Click here to listen to the podcast.

In today's business podcast, we will discuss more about the future of work and business with Anna Farmery of The Engaging Brand.

It's great to get to discuss things with someone who has the same love for business, only from a corporate angle. The same information works for both of us, but for different reasons. Anna works mainly with people in corporations who want to keep their employees. I, of course, just want to brainstorm about how to make any and everything better!

What exactly is the future of work?

As Anna asked, does that infer that in the future, there will no longer be any work? We talk about how work and business have been redefined as the separation between global economies has disappeared, thanks to technology. The 9-5 Factory model no longer applies to economies that depend upon partnerships with people in vastly differing time zones.

You need people working around the clock to take care of international customers and timelines.

This means allowing people the flexibility to work at different times and places than have traditionally been accepted. Let them work from home or a "quiet zone", let them work odd hours and give them the freedom to choose when and where they will work best (given boundaries, instead of rules, as Anna so aptly put it).

Businesses also need to realize that the motivation for employees to work is normally more than financial.

I was once actually told, "You are not here to think, you are here to do whatever I tell you to do!". Yes, morons like that unfortunately DO exist in middle management - which is why I work for myself now. (smile). If you want to totally rip any and all motivation from an employee, tell them they don't have the right to be creative, or think for themselves, or have any input to solutions. Also, make sure they have no responsibility for anything important, and if they do something well, don't give them any credit.

The best employers remember that the employees want to have a life, with work being a rewarding part of it.

As Anna shared, there needs to be a LIFE/work balance, with the emphasis on LIFE. At different stages of an employee's life, they will have different needs and priorities. A divorce will mean one set of needs, a new marriage or the birth of a child, another set of needs. Staying in tune with the employee's needs is the key. I think this also applies to our associates and our clients - respect where they are at this point in their life and meet the needs they presently have.

Just a reminder to join Anna Farmery as she presents a great seminar about everything she did wrong podcasting over the past 2 years. (smile)

Anna will be one of our seminar leaders at the Online International Podcasting Expo. Join us on Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, 2007 for 35+ sessions, plus freebies galore. I hope to see you there!

Penny Haynes, 1st Podcast Publishing

---

Sallie Goetsch's link to a brainstorming website!

---

Links to my Future of Business brainstorms:
http://quikonnex.com/channel/item/18594
http://quikonnex.com/channel/item/19330