CapabilityBuilder

13/02/2018

Our CEO, Steve Curry, just published a long form article on LinkedIn, all about the problem of accountability and the ways leaders can use accountability to build better cultures while supporting their people.

02/11/2017

Steve, our CEO, is on the panel of this exciting event, a partnership between Humanities21, the Disruptive Business Network, and Melbourne Museum.
Come along to this Oxford-style debate and decide if Empathy is an Impediment to Success!

Does having empathy make you successful? Or is it a hindrance, smothering logic with emotions? This debate will expose how empathy affects our work places, our policy-makers, and which charities we choose to support.

In this Oxford-style debate, the audience will decide whether the statement ‘empathy is an impediment to success’ is true or false. Bring your pre-conceived ideas and cast your vote as you enter, but don’t be surprised if your opinion has changed by the time our four speakers have shared their insights.

This event is presented in partnership with Disruptive Business Network and the Melbourne Museum.

Tickets are limited so book now! https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/humanities-21/

02/10/2017

"Half of all new managers fail. Half of any group of workers are considering quitting. Half of all millennial employees will quit within two years."
In the second part of our current series of articles: why half your employees may be thinking of leaving.

Right now half your staff are thinking about leaving. Why don’t people care about the internal career anymore, and what can you do about it? How to improve retention

19/09/2017

Some great insights into "two-factor" motivational theory. We like to think CapabilityBuilder drives positive motivation, but it's important to also look at those "hygiene factors".

What are the best ways to approach motivating people in the workplace and building capable teams?

08/09/2017

Here's some bold claims. Half of all new managers fail. Half of any group of workers are considering quitting. Half of all millennial employees will quit within two years.
We've started a series of articles to explain why organisations need to rethink their approach to managing people. First up, the plight of first time managers.

Up to half of all first time managers fail. Why does it happen, and how can you stop it?

01/09/2017

When we show off our unique people management software, experienced managers and people professionals always ask us "but what do you measure?"
Our usual answer is "we don't measure anything!"
Oddly enough, people often find this answer unsatisfactory.
KPIs are a terrible way to get great performance out of people. In fact they're a great way to get terrible performances. In our latest blog we show why our products don't let you rate people on their outputs, and shows why you win when you help your people win, by growing professionally and building great careers.
https://capabilitybuilder.com/2017/09/01/managing-without-performance-reviews/

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted” – William Bruce Cameron, sociologist

26/07/2017

An awesome program at BlueChilli putting female-led startups on the front foot. The amazing energy, intelligence and creativity displayed in these stories shows just how much the country loses when women are inexplicably missing out on funding.

We're changing the face of startups.
Join us as we follow the journeys our women entrepreneurs, work

13/07/2017

Our friends at Shiftiez have uncovered yet more evidence that investing in your people will deliver far more concrete results that lashing them to drive "productivity".

Economists carried out a number of experiments to test the idea that happy employees work harder. In the laboratory, they found happiness made...

06/07/2017

Inspire9 is coming to the Dream Factory! Finally, an excuse to go down and check it out. Creative and tech industries are coming to the inner West in a big way, joining existing food, brewing and arts businesses/collectives.

Part of 9Fest Change the world for the long-term while remaining sane? It's not too much to ask, is it? Come and learn from those who have walked this road before and kept their marbles while doing so!

06/07/2017

We just joined this year's Startup Muster. If you're connected in any way to the startup and tech world, help out. The more complete the information, the better the advocacy and support.

The larget survey of Australia's startup community is now open. Don't miss your chance to take part.

23/02/2017

Our latest blog is out. My take on the experience of attending and exhibiting at PauseFest, Melbourne's technology and new ideas festival.

CapabilityBuilder at PauseFest 2017. Taking a product to the public for the first time isn’t just a sales exercise, it’s a learning opportunity!

22/02/2017

Next month co-founder and CEO Steve Curry is speaking as part of Humanities21's public lecture series in Melbourne.
Crossroads of Civilisation explores the history of western philosophy to uncover some startling insights into how innovation really happens, and explains the real reasons why diversity matters.
Come along (it's only $15 for non-members), and let's chat about what the ancient Greeks ever really did for us!

Dr Steven Curry: Crossroads of Civilisation is on Wednesday 29 March 2017. Talk 6:00pm to 7:00pm a401 Collins Street. H21 members free, general entry $15.

06/02/2017

We have been reading Accenture's latest Technology Trend Report on the future of HR. Their "liquid workforce" concept makes fascinating reading. In our latest blog post All At Sea we take a critical look at the future of work described by the Accenture experts and sound a note of caution. Fear not, as always, we also explore some ways to get the best from the dynamic new approach while avoiding its traps.
https://capabilitybuilder.com/2017/02/06/all-at-sea-leading-the-liquid-workforce/

29/01/2017

Meet us at Pause 2017! Pause is billed as Australia's premier innovation festival, and it must be, because CapabilityBuilder is going to be there.
Along with three days of presentations and immersive experiences, Pause features a startup expo. We will have a stall in the atrium of Melbourne's famous Federation Square on Friday 10th February, with a live demo of our role maker module and community of practice, videos, a chance to talk with us about our approach to people management, and the opportunity to sign up FOR FREE on the day.
So come on down, we'd love to see you.

Pause...the new age of smart events has arrived. Advance yourself with a different perspective across creative, tech and business days.

12/01/2017

A lot of sound advice about how to keep great people. Luckily we can help you with most of these (can't guarantee you'll be anyone's best friend, but we can try).

Concerned about retaining your best contributing employees? You should be. Here are 10 reasons why employees quit. You control these work conditions.

13/10/2016

This article from The Age newspaper is a good example of how assumptions about "Gen-Y" are colouring how we approach workforce and people management.
The journalist (Carolyn Cummins) starts by saying that "gig" workers are taking over, because young people are "flighty" and want rapid career change.
But the substance of the report concerns employer not employee attitudes. In property and construction businesses, employers are using increasing casualisation to manage overhead and contain costs. The burden of casualisation falls heaviest of young workers (15.2% of junior staff are casual on average vs 5% of senior staff).
There is no evidence (at least in the report) that employers are resorting to casualisation because that's what younger employees want. Indeed, there are good reasons to think young workers want more stable employment (just try getting a home loan without a permanent job).
The development of workforce strategies should not be influenced by these assumptions about young workers, especially if the principal driver of casualisation is cost containment. It might be better to actually ask young people what they are looking for, and whether the long-term bottom line is better served by retaining and investing in great people or churning people with no commitment to your business.

There is a new kid in town.. called the Gig, and its taking over the workplace.

07/09/2016

"Throwing people in the deep end is a great way to destroy careers. Try teaching them to swim instead." Our latest blog article is up, discussing the great dilemma in choosing who to promote to management for the first time, and why so many of them fail.

Throwing people in the deep end is a great way to destroy careers. Try teaching them to swim instead.

14/07/2016

Our latest blog article has been published: Donkeys, Frogs and Beavers (or why you shouldn't try too hard to make people "fit in").
It's all about how to build productive, inclusive workplace cultures using techniques built into every day management practice.

"Culture" means a lot of things, it doesn't have to mean conformity.