11Oct

Africa: when artificial intelligence gets the business world excited

Artififial intelligente has found the way to our everyday life and got quite comfortable in doing so. It’s an amazing reality. The future of the planet revolves around artificial intelligence. “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”,said Vladimir Putine the President of Russia.

In the working world, some are a bit scared of it, while others, in the other hand, do see some potential in it. Artificial intelligence has changed all the habits in Africa. In that side of the world, more and more young people have taken upon themselves to take advantage of everything that artificial intelligence has to offer. For that reason, some kind of excitement happened in the “Black” continent over the rise of artificial intelligence especially in the entrepreneur field.

Artificial intelligence is made of a set of functions that the computer can execute better than the actual human brain or the human intelligence. The same is true for the analysis of massive amounts of data for example to proceed risk assessment. AI makes the machine learn about those mass data on its own and self improve.

With the huge potential that AI offers, Africa surely plans on relying on it to be on the same level as the rest of the world, because there are more and more investments made in that sector. From the health field, the education field to the environment field, mainstream AI based apps are very popular considering the fact that the smartphone business is booming in Africa.

In fact, according to Koundi a Deloitte Africa associate, the number of machines which are by the way around 350 millions, should double by year 2020 in Africa. Prices dropped from 80 dollars to 30 in less than two years, thanks to the launch of machines specifically made for Africa.

With this in mind, Betelhem Dessie was able to mention that AI could be the lever that allow the African continent to rise to the top next to the Northern countries. It would be, in other words, some kind of fast track to development that will make people forget that Africa has missed out on the first two revolutions, the industrial one and the post-industrial one.

Africa has considerably felt the impact of AI in the job market just like any other region in the planet. Today, despite the numerous advantages AI has to offer, there is a risk that a lot of jobs will disappear in Africa. This is, in fact, one of the main concerns that critics have toward this revolutionary trend. Despite the fear it might have brought, AI has been well received in the “black” continent.

It is safe to admit that the way young African entrepreneur have been getting excited over it goes to show that Africa does plan on relying on AI to secure an economic take-off.

You can also read Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

09Oct

Professional relationships: how to handle a difficult colleague?

Les relations professionnelles ne sont pas toujours cordiales, comme toute autre relation. La plupart du temps, la vie au travail nous obligera à travailler avec des collègues difficiles à gérer. Qu’ils soient collègues ou employeurs, les personnes difficiles dans une entreprise peuvent avoir un impact négatif sur votre humeur. Si vous contrôlez la bonne attitude à adopter, ils peuvent faire de votre vie un enfer. Il est épuisant de les traiter émotionnellement, mentalement et physiquement à moins de connaître le jeu auquel ils jouent. Malheureusement, vous trouvez ces types de personnes dans toutes les catégories de travail, des petites entreprises aux PME en passant par les grandes entreprises. Mais comment traitons-nous avec eux? Découvrons-le!

Préparez votre retour

Un collègue difficile trouvera du plaisir à provoquer chez vous une attitude défensive, fâchée, effrayée ou même triste. Son but ultime est de vous briser afin de contrôler vos émotions. Ne lui donnez pas ce pouvoir parce que c’est à vous de le laisser gagner ou de l’arrêter tout de suite. Même la plus petite expression sur une émotion le laissera penser qu’il a le contrôle sur vous. Pour éviter que vous deviez préparer votre retour et surveiller vos arrières. Ayez 2 ou 3 phrases en tête que vous pourriez utiliser lorsque vous sentez que des attaques malveillantes vous arrivent. Vous allez le mettre en échec.

Choisissez de rester calme au lieu de vous mettre en colère

La plupart des personnes difficiles se nourrissent des explosions de colère de leurs victimes. Ils auront le sentiment d’avoir gagné à la minute qui leur est réservée quelque chose qui montre l’état émotionnel de la victime. C’est la raison pour laquelle vous ne devriez jamais casser sous la pression, peu importe ce qui se passe. Lorsque vous êtes avec lui, soyez sur lui. Pour ce faire, vous devez être capable de gérer votre propre colère avant de lui parler. Dans tous les cas, ne vous inquiétez pas et répondez calmement. Il va se perdre …

Ne vous sentez jamais coupable d’une personne difficile

Certaines personnes difficiles à manipuler sont si douées pour vous faire sentir coupable de quelque chose qu’elles ont fait. Ne tombez jamais dans ce piège parce que vous n’êtes pas le problème. Vous êtes la victime en fait. Malheureusement, si vous ne l’obtenez pas, vous pourriez parfois vous sentir coupable. Il est également important que vous vous souveniez que vous êtes manipulé pour vous faire du tort sur vous-même.

Vous pouvez également lire Culture d’entreprise: un défi majeur dans le processus de recrutement

07Oct

Corporate culture in Africa: A major challenge in the recruitment process

All companies no matter how they are demand for their partners concerned to agree on a minimum set of rules and values. The same applies for the professional relationships. It is actually taken very seriously in that department. This reality makes the recruiter takes into consideration the corporate culture of his company when he is doing his hiring. In other words, in the process of hiring qualified people, he will have to make sure that those people will be able to adjust to the values of the company. What it means is that the corporate culture is now a legitimate part of the hiring process.

It could be difficult to give a simple definition of corporate culture because the term is very large. We can however say that it is linked to all aspects of the company, whether in a formal or non formal way, to its traditions as well as its inside dynamic that has been implemented throughout the years.

Corporate culture is not limited to a simple theorical concept with no real impact on the company’s functioning and organization. The least we can say is that it plays a central part in the recruiting process, both for the company and the candidate.

Some studies were able to show that hiring candidates in line with the corporate culture reduced turnover by 30%. It naturally implies that hiring candidates that don’t share the same values as the company could have a negative impact on its productivity.

In a more general way, corporate culture is a mix of different elements. The more noticeable ones being the dress code and the interpersonal relationship between co-workers. The work environment also represents a major part of the corporate culture depending on whether the employees are working in an open space or in enclosed offices.

Other elements are less noticeable like the work atmosphere, the managing style, or the interpersonal relationship in the company. The corporate culture is not the same if employees say hi by giving each other hand shakes or kisses.

What ever the case is, it is obvious that an employee who is in a culture that fits him feels more comfortable and has a better chance of having a long lasting collaboration with his employer.

In the other hand, a candidate coming in a company he doesn’t share the same values with will have a hard time feeling happy and adjusting. He will not have the type of behavior he is expected to have. Therefore, it would be difficult for that person to feel like he belongs. In short, there is a good chance that he will go somewhere else.

You can also read Companies, train your employees for the jobs of the future

03Oct

Companies, train your employees for the jobs of the future

Technology innovations have yet to turn the professional world upside down. The changes that they are bringing are forcing workers to get out of their comfort zone and throw themselves in the fast growing job market of the future. It is even more true knowing that a study made by World Economic Forum revealed that 65% of the children who have started elementary school this last years will do jobs that don’t exist yet. Therefore technology innovations will result in the creation of new jobs. One should be prepared to not miss the progress of the world. It is essential for companies to get their employees ready for tomorrow’s jobs. For that to happen,one has to think about a new way of training.

Train your employees to become thristy for knowledge and go-getters

Training your employees to jobs that don’t exist just yet is a hard task to handle. It is necessary to have them ready to open up to new skills. The main goal of the employer will be to boost the curiosity of its employees by training them into people who are thirsty for knowledge and go-getters. Naturally,this new approach is totally different from the classic training concept based on the short term, for the simple fact that the speed evolution of jobs in the companies makes it impossible not to have planned trainings in the future. You must make your employees want to acquire some knowledge.

Prepare your employees to consider a career change in a peaceful manner

It is a knowed factor that technology innovations will result in creating new jobs, however on the downside some professions will also have to disappear because of the digital era. The employees will have to get use to that new reality and acquire new techniques that will allow them to quickly retrain in new jobs. A worker will now be able to go from one profession to the other all through his professional life and acquire new skills. It is in the companies’ best interest to keep the employability of their employees in the years to come in order to set themselves aside eom the bunch.

Make it easier for employees to have access to training

Training employees have always been something necessary for companies to do but sometimes it tend to be underestimated or ignored by employees who are more interested in making profits. Today, the way things are going, getting training for the jobs of the future is becoming a viability for the company. It is necessary to look training differently and make it more accessible. The companies will have to handle the school education now. Training should not be viewed as an obstacle. It is something that has to be the company’s own decision to prepare the employees.

You can also read How to become a successful negociater as a salesman ?

25Sep

How to become a successful negociater as a salesman ?

Having salesmen with great negociation skills is a recipe for success for a company. The art of negociaion is not limited to the world of sales only actually. It touches all parts of life, from the life of a couple, a life of politics, to a life in business or even a family life. Nowadays, the fact that they are plenty of training courses aiming at maximizing the chances of being a good negotiator in terms of business, is proof of how important it is especially for a salesman for who it represents a good deal. For salesmen in deed, having a successful negociation means managing to establish a long lasting relationship with the clients and the partners. It is therefore crucial for the salesman to be on top of the game when it comes to negociation so he can fully understand it and find ways to improve the skills in that department.

Good negociation comes with good preparation

The first thing you need to know is that as a salesman, it is essential to be rightfully prepared before you start a process of negociation. To do so you will need specific coaching and management from salesmen managers. This would mean for a salesman who cares about being the best at négociations, to be fully prepared and know the product perfectly, the market and the needs of potential clients. The preparation requires a certain analytical mind, an intellectual curiosity, reasoning skills especially when the negotiations are about a specific subject.

Knowing how to improve and develop your emotional intelligence

As a part of the soft skills intelligence, emotional intelligence is something very important especially in negotiation. Emotional intelligence comes with control of yourself and your emotions in order to handle negotiations in the best conditions. This quality comes handy in situations where you find it hard to close a deal with a client. Self-confidence and empathy are more than needed in that type of situation. The best negotiators are the ones with the best emotional intelligence. It can be improved by getting coaches that will give you training and specific advices. Also, determination and a strong will to persuade are very important qualities that facilitators look for.It does not mean that salesman who don’t have those qualities are not good negociators. It is never too late to overcome our own weakness by planing specific tactics to do so.

You can also read Ways to successfully and truthfully explain gaps in your CV during an interview ?

17Sep

Ways to successfully and truthfully explain gaps in your CV during an interview ?

It is common for a professional to notice in the CV of the candidate, what we usually call a « gap » in the career path of the latter, during the process of a job interview. Beyond a pure conjecture this embarrassing situation that appear as inconsistency in the career, whether it is true or not, is actually quite common. It does ring a bell especially knowing that majority of people have had that happened at least once in their lives. A gap in employment can be due to many factors. It could be due to a maternity leave. Or again to a personal project like trying to start a business for example. Finally, it could be the result of a contract breach that both parties agreed on and that led to a year leave. Either way, whatever the nature is, a gap in employment is always something that requires some logical explanation unless you want to fail the interview. But how exactly do you go around it without making a mistake? We will try to give an answer to that question in the following paragraphs.

Justifying a gap in your CV by making a coherent plan ?

First thing first, one of the smartest techniques used to explain a gap in your CV is by setting up a coherent plan that would fit with you career path or working experiences. It is crucial because you can be sure that the recruiter will not take lightly the words you choose to justify the gap in your CV. It is obviously a determining factor in the profile of the future employee.

Avoid lying to explain a gap in your CV by all means.

Because they want their interview to be successful some people are tempted to systematically lie to justify an existing gap in their CV. That type of behavior that consists of lying to justify in bad faith those times of inactivities or to change the dates of employments can end up having the opposite effect because if they find out about it, the candidate will lose any chance of having a successful interview. This is why it is very important to be honest when you are trying to explain a gap in the CV. Also, whatever the reason why your career was interrupted at some point of your life, be brief about your personal life. It really is the number one rule.

Use your cover letter to be ahead on the justifications

Contrary to popular misconceptions, a gap in the CV does not mean that you will not have a successful interview. Your cover letter can come handy when trying to anticipate on the questions you will probably get at the interview. It can help overcoming any concern the employer might have. Be honest no matter what and have a persuasive presentation. Make the person you’re speaking to know that what you were doing during your time of inactivity is not the proof of an incoherent behavior but rather the proof of an existing sense of initiative and determination. Taking this type of approach will help you gain some points and convince the employer that you are the best candidate for that position…Making an obstacle turn into an advantage will therefore show how good of a master mind you are.

You can also read Occupational burnout, an unknown disorder in Africa

13Sep

Occupational burnout, an unknown disorder in Africa

Burnout or work related exhaustion is not just just a theory anymore considering the fact that we live in an era where more and more companies are looking for results and benefits. Now more than ever, society is speeding up rapidly. Because of that, those involved in the working world will need to show a remarkable capacity to adapt to any work situation. Burnout prevention is therefore necessary because it would allow workers to speed up their performances and boost their creativity. This issue is merely known in Africa. It is rare indeed to find companies that care about this important part of the life of a worker and want to prevent any type of suffering and mental harm in the workplace. Yet there are many tools and protocols that allow to do that. But what are actually the causes of a burnout and what are the signs?

What are the causes of a Burnout in Africa?

Although merely known in Africa, we can describe this disorder called burnout as a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion characterized by the disengagement of a person toward his job. The risk of having a burnout or work related exhaustion is real for everybody with a job that requires a deep professional commitment. That is the reason why the first signs of burnout have been noticed in the nursing profession. Workplace exhaustion is so serious that it is ranked 2nd among the work-related issues . A burnout occurs when the worker has the feeling that there is a gap between his expectations, the way he sees his job and what the job actually is in reality. It is home to a constant and unbearable stress. Burnout is not classified as a mental health condition. It is a mix of multiple syndromes resulting from a damaged relationship with one’s job.

What are the signs of a Burnout?

The first sign of a burnout is an emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. The individual will feel extreme fatigue that will not be relieved even with the usual resting hours. As a consequence he will not be productive, and will not be able to do his job properly. In other words, occupational exhaustion will lead to disengagement toward one’s job in addition to an impaired self worth, a decline in one’s feeling of successful accomplishment of one’s work, a feeling of ineffectiveness. There are many people working in companies in Africa who are suffering from that disorder without it generating any type of interest from those involved in the working world.

You can also read Well-being in the workplace: Where do we stand in Africa ?

11Sep

Well-being in the workplace: Where do we stand in Africa?

Following the succession of suicides of some workers that shook France in 2007, the topic regarding quality of life in the workplace is not something that Management takes lightly anymore. People merely talked about it before but these dramatic event that occured, make them realise how well-being in the workplace plays a key role in motivating the worker. It is not a secret anymore that nothing great can happen if the worker is in a working environment where he is feeling down and is stressed out constantly. Actually, some companies have understood it very well. That is the reason why they put in place some mechanisms to encourage the well-being of their employees. The same is true for African companies. However it is sad to see that it underlines a deeper issue that doesn’t seem important. Many African companies have yet to find a way to deal with the matter effectively.

A wake of interest from the World Health Organization about the concept of well-being at the workplace.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is very much concerned with the issue of well-being at the workplace and gave an official definition to describe it. It is defined as “ A state of mind where there is a quite good balance between the skills, needs and aspirations of the worker and the pressure and opportunities at the workplace. Basically “well-being at the workplace”refers to all elements that could potentially have an impact on the working conditions of the employees. It includes security, hygiene of the premises, health protection of workers, the physical and mental effects of the tasks carried out, workplace ergonomics etc. According to the Administrator of Syntec and president of the consulting firm Stimulus, David Mahé who published a look out about stress at the workplace “there is 2 types of stimulation, one that gives meaning to what we do and another that is about duty. Being committed is about the meaning and the enjoyment.”Despise all that, in Africa, many companies struggle to adapt to that reality.

A theoretical approach of the issue of well-being at the workplace for many African companies

Officially in Africa, many companies talk about the interest they have on the well-being of their employees. However, if we pay more attention to it, we notice that there is a gap between the declarations of interest and the reality. Progress is not for pretend anymore. African companies really need to commit themselves to finding ways to improve the working conditions. It is about, putting the human being in the center of the values of the company for its own sake and for the sake of the co-workers.

You can also read Professional retraining in Africa

09Sep

Bien des travailleurs peu enclins à s’aventurer dans des horizons peu connus, ressentent une certaine frilosité à l’idée d’envisager une reconversion professionnelle.

Professional retraining in Africa

A good amount of the workers who are not really open to venture to unknown lands, feel a certain way about contemplating the idea of doing a professional retraining. Whether it is about being afraid to explore the unknown, to step out of their comfort zone or an instinctive search for professional security, professional retraining is not something very popular among workers in Africa and anywhere else in the world.

Change your career to take control of your life

A professional retraining consists of a change of career or work status but more than anything it is about taking your life under control which requires obviously to be someone rather audacious and able to go to the unknown. However, the number of people who are making radical changes in their career, not to mention those who are only talking about it, has risen up this last decade and it keeps growing. According to a study published by Opinion Way in 2016, on “professional retraining” 68% of active workers have considered seriously changing their life and 31% said that they did it at least one time already. Such a decision that is solely based on the desire to take one’s life in controle can’t happen without a change of environment or occupation.

Agriculture: the most popular field in Africa for workers undergoing a professional retraining

In Africa, the issue of migration in addition to a job market getting more and more overloaded make many workers turn to professional retraining. When it comes to investment, Africa still is the continent that offers the most possibilities for investors unlike Europe or the United States where almost all sectors have had some. That is the reason why people who are considering undergoing a professional retraining have plenty of areas to choose from to change their career. Agriculture happen to be a very profitable sector that offers many investment opportunities and job creations. Many professionals who are tired of their jobs or looking to have more independence in their professional lives are going into the agriculture business in Africa. That happen to be the case for the ex professional football player Ferdinand Coly who traded his football boots for a career in agriculture in his home country.

The obstacles that come with undergoing a professional retraining

Just like any adventure in life, a professional retraining is an exciting experience but yet stressful. In Africa, many workers that have the objective of going into a professional retraining sometimes have issues finding the appropriate training that meet with the criterion they have set. Another thing that make a professional retraining difficult in Africa is the funding of a professional activity. In many African countries, the Government have put in place many structures to fund those who want to engage in something or undergo a professional retraining. However they are yet to be efficient. Because of the sense of uncertainty that come with taking this type of decision and the issues mentioned earlier, many people would rather stay in the comfort of what they have instead of going to the unknown. Still, African professionals are being more and more aware of the fact that a change of career is an opportunity rather than an issue related to unemployment.

You can also read Team spirit development in a company: What solutions do the managers have?

05Sep

développement de l’esprit d’équipe dans une entreprise

Team spirit development in Africa

Like we always say unity is strength. This saying happens to be also true within work relationships where a smart collaboration between team workers is key to the success of any project of any kind. A joined interaction between workers constitutes the basis of a better performance and a good environment in the company. Unfortunately not all managers have the luxury to work with a united team capable of collaborating in perfect harmony.

Team work obstacles within the company?

According to a study conducted by Harris Interactive/Apec published in the Capital, 22% of employees say that they don’t like working in teams. A mismatch of personalities, not knowing the skills that the other people have, and the belief that keeping an information to ourself is an asset, are the main obstacles that keep workers from working with each other. However it does not give an excuse to the manager to not do anything to make workers add the sense of team spirit to their values. There are many existing solutions to encourage teamwork in a company.

Make a example out of you thanks to your attitude

If you want to encourage team spirit in your company, as a manager you need to make an example out of yourself. You need to be able to create direct connections with your employees to make it easier to have good communication within the company. Creating direct connections with your team workers means being open-minded so much that it would be contagious. You can, for example, make it easier to have access to your office by letting the door open for discussions to show that you are available and you are all ears. Try not to keep yourself away from your employees. Show yourself by walking down the office for example. You should also insert in your planing a weekly get together with your colleagues to give them an opportunity to talk about how they feel and what is bothering them. This approach will allow you to show your employees the positive result of the transmission of an information.

Set up interconnection tools

It’s not about the simple fact of telling your team workers about managing to create a good collaboration between them. Obviously, You will need to invest in technological means that will make it easier for employees to share with each others. It is therefore essential to set up tools and spaces for collaborative work. It will allow the employee to directly express his difficulties so he can get help from everybody.

Interconnection tools also allow for a team member to share a document he produced. The other members of the team will be able also to give their opinions and constructive criticism that would only help improving the performances. That way a genuine collaborative work would be set up.

Finally, if you want to boost the sense of teamwork with your coworkers, find a grading system based on the collective and not on the individual. It is more relevant knowing that the individual score does not really help the collaborative work. Hence, setting up collective criterion will highly encourage the team spirit.

Either way, you must keep in mind that the cultivation of the sense of team spirit in a company is not an easy task and is something that is done on a daily basis. It is a tremendous load of work.

You can also read How to negotiate salary?

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