Ron Carucci shares six strategies to use when you have to convey a decision you don’t agree with. It’s an inevitable task leaders must face requiring thoughtful preparation and tact beginning with regulating your own emotions first. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 5, 2024. Link. You may not be able to change the decision, but how you lead your team through it … [Read more...]
Why introverts don’t consider everyone their friend
Introverts often give impressions that are seen as unfriendly or unwilling to make an effort. Kim Dresner shares her insights on what “friend” means to an introvert, its importance and how it shapes interactions. . . . introverts value quality over quantity, which might explain why we often struggle to fit into large friend groups.” Source: Introvert Dear, March 8, 2024. … [Read more...]
Prioritizing break time during the busy workday
It is not solely a matter of time, but a matter of energy to make it through busy work days and responsibilities, writes Rebecca Zucker. Creating several short micro-breaks throughout the day can help manage energy and maintain cognitive, emotional and even physical capacity. Zucker shares eight ways to establish and maintain breaks intentionally. Source: Harvard Business … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – February 15, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, February 8, 2024. Link. Most read post(s) from the February 8th AHD Bulletin – Groundhog day again? Link. Cunning chameleon, M. bovis contributes to calf pneumonia. Link. Paragon’s new digital dog grooming guide. Link. ============================================ Service and honor are the fabric … [Read more...]
When your manager brings in someone above you
When someone else is hired or promoted to a position above you it often stings. In growing companies, being layered is inevitable and is a common practice. Melody Wilding shares how to deal with the reactions that arise and how to productively move forward within those new arrangements. Source: Harvard Business Review, January 22, 2024. Link. Being layered can evoke … [Read more...]
STOP thinking about work after hours
Thinking about our job after the official workday is over may not be beneficial. Constant rumination leads managers to be more depleted and less able to show up as leaders . . . something even their employees can pick up on. Research recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, suggests that constantly thinking about work may hurt rather than help your … [Read more...]
A plan is not a strategy
A comprehensive plan with goals, initiatives, and budgets is comforting, BUT starting with a plan is a terrible way to make strategy, says Roger Martin, MBA, author and Thinkers50 Number One Management Thinker in 2017. Martin’s YouTube video, A Plan Is Not a Strategy, was the most watched in 2023. What most strategic planning is in the world of business has nothing to do with … [Read more...]
How companies are supporting employees experiencing menopause
Commentary One statement in this article defines the importance of the topic it covers. “By 2025, there will be over 1 billion people worldwide experiencing menopause.” Organizations that take employee well-being seriously realize that getting ahead of conditions like menopause reduces an incredible burden on their workforce and can improve the bottom line say the … [Read more...]
Understanding active listening and distractions
Commentary With all the distractions of checking personal devices, social media and other interruptions it's a wonder any work gets done at all. Consider these articles as you head into meetings and travel to VMX. Active listening involves mastering a host of other skills, writes Amy Gallo. It includes reading body language and tone of voice, maintaining your attention, … [Read more...]
Promotions. Ready or not?
Managing so veterinary clinic employees work at the top of their education is a frequent topic in animal health media. Yet, not all employees are ready to advance or be awarded a promotion. Luis Velasquez shares ways to turn a potentially negative situation into a constructive, forward-looking dialogue when a promotion is not yet warranted. Discussing a promotion with an … [Read more...]
The making of the corporate athlete
Harvard Business Review surveyed readers about articles that made a meaningful impact on the way the person thinks, works or leads <Link>. JayDee shared he fundamentally shifted his perspective to managing energy rather than time to achieve high performance. He shared this approach worked for his team which now has regular energy audits and encourages practices that … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 21, 2023
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 14, 2023. Link. Most read post(s) from the December 14th AHD Bulletin – Underutilized and underappreciated. Link. What’s new in preventing and treating laminitis in horses? Link. Keeping it simple. Link. ============================================ Sorry, dogs: Cats can play fetch, too, … [Read more...]
Self-assessments. It’s annual review time.
The adage, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” comes to mind when reviewing Marlo Lyons’ guidance for preparing for annual reviews. She advocates doing a self-assessment ahead of time and shares five steps to create a self-assessment draft: 1) Focus on the entire year 2) Consider company and functional goals 3) Look for alignment with those goals 4) Seek … [Read more...]
Becoming an agile learner
Learning agility is an essential skill for individuals and capability for organizations, but it doesn’t happen by accident. Agile learners can approach the uncertainty and change in their roles and careers with confidence, knowing their insights and talents will help them succeed in new situations. Learning agility is the skill of learning from experiences so you can succeed … [Read more...]
Stop assuming introverts aren’t passionate about work
Introverts are equally capable of experiencing passion as extroverts, they just express it differently. The authors of new research found that regardless of their actual level of passion, extroverted employees are perceived as more passionate than introverts which often drives substantial inequities in the workplace. Society often assumes that the only way to be passionate is … [Read more...]
Taking a vacation improves your well-being. Here’s how.
The bottom line is that employees and employers benefit mentally, physically and spiritually from vacation. Making sure your people and you regularly take time off is key to creating a more sustainable workplace with healthier, happier employees, writes Rebecca Zucker. . . . every year more than half of Americans give up paid time off . . .” Source: Harvard Business Review, … [Read more...]
Why it is so hard to ask for help
Many of us struggle to ask for help. Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries, DBA, MBA shares reasons we are reluctant to ask for and accept help. He then offers ways to overcome the barriers: The fear of being vulnerable The need to be independent The fear of losing control The fear of rejection Over empathizing with others. A sense of victimhood Source: Harvard … [Read more...]
Set these 5 boundaries before you go on vacation
Research and commentary dating back to the 1910s shows that taking vacations, i.e. completely disconnecting from work, is critical to lowering burnout, increasing energy and engagement, and improving overall health and well-being. The results lead to more consistent productivity, writes Marlo Lyons. Easier said than done, Lyons shares five tips to set firm boundaries in a … [Read more...]
Apologize properly when something goes wrong
Mistakes happen. We are human after all. Tim Riesterer shares how to deal with mistakes and the importance of an apology message and intentionally delivering it to the customer. When delivered well, an apology message can improve the customer relationship to the point where it is stronger than if the mistake had never happened, a phenomenon known as the service recovery … [Read more...]
Burnout at work isn’t just about exhaustion. It is also about loneliness.
Months before the pandemic and Galaxy Vet’s insightful investigations into our industry’s burnout, Emma Seppälä and Marissa King wrote about burnout and the accompanying loneliness felt by those dealing with individual challenges. Source: Harvard Business Review, June 29, 2017. Link. Burnout’s link to loneliness suggests that greater human connection at work may also be key … [Read more...]
A 2-minute burn out check up
Burnout is the result of chronic stress and, at work, that stress tends to accumulate around your experiences of workload, values, reward, control, fairness and community. Chris Bailey’s short assessment can help you gauge whether you’re on the path to burnout, and where you should focus your attention to make beneficial changes. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 9, … [Read more...]
You don’t have to be the boss to be a leader
Matt Mayberry shares three actions that hone leadership skills to help become a highly respected and influential team member: Devote time to daily growth Discover and embrace your personal strengths Improve your ability to connect with people Source: Harvard Business Review, February 13, 2023. Link. Introverts, ambiverts, extroverts . . . anyone can learn how to … [Read more...]
Finding the optimal pattern of a customer journey
Commentary Customer journey analysis is not new, although customer experience management is relatively new. The identification, optimization and management of touch points that lead to action by a prospect or customer challenges brands, budgets and companies in today’s internet world. Even so, earning a customer and retaining them is a journey animal health pros discuss and … [Read more...]
Beware the busyness culture
An industry colleague shared this article by Adam Waytz who challenges busyness versus productivity. It also offers ways to break away from this fixation. Activity is not achievement, and the sooner companies recognize that, the better off they and their employees will be.” Source: Harvard Business Review, March-April 2023. Link. Five approaches are offered to help overcome … [Read more...]
Make meetings places for honest conversations
Permission to say or ask anything is priceless, writes Paul Axtell. Giving permission and creating safety are two key areas that can increase freedom, candor and quality of conversation in your meetings. People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute. Source: Harvard Business Review, April 11, 2019. Link. The quest for better meetings ultimately lies in leading … [Read more...]
How to answer, “What are your salary expectations?” (video)
Amy Gallo offers practical strategies for how to approach the salary expectation question along with sample answers to use as a guide. The article also includes a video from Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K (5:26) on the topic. Source: Harvard Business Review, February 13, 2023. Link. You don’t have to give a number. Some states and localities have outlawed the … [Read more...]
The Neuroscience of trust. Management behaviors that foster employee engagement.
Commentary Although it’s five years old, this article about Paul Zak’s research on trust is relevant to current employment conditions and challenges. Note the eight measurable management behaviors that foster trust he identified. “To boost engagement and retention, treat people like responsible adults. Set a clear direction, provide the resources needed and get out of … [Read more...]
For better health this year, keep it simple
The less time you are required to spend on healthy behaviors, the better. When we eliminate or reduce the struggle, we are far more likely to succeed. If something is fast, convenient and easy, we’ll keep doing it.” Source: The Washington Post, January 1, 2023. Link. Also see: When life is busy, focus on a few key habits, Harvard Business Review, May 2019. Link. Daily or … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – December 21, 2022
Last week’s most read posts – Happiness and meetings. Link. Last AHD Bulletin - Animal Health Digest Bulletin, December 15, 2022. Link. ==================================================================== U.S. warns of escalating ransomware attacks Source: Security Affairs, October 2022. Link. U.S. government agencies warned that the Daixin Team cybercrime … [Read more...]
In a downturn, focus on existing customers not potential ones
You Mon Tsang shares strategies that can translate to veterinary hospitals and retailers in the animal health market. Companies that relentlessly focus on existing customers can ride through uncertain times with the least disruption. Not only is retention less vulnerable than acquisition to the short-term swings of a bad economy, but the rule of thumb that it costs five times … [Read more...]