This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Consequences of Virtual Meetings

The Herman Trend Alert September 10, 2008 Out of Doors---Finding our Element Recently, a poll was conducted by the new "Open Air" Magazine regarding our preferences for being outside, activities we prefer, and with whom we prefer to do them. Some of the data are expected. Other data reflect surprising answers. First, United States residents look to the out-of-doors for exercise. When answering the question, "If you were participating in an outdoor recreational activity, what would you look forward to the most, nearly 40 percent of us chose "Exercise" as our answer (over Companionship", "to forget about work", Solitude", and "Inspiration"). When asked where these US respondents would rather spend their "most cherished" weekend time, the answer was overwhelmingly "Outdoors" (48 percent). Coming in second and third were "At church" and "In the kitchen" (18.6 percent and 13.6 percent respectively). In the US we also look to being outdoors for a change to relax and renew. The question was asked: "If you had a chance to spend a month alone in a cabin in the woods, what would you most hope to come away with?" These responses not surprisingly showed 36.4 percent answered "being rested and recharged", while 24.4 percent said "a greater appreciation of family/loved ones" and 20.6 percent chose "a greater sense of God". The most telling set of answers came to the question: "Would you rather play golf with....?" Only 3.7 percent of the respondents indicated that they preferred their bosses. The respondents were twice as enthusiastic about playing golf with "a total stranger". Around the world, bosses are generally not the people we prefer to play with. One question asked what would you liked to be snowed-in with at a cabin for a month. The results were as follows: 32.9 percent, "A Bible"; 24.1 percent, "A picture of your family"; and only 20.8 percents answered "their pet/dog". These data reflect a growing interest in spending time out-of-doors and an understanding of the value of exercise. We view contemplative solitude as a chance to make ourselves better people and prefer golfing with friends and family over a chance to impress the boss. As a population, we seem to be fairly health-conscious. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RETENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAM A growing number of people have expressed an interest in attending our Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program. We'd like to schedule on that's convenient for those who want to attend, but need your feedback to do so. Please place RETENTION SPECIALIST in the subject line and Joyce will personally call you back to schedule the workshop. Or you can call Joyce directly at 336-210-3548 (PDT this and next week). BUSINESS IS PICKING UP Most employers are unprepared. The recovery will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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