

Extract from Rohit Talwar, CEO Fast Future The Winning in a Downturn
Research Programme

Our current research on Winning in a Downturn focuses on understanding what organisations of every size are doing to survive the current turbulence and secure the future. We have summarised twenty of the critical ideas which we find most compelling and most readily actionable by any organisation.

Number 6: Invest in your people

Investing in your people will pay dividends in terms of morale and the positive impact on customers. Demotivated staff don’t generally perform well or deliver good service. Low cost training options include e-learning, accelerated learning solutions, secondments, job swaps, inviting in guest speakers from the industry and promoting involvement in physical and virtual social networks. Encouraging staff participation in volunteering programmes for good causes can bring massive motivational benefits.

See Rohit's Website www.fastfuture.com