Increasingly, many of us have the flexibility of working from home. It has its benefits, and it can also wreak havoc on one’s ability to stay focused. Fast Company contributor Amanda Zantal-Wiener offers these 6 tips for staying on task when no one is present to hold you accountable. Maintain a routine. Start each day […]
Read More →Who is on your “go-to” list? Who are the people you reach out to for new projects, innovative suggestions, opinions or feedback? Is it always the same narrow group, or do you consciously work to expand and diversify the members of your personal think thank? To create an inclusive culture, it’s extremely important that you […]
Read More →In a candid conversation, a client shared his concern that he and others don’t ask the right questions when getting updates from direct reports. He said, “We ask yes/no questions that don’t encourage introspection. Questions like, ‘Is the project done?’ Or, ‘Do you have what you need?’” Instead, he suggested, and I agree, that we […]
Read More → If you’re in a high-tech field, you’re likely familiar with the term SCRUM. It refers to an iterative and incremental framework for managing product development. One philosophy that undergirds SCRUM is advancing progress by failing fast and fixing early. What might that look like? Well, if you’re working on a big, complex project, try […]
Read More → In her TED Talk, Margaret Heffernan tells the story of an evolutionary biologist at Purdue University, who housed a flock of competitive, super chickens together with the goal of increasing productivity. Six generations later, all but three of the birds had been pecked to death. Yet, the flock of average chickens managed to live together […]
Read More → Unplugging Is Not A Luxury, It’s A Business Necessity Whenever your weekend takes place, be it Saturday and Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, etc., what’s most important is to use that time to rejuvenate. Here’s how James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp.com, told Oprah.com he uses his weekend time. He stops spinning. Follow his example by […]
Read More →Study Says The Answer is Yes Do the people in your life know how good you feel about them? How proud you are of his performance? How optimistic you are about her future? How excited you are about their new venture? Or the fact that you admire her skill as a presenter, appreciate her can-do […]
Read More →Pledges and Commitments That Create Accountability Ever held a meeting where everyone seemed enthusiastic about the topic and next steps? But, soon after, it was back to business as usual? Here are two tips that may increase commitment and foster progress. After introducing the meeting’s purpose, objectives and agenda, ask participants to respond to this […]
Read More →In addition to meeting day-to-day goals, leaders are responsible for developing and communicating vision – the broader organization’s vision, as well as their department’s. Successful leaders revisit their vision often with staff and make sure their team can articulate the priorities that drive business results. If you’re in a leadership role, have you’ve taken the […]
Read More →We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re not actively engaged in doing something, we’re not using our time wisely. But being in constant motion doesn’t equal being productive. Sometimes taking time to stop and think is more valuable than pushing yourself to exhaustion. One of the great secrets of successful business people is their commitment […]
Read More →The higher you move up, the bigger your impact on larger numbers of people, significant business processes and, very likely, a higher percentage of the company’s bottom line. Your world becomes more complex, filled with responsibility. Yet, the transition from one rung to the next may leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. If that’s so, […]
Read More →Clients tell me that they share my videos and podcasts with their teams. One client says she starts her staff meetings off by playing one of my videos. She finds the messages helpful for aligning their focus, strengthening confidence and enhancing emotional intelligence. If you’re looking for tools to help your team grow professionally or […]
Read More →Yoga is an active form of mindfulness and meditation that reduces stress and anxiety. Studies have found that Yoga not only improves cardiovascular health, digestion, flexibility, balance and overall quality of life, it improves clarity of thought and enhances self-awareness. Across the US, the number of people practicing Yoga has increased dramatically. A recent survey […]
Read More →I see more and more people in meetings taking notes on their laptops or tablets. These devices are easy to manage and for some, using them eliminates a step, especially if you have to share your notes with others. But, research conducted at Princeton and Columbia Universities shows that college students who handwrite their notes […]
Read More →When you think of resilience, you might picture that punch drunk boxer coming back for more. But Harvard Business Review contributors Michelle Gielan and Shawn Achor say resilience is not about how you endure. It’s about how you recharge. Research indicates that there is a direct correlation between lack of recovery and increased health and […]
Read More →Can’t Sleep? This May Be Why. There is nothing better than a good night’s sleep. But, if you’re struggling to sleep at night, a University Of Houston College of Optometry study says your smartphone, tablet or flat screen TV might be to blame. For two weeks, study participants wore short wavelength-blocking glasses three hours before […]
Read More →During a recent workshop, a participant confessed his lack of empathy – a core dimension of emotional intelligence. He said, “I don’t have any, and I don’t know how to begin to think about feeling the way others do.” Given the laughter and head nodding from the others in the room, he was not alone. […]
Read More →Part 1 I enjoy ads and commercials. The good ones stick with me. I’m impacted by their images, sounds and words. The best ones have a dramatic tagline or slogan – a succinct, repeatable core message about the product or service that conveys the essence of what the company wants you to believe and remember. […]
Read More →My book, LIES That Limit, makes it clear that mindset – what we believe, how we think – is everything. Mindset is the composite of our beliefs and assumptions – our theory about life, other people, even ourselves. We feel safe when we make choices consistent with our story about the way things are. Yet, […]
Read More →Robin has a standing meeting, every Friday, from 3 to 4 PM. That hour is blocked on his calendar for the full year. Every once in a while, due to pressing matters, he has to change it. But, he doesn’t let it go. He moves to earlier in the day or week, or first thing […]
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