The early bird doesn’t always get the worm. Ciara Byrne shares productivity practices we believe, but just aren’t so. Some conventional wisdom isn’t so wise. Productivity experts weigh in on some commonly held beliefs that are just wrong. Source: Fast Company, January 4, 2019. Link. Productivity experts share their thoughts on the productivity myths that need … [Read more...]
Why you need to change your passwords in 2019
Experts from the NSA and Darktrace discuss AI, invisible security and changing passwords. Despite the best efforts of the security community, users often resist doing the work required to implement even basic security Source: Fast Company, January 7, 2019. Link. If 2018 is any indication, threats are becoming more sophisticated, harder to detect, and potentially more … [Read more...]
Music that helps you be more productive
Jared Lindzon writes about music in the workplace and its influence on productivity. The choices must address human and animal needs in animal health facilities. We’ve added sources for your consideration that address productivity, personnel and animals. ¯ . . . music is preferred over any other background noise in the workplace. . . A continually changing music stream is … [Read more...]
How to respond if you keep getting interrupted at meetings
Whether during a group meeting or during a one-on-one conversation, getting interrupted is frustrating and sometimes demoralizing. The impact of being interrupted tends to be most negative when it prevents you from finishing a thought. Preparation for interruptions is key, shares Tania Luna. She offers ways to navigate the various norms in different situations. Source: Fast … [Read more...]
Non-verbal client cues you’re missing
Animal health pros are great at reading animals, but often struggle with human interactions. In this article, experts share messages sent through nonverbal displays that are volumes louder than what’s actually being said. Hearing people . . . assume the other person understood us because they heard us, despite language being inherently vague. Source: Fast Company, November … [Read more...]
3 things all emails should include
You probably don’t put much thought into crafting an email. This means it’s likely you are making some potentially embarrassing mistakes. Most of us have not been trained on crafting good emails making them ripe for misuse. As communication tools like instant messaging are added to the workplace, the purpose and strength of email has started to shift, says Nick Morgan. ““Text … [Read more...]
We’re terrible at planning our time. Here’s how to fix it.
The 40-hour work week is a myth, writes Jory MacKay. She describes our bias toward being overly optimistic when it comes to how much time is needed to complete a future task. In other words, we are notoriously bad at figuring out how long a task will take us. . . . most people typically have a window of about three hours where we’re really, really focused . . . we found that … [Read more...]
Policing women’s anger
Gathering knowledge and experiences from a female star athlete, an NFL coach, a governor and conference speakers, Katie Sanders writes about defining a strong female lead. . . . speaking out . . . can be a challenge in the workplace, where women are disproportionately penalized for expressing emotions, especially when they are perceived as angry. Source: Fast Company, October … [Read more...]
How to end your four most common work conversations
Too often we hesitate when it comes to the “ask.” We let our words hang in the air–and hope that our listeners pursue the next steps. Source: Fast Company, August 17, 2018. Link. Judith Humphrey shares how to tell your listeners how you want your message to be acted upon. She covers the call to action in the following scenarios: Networking conversation Corridor chat … [Read more...]
What’s good for GM may be good for you
Everyone in all General Motors offices is banned from walking and talking or texting. This includes CEO Mary Barra. There’s no looking at a phone en route to a meeting, taking calls on the way to the bathroom nor checking email when getting coffee. Safety is one reason, but awareness is another. Source: Fast Company, August 23, 2018. Link. For GM, the smartphone concern is … [Read more...]
When traditional goal setting doesn’t work
A goal should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-sensitive. This is right in most cases. However, in some cases you could spend all your time in the goal-setting process while the market passes you by. So, consider these ideas when you need a non-traditional approach. Source: Fast Company, June 4, 2018. Link. Instead of focusing on changing your habit … [Read more...]
Don’t confuse empathy and kindness
Kindness is certainly a quality to be admired and the world would be a better place if we were kinder to one another. However, there are many situations when being kind is the most unproductive, disrespectful and frankly, the unkindest thing you can do to another human being. Source: Fast Company, May 23, 2018. Link. Here’s what empathy is: It’s putting yourself in someone … [Read more...]
Cover letters are still vital to getting interviews
While cover letters may not carry the importance they once did, those making hiring decisions still rely on cover letters to size up candidates and determine who might be worth calling in for an interview. You can probably boil your full-page cover letter down to a single paragraph or two, without rehashing your resume according to Emily Liou. Source: Fast Company, May 23, … [Read more...]
Align your job with your motives
Do you ever need to psych yourself up to go to work? If so, your job might not align with your personal motives. This is important because motives are the place from which you draw energy. Consider these five common motives to could identify what drives you. Source: Fast Company, April 30, 2018. Link. A mismatch in job and motives will wear you down and eventually cause you … [Read more...]
Baby bison may save Siberian permafrost
To avoid releasing billions of tons of carbon from warming permafrost, scientists in the Pleistocene Park, in the wilds of Siberia, are attempting to reestablish the ecosystem as it was 20,000 years ago. They believe the actions of grazing animals can help keep the ground from thawing. Bison from Alaska will soon join other grazing animals there. Source: Fast Company, April … [Read more...]
The gender wage gap hurts nearly all females
The gender wage gap is a nuanced and complex issue writes Lydia Dishman. She breaks down how it varies across categories, and the ultimate impact it has on the economy including: Gender wage gap by ethnicity Gender wage gap by profession The causes of wage gaps Why closing the wage gaps would boost the economy Source: Fast Company, April 10, 2018. … [Read more...]
Your “but” may not give the right impression
The word “but,” a simple conjunction seems nearly impossible to avoid, is potentially damaging to your brand and reputation, even if only subtly. Typically, “but” follows a more positive statement and signals a note of disagreement, opposition, or confused thinking that’s just around the corner. Source: Fast Company, March 28, 2018. Here are a few common situations where … [Read more...]
New style bee hive is attractive to old and new beekeepers
Solving the challenges of harvesting honey without donning an uncomfortable bee suit, smoking out the bees and going through steps that could kill bees in the process, the popular Flow Hive is bringing bees and beekeepers to backyards. Considering bees fall under the VFD rules, understanding this technology is important for animal health pros. Source: Fast Company, March 9, … [Read more...]
5 workplace issues anticipated in 2018
Here is a look at significant topics that will likely dominate work conversations in 2018: Unequal pay Advertising Generation inclusion Flexible, remote and freelance work Robots and AI Source: Fast Company, December 18, 2017. … [Read more...]
How to grab anyone’s attention in common work situations
Many business discussions are impromptu. Grabbers build an immediate bridge to your listener(s) and clears the way for your message, says Judith Humphreys. She shares seven common scenarios you’re likely to encounter at work, and the grabbers that are best suited to each. Source: Fast Company, December 11, 2017. Think of your grabber as a verbal handshake. It builds a … [Read more...]
Call me. Please!
If you’re one who prefers texts, emails and emojis, it’s likely time to use your phone’s keyboard to call coworkers, customers; even suppliers. In this CEO’s experiment, it turns out that effective phone calls save time, uncover clear direction and yes, tighten relationships. Source: Fast Company, August 1, 2017. What I found was that particularly for more nuanced … [Read more...]
Don’t apologize. Do this instead.
Excessive apologizing can take away others' confidence in you as a leader. Instead, practice moves like thanking people for waiting if you are late to a meeting rather than saying, “sorry,” writes Judith Humphrey. Avoid apologizing before giving bad news so you don't reinforce the negativity of what you will say, and focus on solutions rather than feeling sorry for not being … [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...]
Arrogance or insecurity?
Are those flare-ups of smug self-righteousness your mind’s attempt to spare you from feeling vulnerable? Most of the time, arrogance is used to cover the fear that we’re not really worthy, that we don’t measure up, writes Ted Leonhardt. It’s fear turned upside down and masquerading as superiority. It isn’t too hard to see, but in practice, it can be tough to correct. Source: … [Read more...]
Guide helps eliminate busywork
“Busywork has a double negative impact," Renee Cullinan says. "It consumes time that could be better spent on other things, and it drains energy. Longer term, it breeds a work culture that values activity over results and busyness over effectiveness." Source: Fast Company, January 27, 2017. Cullinan says busywork often fits one of these three scenarios: You don’t know … [Read more...]
Social media transitions in 2017
Ryan Holmes writes about social media, its future, its transition and the opportunities in this article. He writes that for businesses, the decline of organic social media reach needn’t be a doomsday scenario. The new social media order that's taking shape in 2017 promises companies the kind of precision and measurable results long expected from traditional channels such as … [Read more...]
5 ways to keep small teams efficient
John Rampton shares how he works to make small teams as efficient as they can be. These are five key areas: Get everyone square on the team’s goals Give people freedom, then preserve it Automate and outsource wherever you need to Keep check-ins regular and meetings small Craft an unbelievable culture Source: Fast Company, April 25, 2016. In many ways, small … [Read more...]
Praise sandwiches don’t work
“If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all,” was likely taught to you by your parents. We’ve modified this coaching in business with "praise sandwiches”: criticisms wedged in between two generic compliments. Learn how this gives our brains indigestion. Source: Fast Company, April 14, 2016. Research has found that we remember concrete words like "chair" better than … [Read more...]
How to figure out your most productive time of day based on your sleep habits
We’ve all heard and said things like, “There’ll be time to sleep when I die,” or “My mind decides to run when normal people sleep.” In Lessons Learned by Stephanie Vozza we learn from Teofilo Lee-Chiong, that “optimal sleep requires proper duration, quality, consolidation and timing. Disruption to any of these four essential elements of sleep causes a person to wake up feeling … [Read more...]