Spirit of Purpose · Hybrid Arrangements May Be the Solution For decades, discussion of flexible work arrangements centered around hours and, perhaps, an occasional day working from home.  The pandemic has changed that.   According to Gallup, between mid-March to early April 2020, the number of employees working remotely doubled from 31% to 62%.  Across age groups – […]

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Increase Your Chances of Success Before You Take On The Boss Speaking truth to power is important, and risky. Often, it’s hard to understand when and why speaking up might backfire. Harvard Business Review contributors Megan Reitz and John Higgins suggest asking yourself these questions before confronting someone above you. How much do you believe […]

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After a keynote address on Work-Life Balance, two attendees approached me.  They said, “Our leaders say work-life balance is important.  They even encourage us to use our vacation, not work weekends and holidays, and flex as we need to.  But, the people they call out for recognition and special rewards are those who work long hours, weekends […]

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A recent article from the Society of Human Resource Managers cited excerpts from the book “Extinguish Burnout” by Rob and Terrie Bogue.  Their take is that there are three interconnected components of burn out  —  exhaustion, cynicism and low personal effectiveness.  Being exhausted doesn’t mean we’re burned out.  Often times we feel exhilarated and the most fulfilled when we push […]

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Are you holding on to processes or practices that no longer serve anyone or can be handled more efficiently?  While the current practice was a great solution years ago, the problem that led to a particular work-around no longer exists or maybe technology is helping you do it better. For example, there might be a report […]

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I enjoy this time of year. And, it’s seems many others do, as well. It’s a season of fun-filled gatherings and sharing good wishes. Kindness, warm smiles, fun-filled gatherings and generosity are legitimized in all dimensions of life. Perhaps you and your co-workers are making plans for a luncheon at a local restaurant, a shared […]

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As the job market heats up, it’s a good time to look at a study conducted by University of Texas at Austin’s David Pedulla. His findings indicate that people who accept positions below their skill level damage future job prospects. For research purposes, Pedulla submitted over 2400 fictitious applications for real openings in five US […]

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 Forbes.com contributors David Sturt and Todd Nordstrom say that if you think you’re doing great at work, but others around you don’t agree, you may be undermining yourself without realizing it. Here are three surprising ways you might be sabotaging your reputation. You don’t take a breather. Are you constantly flitting about the office, […]

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 If your opinion of your effectiveness at work differs from your co-workers, forbes.com contributors David Sturt and Todd Nordstrom offer six reasons why. Here are three of them. You avoid expressing your opinion. If you’re a “go with the flow” kind of person, your team may see you as someone who doesn’t care enough […]

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The impact email has had on productivity is arguably positive. It has sped up communication and disrupted limitations on when and where we can do business. But consider these two unintended consequences. First, email inboxes have become to-do lists and communication of record for some. But often, different subjects are discussed in a string, while […]

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 If you’re someone who doesn’t use all of their vacation time, or you feel you’re too busy to get away, listen up. According to Lonely Planet, you’re more likely to die younger than someone who prioritizes vacation travel. In a recent article, Annemarie McCarthy reveals the results of a 40-year study conducted at the […]

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As more and more companies allow employees to work remotely, chances are you may have the opportunity to do so. FlexJobs.com recommends asking yourself three questions before you say, “Yes.” Why do you want to work from home? Do you want to work in your pajamas and conduct business from bed? If so, you’re not […]

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In a recent New York Times interview, Mary Abbajay, the author of “Managing Up, How to Move Up, Win at Work and Succeed With Any Type of Boss,” gave these examples of three types of bad bosses. There’s the “ghost boss” who rarely communicates with you and never seems to be around. The “seagull boss” […]

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 If you’re a manager, the probability is high that some members of your team have or will experience burnout. According to Gallup, two thirds of people they studied reported burnout to some degree. Here are 5 things Gallup says managers can do about it. Listen to work related problems. Active listening is an effective […]

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Recent articles on Gallup.com looked at employee burnout. Its effects costs companies big dollars and cents. On the surface, it might appear that demand for high productivity is to blame, but according to Gallup, the problem is more about how people are managed. What are five top things that lead to employee burnout? Unfair treatment: […]

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 We all know that employee burnout is real. And it comes with significant costs to organizations. According to a recent Gallup study of 7,500 full time employees, two thirds have experienced burnout to some degree. Burned out employees take more sick days, are more likely to be looking for a new job, have low […]

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 How do you approach the end of your workday – when your energy is low there’s not enough time to start a new project? Do you surf social media, aimlessly finger through things on your desk, or scroll through emails to which you don’t intend to reply. Well, Fast Company has suggestions for making […]

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 If your company values collaboration over independence, Fast Company recommends that hiring managers ask the following questions to find the people who are the best fit for your collaborative culture. Tell me about a time you worked with a team. What was your approach to collaborating with your teammates? What role did you play […]

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Is your company’s culture shifting and evolving? If the answer is yes, and you’re in the process of hiring new people, here are the questions Fast Company recommends asking during interviews. Tell me about a time you encountered a difficult problem you didn’t know how to solve. Give me an example of a time when […]

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