Too many meetings drag on without participants discussing the real problems that need to be addressed. People talk around the important issues during the meeting and then address them before or after it. This renders the meeting a waste of time and makes you, the meeting organizer, look bad. Combat this risk by explicitly asking that issues be discussed during the meeting, not … [Read more...]
Opinion – Bank ATMs turn 50
The authors have created an innovation-centric overview of the ATM. It is a fun read. I am old enough to remember when ATM transactions were free and ATM networks allowed for free transactions from a machine branded with a bank you did not use. Today, ATM fees range from $2.00 to $5.00, no matter how much cash you receive. The average is about $3.00 per transaction where I … [Read more...]
Gratitude improves response to electronic communication
The speed of today’s communication has been blamed for poor spelling, bad grammar, little to no punctuation and a variety of other communication breakdowns. The sheer volume of emails needing attention can be overwhelming. So, anything that helps get your emails noticed and better responded to is very helpful. Source: Power Social Media, June 2017. Emails that ended in … [Read more...]
Dog writers contest underway
The Dog Writers Association of America announced that sponsors have added 11 new special awards to this year's writing contest and an additional $7,900 in cash prizes that brings the prize tally to $14,000. If you’ve been holding a story, now is the time to put pen to paper. Source: Germinder and Associates, July 10, 2017. The Dog Writers Association of America is the most … [Read more...]
This is nuts: It takes 30 minutes to refocus after getting distracted
And we wonder why we can’t seem to get enough work done. If you thought that the amount of time you spend on email — 1/3 of your office hours — was bad, this isn’t going to make you feel better. Source: The Muse, July 18, 2017. Taking much-needed and deserved breaks (intentional) are one thing—getting distracted (involuntarily) is another. There’s a reason that distractions … [Read more...]
Active listening requires training
Listening is a skill that is essential. The importance of learning how to actively listen is critical to true communication and understanding. This article explores the dynamics of listening starting with the core components of active listening: Comprehending Retaining Responding Source: Farnam Street, July 3, 2017. Listening is difficult because it involves … [Read more...]
Ditch email for a full day
Our dependence on digital communications uses up much of our attention. LaSalle Network declared a “no email day” for a weekday. Here’s what its staff learned: We move faster It builds relationships We’re more creative We learn faster It encourages call-before-email We’re more energized and productive Source: Fast Company, July 5, 2017. Sometimes we need … [Read more...]
5 nonverbal ways to get someone to quit talking (includes video)
If you get trapped in a conversation, try one of these nonverbal tips to get out of the situation from author Vanessa Van Edwards’ article and excerpts from her book. The fish The bookmark The pupil The touch The teacher Source: Science of People, July 5, 2017. If you’re going to have a conversation with someone who you know is likely to interrupt you, you … [Read more...]
Work at feeling successful
Lauren Siegfried shares some insights about the first 10 years of starting a career. She notes the restlessness often felt throughout careers which is not exclusive to the first decade. She suggests these things to set yourself up for success: Document your wins Contribute to team achievements Pursue a personal project Source: The Muse, July 11, 2017. According … [Read more...]
Empathy trumps cuteness in viral videos
Animal health marketers frequently find that and images of pets “sell.” Autumn Sullivan suggests otherwise. Her position is cuteness helps, especially with viral videos, while the real secret ingredient to creating viral content is empathy. The post referenced here is promotional but the message applies to marketers stretching their companies in the social media and video … [Read more...]
Take back your word
We’ve all hit “send” on an email and wish we hadn’t. Gmail users can unsend emails fairly easily and quickly. This video shows how. Source: Business Insider, May 15, 2017. If you’re a regular Gmail user, you can prevent yourself form accidentally sending the wrong email to your entire office in just a couple clicks. Here’s how. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Canine cardiology today podcast
Cardiology is discussed in a series of podcasts available free from VetFolio. The series includes: Episode 1: Canine Cardiology and Heart Disease – The Basics Episode 2: Risk Factors and Signs of Canine CHF Episode 3: Making Dog Owners Part of the CHF Care Team Episode 4: The Involved Pet Owner- The Key to Compliance in Long-Term CHF Therapy Source: VetFolio, … [Read more...]
5 ways to de-stress without leaving your desk
There’s not always time to step away from the daily grind. But you can opt for right-where-you-are de-stress techniques, according to Katrina Davies. Try one of these 5 options: Ear massage Workplace reset Hand-trick Breathing technique Progressive relaxation Source: The Muse, June 26, 2017. Here are five tips to reduce stress at the office, perfect for … [Read more...]
Distinguish fact from fiction; call BS, BS
We decided to post this since there seems to be so much hype to sift through. We hope you’re not offended by the BS references. It can be hard to know what to do with the onslaught of fresh BS and when you can no longer distinguish fact from fiction. Source: Science of US, June 26, 2017. Inspired by two professors at the University of Washington, Science of Us talked to a … [Read more...]
Fear of disease transmission drives Yellowstone quarantine facility
Male bison must be quarantined for a year before they can be deemed free of brucellosis, which is feared by the livestock industry because it causes cattle to abort their offspring. More than half of Yellowstone bison are believed to have been exposed to the disease. Source: AgWeb, June 26, 2017. There has been no documented case of bison transmitting the disease to cattle … [Read more...]
Choose to thrive, not survive
I am consistently amused by the number articles focused on executive level leadership or women in leadership that have application throughout the ranks in an organization. This article is a good example. While written for executive women, it applies to both genders and across the entire spectrum of the organization. Source: Forbes, June 19, 2017. We have introduced … [Read more...]
Partnering with a trainer is a no-brainer (audio recording)
Though many studies have shown a link between pet behavior and health, most veterinary professionals don’t jump for joy at the thought of behavior consultations. Educator Mikkel Becke explains the Humane Hierarchy developed by Utah State University psychology professor Susan Friedman, PhD. This model incorporates the expertise of trainers and veterinary … [Read more...]
Take steps to prevent workplace violence
Workplace violence can erupt unexpectedly. While we don’t believe it will happen in our workplace, as of June 13th, 2017, there have been eight workplace killings. Lynne Curry offers five things every employer should be doing: Don’t hire danger Uncover surprises Investigate Assess potential threats Source: Alaska Dispatch News, June 13, 2017. The many … [Read more...]
Communicate clearly during organizational change
For many animal health pros, this article represents something they wish their leadership would do. Still, we lead our organizations from many positions and many layers, so this information is valuable well beyond the C-suite. Source: Harvard Business Review, June 13, 2017. There are four questions that senior teams often skate through too quickly: Why do we need to … [Read more...]
39?, 49? and counting? Quit lying, embrace your 60s.
Lesley Seymour faced her fears and announced to her world that she had turned 60 years old. She shares some fears and perspective that many animal health pros face or will face in the next few years. She says her research suggests the “60s” is the happiest decade, yet for many it represents an uncharted path and a definite change in career paradigms. Source: The Muse, June … [Read more...]
Horse people and the hygiene hypothesis
There is much discussion currently about the microbiome. Rebecca Parker discusses why horse people seem to be made of tougher stuff and brings in the hygiene hypothesis, microbes and the inherent exercise in her article. She also references the benefits of being outdoors and the serenity it takes to work with horses. Source: Horse Network, June 13, 2017. Where do we find … [Read more...]
Millenials need to use the phone – to talk
It is commonly perceived that most millennials have mastered function on today’s smartphones, except for one. Using these phones to have a conversation seems like a foreign concept to many. Today’s communication technology offers several ways to bypass having conversations – conversations that could strengthen business relationships. Millenials or not – proper phone use is a … [Read more...]
Prevent reverse delegation
Reverse delegation happens when delegated tasks end up back in your bucket. Dan Rockwell offers 12 sentences to prevent this. Source: Leadership Freak, March 27, 2017. Why reverse delegation happens: You want to be helpful. Over-helpful leaders end up doing other people’s work for them. You don’t see it. Some employees are skillful at delegating work to their … [Read more...]
Kids and pigs at World Pork Expo (photo gallery)
Many expo attendees never see this side of the World Pork Expo. If you’ve never been in a hog barn at the expo, a state or local fair, this is a good way to experience some of the sights. The senses for sounds and smells are left out, but the action is truly a testament to the next generation of hog producers. We dare you not to smile! Source: National Hog Farmer, June … [Read more...]
Find the word that’s on the tip of your tongue
That term you’re searching for might be on the tip of your tongue, but most of the time, all you can do about it is stew until you either: a) have an epiphany, or b) use some nonsense word like whatchamacallit and move on. Source: Science of Us, June 12, 2017. Researchers refer to this “tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon” indicating it’s not quite as simple as just blanking out. … [Read more...]
Learn how each team member likes to work
As a manager, it helps to spend time up front connecting and creating a common language with your team. As members of the team change or current team members’ lives change, this exercise applies to seasoned managers, as well as new managers. Source: Harvard Business Review, May 30, 2017. When your team knows how you like to work and how you plan to manage them, they’re able … [Read more...]
Exercise versus caffeine: Which fights fatigue better?
Multiple research studies have shown that sleep deprivation has the same effect on our cognition and coordination as a few alcoholic beverages. Animal health pros tend to work hard, long, demanding hours. Learn how both caffeine and exercise can benefit your periods of fatigue. Source: Harvard Health Publications, June 8, 2017. The take-home message? Caffeine can provide a … [Read more...]
Help employees be accountable
Almost every day the news brings us another story of some personal indiscretion that is ultimately blamed on someone else. “The dog ate my homework,” and “she hit me first,” are two childish examples. Yet, we now have adults abdicating responsibility for their own misadventures. Unfortunately, this lack of accountability is becoming more prevalent in our workplaces. Managing it … [Read more...]
A traumatic experience can reshape your microbiome
With so much effort to find alternatives to antibiotics, we wanted to share this article describing the brain-gut connection. A team of researchers recently found that our guts may harbor evidence of difficult life experiences many years after the fact, changing everything from how we digest food to how we process stress. Source: Science of US, June 1, 2017. Even more than … [Read more...]
7 “what if” questions every rancher should ask
Burt Teichert offers challenging questions for producers to consider as they evaluate the profitability of their operations. Veterinarians and sales representatives can use these questions to work with producers to increase their cow herd values. Source: Beef, June 12, 2017. Here’s a sample of the seven questions Teichert offers: What if every replacement heifer was … [Read more...]