For some of us logging back on after the holidays brings that nagging feeling and question: “do I really want to spend another year in this job?” More people are turning to career coaches to chart next steps – and get out of a “prison” of bad jobs. Here are five reasons you might consider hiring […]
Whether we spend our time dwelling on things we’re grateful for or noodling on things that upset us matters. The key lesson :: Shifting our attitudes to focus on giving thanks — not just during the holiday — has a direct link to our wellbeing. Proof :: Psychologists asked half of the participants in a […]
Unlocking your team’s creativity can sometimes be a challenge for managers. Here are three common fallacies that might be getting in the way — and how to avoid them. The productivity fallacy: There’s a misperception that equates innovation with decision-making speed. Sometimes, the best ideas require long incubation periods. Resisting the temptation to come to […]
To be a good leader, you must communicate well. Cambridge University lecturer Simon Lancaster says that the power of persuasion lies in our ability to manipulate listeners brains. He suggests that we can win support by tapping into peoples cravings for brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. When we do this we boost the feeling […]
2020 has been a burdensome year for us all. With elevated expectations and never ending to-do lists, it’s easy to feel guilty about what we haven’t completed. But guilt is only useful when it motivates us to do more — it shouldn’t make you feel failure or shame. To erase these emotions when they appear, […]
Shankar Vedantam recently hosted an informative discussion on why we work. In a dialogue on his NPR show Hidden Brain, he explored how we can shape our thinking about the daily grind and make work a more rewarding experience. His guest, Yale psychologist, Amy Wrzesniewski, informed us that people who see their work as a […]
There’s a popular phrase in HR circles doing the rounds, about “Letting employees bring their best selves to work”. Not only is it a nice idea, it makes economic sense. People’s best selves do far better work, than people’s crappy selves. Of course they do. For the same reason happy chickens lay more eggs than […]
The pandemic has shown us how crisis can lead to rapid innovation. Just look at all of the companies that quickly pivoted to curbside pickup or adapted their services to new health regulations. How can a leader help their team retain this agility and sense of urgency even when there’s no crisis? Here are three […]
Telling a good yarn can help you win over a colleague, a team, an executive, a recruiter or a large conference room. But what does that look like? The best stories don’t just communicate information or elicit an emotional reaction — they’re also a tool to persuade and motivate people. So start by contextualizing your […]
You can tell what people priorities are by what they allow on their calendars. You can tell a lot by breaking down what fills peoples workdays. Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator, breaks them down into one of two categories :: makers or managers. There are folks who spend most of their day managing either […]
There’s not one leadership style that works for all contexts. For example, in some situations, it’ll make sense to tell people what to do, whereas asking open-ended questions will work better in others. You might need to adjust goals as new information emerges, or, under certain circumstances, stick exactly to the plan. You should adjust […]
Many companies have formal, hierarchical mentoring programs nested somewhere in their HR department. But evidence shows that these programs alone won’t sufficiently engage or develop junior talent. If you’re interested in mentoring, think about becoming a “mentor of the moment,” by seeking development opportunities in daily interactions. Check in regularly with junior colleagues. See how […]