It’s never too late to write a thank-you note, writes Sally Susman. She shares four other principles of thank-you note writing: Take time to reflect; thank those who are often forgotten; be specific; make it matter. Source: Harvard Business Review, August 8, 2024. Link. In the age of email and 280-character proclamations, thank-you notes are tiny reminders of the limitless … [Read more...]
When resentment is building on your team
Employee discontent is on the rise, shares Rebecca Knight. More workers are thinking about quitting their jobs now than during the Great Resignation in 2022, despite a less favorable job market. People are living more on the edge, making it easy for impatience, concern and discomfort to leak out as sarcasm or subtle verbal attacks that turn into resentment. Two experts share … [Read more...]
When your boss suddenly reduces your scope
Scope reductions frequently arise within the context of restructuring, strategic shifts or mergers and acquisitions. Dina Denham Smith acknowledges these changes can be hard on egos and confusing. She suggests ways to manage emotions, avoid spiraling out of control, dedicate yourself to your next steps and learn from the experiences. Source: Harvard Business Review, August … [Read more...]
Some change is necessary, some inevitable. Creating stability is critical.
Ashley Goodall explains the importance of the virtues of stability, together with an understanding of how to renew and practice creating stability, in this article. Underappreciated, constant change can become the enemy of performance, not its catalyst. “The science is clear: people do best at work when their environment is predictable, when they have some sense of control … [Read more...]
6 ways to bring strategy into work every day
David Lancefield shares six ways to incorporate strategy into daily practices instead of switching on autopilot and defaulting to habits that keep us focused on the familiar. He reminds us to be aware of our personal limitations and practices which prevent us from translating intent into strategic actions. Source: Harvard Business Review, July 12, 2024. Link. We have more … [Read more...]
Worth a Glance – July 11, 2024
Last week’s AHD Bulletin – Animal Health Digest Bulletin, July 3, 2024. Link. This edition contains links to archived content in the Worth a Glance section plus links to previous years’ full editions as well as topic tags. ===================================== How to cope with post-vacation blues Source: Harvard Business Review, July 9, 2024. Link. Feeling drained … [Read more...]
Take these 5 steps before posting that job listing
Sponsored Content As the old saying says, “the hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” Adding another person to a team should be a strategic decision, not just throwing another body at the workload. The time, effort and costs when hiring a new person may never be recovered and more than double if the wrong person is hired. Marlo Lyons shares how to conduct a comprehensive … [Read more...]
Resolving 4 common types of team conflict
Managers spend 20 percent of their time on average managing team conflict. Through experiences and research the authors have identified four common patterns of team conflict: The solo dissenter: conflict surrounds one individual The boxing match: two team members disagree Warring Factions: two subgroups within a team disagree The blame game: the whole team is in … [Read more...]
What really motivates you at work?
You may be engaged in your work, stimulated by your team and motivated by your employer’s mission. But their rewards and recognition strategy may need improving. Carrie Ott-Holland offers five practical techniques to increase the likelihood of getting the rewards and recognition you value most. To keep a good thing going, reflect on and talk about what you want and need to … [Read more...]
Get team members to participate in team meetings
Beyond the traditional meeting agendas, setting expectations and open-ended questions, Luis Velasquez shares ways leaders can make it safe for team members to engage in and contribute to meeting discussions. Source: Harvard Business Review, May 20, 2024. Link. As leaders, we must cultivate teams where every member’s contributions are not only heard but eagerly anticipated, … [Read more...]
The challenge of leaving a long-term job to start something new
Dorie Clark and Natalie Nixon offer advice on to overcome six common transition challenges and share strategies to ensure that a new job or career is just as successful as the last one: Ruminating and second-guessing Feeling guilty Being afraid of losing status Needing to adapt Managing the perceptions of your new colleagues Balancing opposing … [Read more...]
How perfectionists can get out of their own way
Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword, writes Alice Boyes. She shares five ways perfectionists can self-sabotage in the workplace: Struggling to make decisions or take action Worrying excessively about sunk costs Avoiding challenges to avoid failure Applying their high standards to others Ruminating about weaknesses, mistakes, and failures Source: … [Read more...]
Reskilling in the age of AI
This article was awarded the 2023 HBR Prize honoring the best Harvard Business Review article of the year. The authors share the significance of the complexity and pace of technological change. Its velocity will likely require millions of workers to be not only upskilled, but reskilled. Drawing from interviews with representatives of companies worldwide that are already … [Read more...]
How to talk with your team about a decision you disagree with
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...]