I have just returned from Hong Kong where i attended and presented at the HR SUMMIT which is the largest HR conference in Asia.

Some of my impressions of the event were as follows:

- Leaders are trying very hard to minimise retrenchments by finding more creative ways to reduce costs e.g. cutting back on the number of expats, offering one year sabbaticals for people without pay but have a guaranteed job when they return, having all the leadership team accept a permanent 5% pay cut etc.

- Speed Thinking can work across cultures. People in my workshops although slightly uncomfortable found that Speed Thinking is a powerful yet safe way to create new ideas, solve problems or make decisions.

- This finding confirms an earlier trip i had in Singapore where i conducted a number of Speed Thinking workshops at Nokia and Intel.

- In my entire time in Hong Kong i never heard the phrase Work/Life balance at all among any of the HR managers. Perhaps in these tough times people are just happy to keep their jobs. But should this be the case? Shouldn’t we design new ways of working that are smarter and more sustainable?

Love to hear from you.

Ken hudson