Siam Thai

It looks as if the Post Office are gearing up for another dispute. If we have interpreted the signs properly this will mean maximum disruption over Christmas.

In the past we have been as ready as anyone to blame the militancy of the workers for precipitating these disputes but we have recently become aware that the militancy of Post Office workers is not something that they are born with. Their militancy is the last resort of a workforce desperate to maintain the service they were employed to provide for the public in the face of increasingly destructive interference from management.

We came across an article last month which said that “Postal workers are opposed to the ways in which management is introducing changes to working practices.” This makes it sound as if there is some kind of philosophical debate going on between management and the workforce. In fact the opposite is true. The conditions that are creating the current dispute are exactly the same as those that created the last three disputes and the Post Office Management have learned nothing from any of them.

In the Post Office the people who know how to deliver the service, like most businesses, are the people who do the work, the Drivers, the Sorters and the Postmen. Successive generations of managers arrive at the Post Office and make their mark by making changes to the management systems that were put in place by the previous management. Except that it is not those management systems that control the way that mail is delivered.

After each dispute, caused by management trying to implement unworkable systems without reference to the workforce, the unworkable systems are amended by the workforce who gradually find ways of working around them so that they can continue to make deliveries despite what they see as the best efforts of management to stop them.

Sydney happens to be the most urbanized part of Australia. As it was noted to be the state capital of the New South Wales, it also is the largest and most inhabited city in Australia. It houses the Sydney opera house in the northeastern part, the Sydney town hall in the south, and the sky tower in the center. But we all know that Sydney is known as the home of fish and chips, the Ferries, Kylie Minogue, and that dentist from Nemo. Now, what to do when in Sydney? There’s a lot actually.

Let’s start with the sky tower. The sky tower is actually known in Australia as the AMP Tower or the AMP Centrepoint. Its construction started in the 70′s and completed in 1981. As a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, it is fitting and proper that they have allocated a viewing deck in order to see a bird’s eye view of the city among the clouds. Standing at 164 feet, the main observation deck houses 18 binoculars to get a 360 degree-view of Sydney. You’ll be able to see Sydney Harbour Bridge, Botany Bay, the Blue Mountains, and yes, include in the list the Pacific Ocean. Amazing, isn’t it?

Include an Oz-trek adventure to complete your adventurous spirit. The breathtaking view for the tower creates a relaxing aura amidst the laid-back country like Australia even in its busiest city. The Oz-trek adventure associated with your view at the tower is a virtual-reality ride across Australia where you’ll be welcomed with its history and culture. Experience Australia with surround sound in a 180-degree cinema screen and heart pounding real motion seating and you’ll live through 4D movies alternate reality. You’ll be able to appreciate more of Australia with this adventure. You’ll be able to go into a trance-inducing ride as you navigate the country virtually.

A career builder is anything that can put an individual on the track to vocational success. Whether it’s education, seminars, job skill training or the like, these things help a professional achieve their goal of prestige, job satisfaction and higher earning power. Simply walking into a position that is attractive and provides all the sought after benefits is rare. The one with the great job is the individual that takes one career builder after another and assembles them into a slick package. Employers can’t help but take notice of those who put an extra effort into securing their own future.

A career builder boosts and enhances job performance. Taking a light course in effective communication can be a great career builder for those who work with the public on a daily basis. This gives the learner an acquired skill that others may not have, making them more effective in the workplace. It looks attractive on a resume and denotes a willingness to expand one’s horizons. It is not just the workplace that is competitive anymore; simply getting an interview for a job in some areas can be somewhat ruthless. When it comes to standing out in a crowd, presenting a highly polished package of skills is always a best bet.

Many love their jobs and want to push their career forward but are not sure just how to go about getting it done. This is where the advice of a career counselor can come in handy. Not only can they help map out a long term career plan, a counselor can point out what type of career builder an individual needs in order to push their career forward. Depending how far one wants to go, this can mean anything from getting a degree and specializing in a certain field to simply training for a new position. The best part is, it is up to the individual to choose how far they want to go and how fast they want to get there.

When I first heard the word ‘mindset’ I cringed slightly. I tend to like ‘proper’ use of English words and grammar. I’m uncomfortable with the practice of adapting nouns into verbs – such as ‘gifting’ instead of ‘giving a gift’ – and I think it’s a bit sad that with the wealth of vocabulary available to us we’re constantly inventing new words to sum up the meaning of several. I suppose it speeds up communication and makes it easier to send text messages! ‘Mindset’ is a good example of this. To me it’s shorthand for ‘values, beliefs, thought processes, attitude and emotional state’ so I have eventually accepted it as a useful addition to my repertoire.

Why does mindset matter? I think the case for monitoring your mindset is perfectly summed up in the well-known quote from Henry Ford:

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.”

When you know that you can do something, when you know you can succeed, the motivation to do it is so much greater than when you’re faced with a task you know you can’t do, or can’t deliver results with. That’s one reason why mindset is important.

There are others:

If your mindset is one of anticipating problems and difficulties, then you can waste a lot of time worrying about things that will probably never happen. (I realise that some people get paid to do that, but if risk management isn’t your job then I recommend you leave it to the professionals!)

If your mindset is one of blind optimism you may be in danger of inadequate planning or ignoring vital feedback.

If your mindset includes lack of confidence in the value of what you’re doing, you’ll probably do it less well than if you believe you’re contributing something worthwhile.