Book Review: The First-Time Manager

Amacom (of the American Management Association) has just released the sixth edition of the best-selling book, The First-Time Manager -- originally published in 1981.

The book covers eight core responsibilities of a new manager, including:

• Hiring
• Communicating
• Planning
• Organizing
• Training
• Monitoring
• Evaluating
• Firing

Expert advice is additionally provided regarding:

• Using Your New Authority
• Managing Your Mood
• Building Trust

One of my favorite sections of the book is the one about class in a manager:

• Class is treating people with dignity.
• Class does not have to be the center of attention.
• Class does not lose its cool.
• Class does not rationalize mistakes.
• Class is good manners.
• Class means loyalty to one's staff.
• Class recognizes the best way to build oneself is to first build others.
• Class leads by example.
• Class does not taken action when angry.
• Class is authentic and works hard at making actions consistent with words.

The First-Time Manager is an excellent how-to guide for anyone new to managing people.

Other books for new managers include any from the Top 20 list of Leadership Books, as voted on by LinkedIn Linked 2 Leadership group members, who were asked the question:

• What's the first leadership book you would give to a new manager?

Taming The Email Monster

According to internal communication expert and consultant David Grossman of The Grossman Group, and as recently reported on NBC Nightly News, workplace email is out of control. 

• And, it's time to tame the email monster explains Grossman.

"You'd love to spend your day doing your job so that maybe, just maybe you could get home and enjoy uninterrupted time with your family or get out with friends," says Grossman.  "Instead, you spend so much time every day managing your inbox that everything else in your life--real work, family, play--is practically an afterthought."

Grossman has written a new free ebook where he tackles the email beast--showing what some companies are doing to:

• rein in the email monster
• make better use of working hours
• cut back on the stress on employees caused by a 24/7 cycle of endless emails

The ebook also includes tools and strategies for managing email in your workplace, and explains when it makes sense to use email--and when we should take advantage of the myriad other communication tools at our disposal.

Finally, in the ebook, Grossman talks about the CEO of French technology giant Atos, who plans to phase out internal emails by 2014.  The moved is a result of internal research that revealed time spent on emails by employees lessened time needed to be spent on management.

Work starts on property project in Tan Binh District

VNRE - Aircraft Repairing Company A-41 under the Ministry of Defense and Kinh Do Real Estate Company (Kinh Do Land) on Wednesday kicked off construction of an apartment, office and commercial complex in HCMC’s Tan Binh District.

The Cong Hoa Garden project worth around VND1.5 trillion covers around three hectares on Cong Hoa Street in Tan Binh District.

Consisting of five 13- to 15-floor blocks, the project has a total floor space of around 130,000 square meters, with 970 apartments and nearly 15,000 square meters of office space plus a retail section of 12,000 square meters.

The first phase of the project set for completion after two years of construction includes 216 serviced apartments having 50-89 square meters each and three floors of commercial center.

Tran Cao Thanh, deputy general director of Kinh Do Land, said that the firm would start selling apartments of the project in the fourth quarter with a price of VND17-18 million per square meter.

In related news, several condo developers are switching part of their commercial apartments into serviced condo for lease now that sales have almost stalled.

Several commercial apartment projects such as the XI Riverview Palace, the Vista in District 2 and Ben Thanh Luxury Apartments in District 1 are being switched into serviced ones.

According to CB Richard Ellis Vietnam (CBRE), this segment is having nearly 800 Grade-A apartments, around 2,500 Grade-B apartments and 1,000 Grade-C apartments with an average monthly rent of US$36.5, US$26 and US$17.5 per square meter respectively.

Tenants have now tended to choose smaller apartments with fewer bedrooms to save costs and shift from the city’s downtown to districts 2, 7 and Binh Thanh District.

The future supply will focus on small boutique projects in the city’s downtown, and the market will continue to face tough competition in the villa and apartment-for-rent segments, according to CBRE. These will help stabilize and lower the leasing price of many projects.

Reported by Dinh Dung - The Saigon Times Daily

Takashimaya to be anchor tenant in Keppel Land’s Saigon Centre Phase 2 in Ho Chi Minh City

VNRE - Keppel Land has signed a conditional agreement with Takashimaya Singapore Ltd ("Takashimaya"), a subsidiary of Takashimaya Co., Ltd ("Takashimaya Co."), to pre-commit approximately 15,000 sm of retail space across five floors of Saigon Centre Phase 2.

With Takashimaya coming onboard as anchor tenant, about 30% of the total retail area is pre-leased ahead of the development's expected completion in 2015.

This agreement comes shortly after the groundbreaking of the integrated mixed-use development in November last year. It marks Takashimaya's foray into the lucrative Vietnamese retail market and is part of its strategy to further expand into Asia.

Mr Kevin Wong, Group CEO of Keppel Land, said, "We are pleased that Takashimaya has selected Saigon Centre as its choice location for its first retail mall in Vietnam. This further establishes Saigon Centre as the place to be and preferred address for quality tenants. An established and quality brand in the industry, Takashimaya will complement and enhance the overall retail offerings at Saigon Centre and HCMC as a whole.

"The strong pre-commitment secured almost three years ahead of completion is significant and reaffirms our positive sentiments on the Vietnamese retail market. Given our extensive experience in Vietnam, coupled with Takashimaya's retail expertise and skills, Saigon Centre is well-poised to become the shopping destination in HCMC."

Ms Yoko Yasuda, Managing Director of Takashimaya Singapore, said, "With 18 years of retail experience in Singapore and its network of supply source, we are confident of contributing to a new shopping lifestyle in HCMC. The Vietnamese retail market is entering an exciting phase of growth with an increasing middle income class and Takashimaya is looking forward to participate in this emerging market. This being Takashimaya's first department store in Vietnam, we wanted a strategic location and renowned partner - we found both in Saigon Centre and Keppel Land."

At the same time, Toshin Development Co., Ltd ("Toshin Development"), the real estate subsidiary of Takashimaya Co., has entered into a share-purchase agreement with Keppel Land to hold 22.7% stake in Saigon Centre Phase 2. Keppel Land will also jointly establish a 50:50 retail management company with Toshin Development Singapore Pte Ltd, the Singapore subsidiary under Toshin Development, to provide retail management services for Keppel Land's projects in Vietnam. Toshin's expertise and skills in retail mall development will ensure that we continue to adopt best-in-class approach that will ensure operational excellence at Saigon Centre.

Strategically located along Le Loi Boulevard in the heart of HCMC's CBD, Phase 1 of the award-winning Saigon Centre was completed in 1996 and has established itself as the preferred shopping destination and a business address for diplomatic corps, multi-national companies as well as banking and financial institutions.

Currently under construction, Phase 2 of Saigon Centre is designed by internationally renowned architect, NBBJ based in New York. When fully completed in 2015, it will stand tall at 45 storeys with seven levels of retail and dining spaces spread across 50,000 sm; 40,000 sm of premium Grade A office space, and over 200 units of luxury serviced apartments.

The proposed joint establishment of the retail management company is not expected to have any material impact on the earnings per share or net tangible assets per share of the Company for the current financial year.

About Keppel Land

Building on a growing relationship that spans more than two decades, Keppel Land is one of the largest foreign real estate investors in Vietnam.

Named the Best Developer in Vietnam in 2010 by Euromoney, a leading global financial magazine, Keppel Land has a quality portfolio of properties in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Vung Tau including Grade A offices, residential properties, integrated townships and award-winning serviced apartments.

To-date, Keppel Land has 18 projects in Vietnam, with a total investment capital of almost USD 2 billion and a pipeline of about 22,000 homes.

About Takashimaya Singapore

Takashimaya Singapore Ltd was established in 1993. It is Singapore's largest department store that spans 35,000 square meters and the Singapore's leading store operator in terms of turnover. It is the anchor tenant of Takashimaya Shopping Centre, located along the country's premium shopping belt, Orchard Road.

About Toshin Development Co Ltd / Toshin Development Singapore Pte Ltd

In 1963, Toshin Development Co Ltd was founded by its parent company, Takashimaya, to develop the first authentic suburban shopping centre in Japan.

Since the opening of the Takashimaya Shopping Centre in Ngee Ann City in Orchard Road in 1993, it has been maintained by Toshin as the No.1 luxury shopping centre in Singapore. Toshin Development Singapore Pte. Ltd. was incorporated in Singapore as a subsidiary company from a branch office in 2010 to further enhance the operation of the overseas business in Southeast Asia.

Source: Keppel Land

How To Create An Effective Company Blog

If you lead a business and aren’t among the many companies using a blog for marketing purposes, your business likely will within the next year.
Awhile back, Emarketer estimated that the proportion of all U.S. companies that will use dedicated blogs as a marketing channel will reach 43% this year.


Businesses using blogs for communications, lead generation, customer service and branding primarily do so for these reasons:
• corporate control of the tool
• its integration with company web properties
• no limits on post lengths
• the ability to maintain a full, searchable repository of information

Successful blogs generally follow these tips and guidelines:
1. Make your blog as non-promotional as possible.
2. Keep it relevant to the reader.
3. Answer your customers’ questions or address their pain points.
4. Be sure it’s well-written.
5. Make it relevant to your company or products.
6. Offer proof or third-party validation to claims you make.
7. Keep each blog posting under 500 words.
8. End each post with a question that encourages dialogue with your readers.
9. Post regularly. Shoot for at least three times each week.
10. Talk in your normal voice.
11. Use real language. Don’t talk over people’s heads.

And once you’ve launched your blog, follow these tips for promoting it:
1. Promote your blog URL on your website.
2. Include the blog URL in your email signature. Encourage your employees to do the same.
3. Put your blog URL on your business cards, direct mail and print advertising.
4. Post your blog on Facebook.
5. Post your blog to your LinkedIn status.
6. Put your blog URL on company invoices as well as other correspondence to customers.
7. Talk about your blog when you speak at events.

Finally, remember that your blog is a promise to customers that you will communicate with them honestly and regularly. So, before you launch a blog be sure you have the time, staff and resources to post consistently and for the long-term.

Trang Tien Plaza – the mall is about to change

VNRE - Hanoi authorities have decided to restructure Trang Tien Plaza, the mall with the prime location on the corner of Hoan Kiem Lake.

The restructuring was initiated by the State Capital Investment Corporation and has been approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee.

The aim is to improve efficiency as well as upgrading the building including how it fits it surroundings.

In particular, however, it is the products on sale that will change with the new emphasis split between world brands and Vietnamese traditional products.

“It is necessary to work with the representatives of people in the Plaza and get their input,” said the chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao.

Thao also stressed that the upgrading of the building must follow current laws on architecture planning management, investment and construction.

Agreeing with the proposal, deputy chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Huu Tuong said he expects the building will be turned into a modern trade centre with national stature, deserving of its special location in the centre of the capital of Vietnam.

Tuong said that the Trang Tien Investment and Trade Company and the partners who join the investment and upgrading of Trang Tien Plaza must not lose the traditional characteristics of the previous “Bach hoa tong hop” (General Department Store) which has been familiar to many generations of Hanoians.

Trang Tien Plaza, which is located on the land where Bach hoa tong hop once existed, opened in early 2002 under the joint management of the Vietnam Construction Import-Export Corporation (Vinaconex) and the Hanoi Trade Corporation.

Set on the corner of Hoan Kiem lake and with Trang Tien, Hang Bai and Hai Ba Trung on three sides, the 20,000 square meter trade centre is expected to play a key role in defining the capital in a period of change.

Reported by Thoai My | VNN

Vietnam parks its skyscraper projects

VNRE - The 40-storey BIDV Tower will rise elegantly into the skyline of Ho Chi Minh City, the latest symbol of the Vietnam’s economic prowess, according to the architect’s plans.

But the reality is rather less lofty. In a property market hit hard by economic instability, building on the project, backed by the state-owned Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, has stalled. The prime plot in Vietnam’s commercial capital, formerly known as Saigon, is one of several fallow building sites that have been turned into temporary car parks, where office workers pay 5,000 dong ($0.24 U.S.) a day to keep their scooters.

Read full story on The Globe and Mail

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