Do You Retain Enough of What You Read?

August 23, 2018
Do You Retain Enough of What You Read?
We’re consuming more information than ever before — but retaining all that knowledge is another story. If you find yourself struggling to use what you read (or even just remember it), you probably aren’t learning productively. To be a more efficient learner, try three things. 

First, focus your reading on a single topic for several months. The deeper you go into a subject, the stronger a foundation you’ll have for learning about it in the future. 

Second, regularly synthesize what you have learned. When you finish reading something, ask yourself, “What are the key takeaways here?” If you can’t explain an idea to yourself, you probably didn’t learn it very well.

 And third, take occasional breaks from consuming new information. Reflecting on what you’ve read in the past is an important part of processing it — and constantly taking in new information can interfere with that. Give yourself time to review, consider, and apply what you’ve already read.

Adapted from “Become a More Productive Learner,” by Matt Plummer and Jo Wilson

Make Sure Your Webinar Lets the Audience Participate

August 28, 2018
Make Sure Your Webinar Lets the Audience Participate
One of the biggest risks of presenting via webinar is boring your audience. No one wants to watch as a disembodied voice clicks through slides. So be sure you’re giving people a chance to interact with you. Depending on the number of attendees, you may ask them to “raise their hand” if they have a question, type their questions into the comment box, or use a separate Q&A feature. Whatever you decide, clearly explain the instructions at the beginning of the webinar, and periodically remind people how they can join in. Remember that it may take participants some time to formulate their questions, especially if they're typing them, so give several minutes’ warning before you dive into the Q&A. And if you expect there to be a lot of comments or questions, you may want to have an assistant pick the ones you’ll respond to, so you can focus on your talk.

Adapted from “ How to Give a Webinar Presentation,” by Dorie Clark

New Leaders, Move Slower Than You Think You Should

August 27, 2018
New Leaders, Move Slower Than You Think You Should
When you start a leadership role, there’s pressure to prove yourself by getting off to a quick start and delivering early wins. But if people sense that you’re making a change without thinking it through — or getting their input — you’re unlikely to be successful. That’s why you need to slow down, especially in your interactions. When talking with new colleagues, repeat what you hear, both to confirm your understanding and to demonstrate that you’re listening. Ask the group reflective questions such as, “What just happened here?” and “What could we learn from that?” These questions force a pause, preventing a discussion from rushing to a decision. And don’t be afraid to use silence. Pausing before you speak gives you a chance to weigh alternatives and decide on the best way to respond. It also pushes others to wonder what’s going through your mind, which may cause them to think more creatively.

Adapted from “Why New Leaders Should Be Wary of Quick Wins,” by Dan Ciampa

Use Tough Feedback as an Opportunity for Self-Reflection

August 20, 2018
Use Tough Feedback as an Opportunity for Self-Reflection
Negative feedback is tough to hear, but it doesn’t have to be soul-crushing. When your manager or a colleague points out something you need to improve on, think before you react. Even if the input is upsetting or surprising, remind yourself that it’s useful information to have. One simple, effective way to consider what you’ve heard is to put your feelings into words. For example, after a critical performance review, you might say to yourself, “I feel blindsided and a little scared.” Naming your emotions can keep them from overwhelming your ability to act on the feedback. Then ask a few trustworthy sources whether they agree with what your manager or colleague said. It can be hard to know how others see us, so getting multiple points of view will help you understand the impression you create. It will also prevent you from overcorrecting based on one person’s opinion — which, after all, is what feedback sometimes is.

Adapted from “The Right Way to Respond to Negative Feedback,” by Tasha Eurich

To Start a Paid Speaking Career, Start Speaking for Free

July 30, 2018

To Start a Paid Speaking Career, Start Speaking for Free

Many professionals would love to speak at conferences and conventions. If you’ve established yourself as a capable speaker, you may be able to find gigs that pay well. But when you’re first starting out, speaking for free is a perfectly reasonable strategy: It will let you practice and hone your skills, and it will get you in front of audiences who could hire you in the future. There might be other, more tangible benefits too, such as the opportunity to travel. Some conferences will cover your travel costs even if they don’t pay a speaking fee. Once you’re offered a talk, consider asking the organization to film it so that you can use the video to find new clients. Ask for a testimonial for your website, too. Even if you aren’t being paid, speaking connects you with people who care about the same things you do, which is an invaluable experience.

Adapted from “How Much Should You Charge for a Speech?,” by Dorie Clark

Stop Dominating the Conversation in Your Meetings

August 1, 2018

Stop Dominating the Conversation in Your Meetings

When you’re leading a meeting, it’s tempting to hold the floor. After all, you called everyone together, right? 
But no one wants to go to a meeting where one person talks the whole time, and you’re unlikely to get what you need from the group if you’re delivering a monologue. 
To keep yourself in check, try three tactics.
(1) First, make notes and stick to them. Give yourself a time limit, and condense what you have to say into that amount of time. 
(2) Second, send the agenda around in advance. Tell people whose opinions you respect that you are hoping they will speak up, and then call on them during the meeting. 
(3)Third, use a round-robin format, where you go around the room and everyone has an opportunity to talk. 
Some people will pass, but at least they were given the chance — and didn’t have to interrupt you to get a word in.

Courtesy : HBR 

Business Travel Can Ruin Your Health. Don’t Let It.

August 22, 2018
Business Travel Can Ruin Your Health. Don’t Let It.
Traveling for work is bad for your health, especially if you do it often. Research shows that business travel can increase your risk of weight gain, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence, and poor sleep. So if you travel for work regularly, make sure you know how to establish healthy habits on the road. Try to eat low-calorie meals whenever possible, even if your culinary options are limited. You might be tempted to reward yourself after a long day, but resist the urge to order the steak and fries or a late-night cocktail. Those choices will take a toll over time. And don’t skip out on exercise. Stay in a hotel with a gym (and use it), or do simple exercises in your room, such as push-ups and squats. You can also take walks in between meetings, or join colleagues outside for a walking meeting. The physical activity will help prevent weight gain and reduce stress.

Adapted from “Just How Bad Is Business Travel for Your Health? Here’s the Data,” by Andrew Rundle

Presenting in English When It Isn’t Your Native Language

August 2, 2018

Presenting in English When It Isn’t Your Native Language

If you aren’t a native speaker of English, giving a presentation in the language may be very stressful. Using the right approach can help. Take extra time to prepare your delivery, and practice more than you think you need to. Yes, your PowerPoint slides matter, but rehearsing your presentation out loud matters even more. Start your presentation by speaking slowly, and articulate your words carefully and confidently. This will help listeners acclimate to your voice, which is important in the first minute or two. (If you’re anxious about having an accent, don’t worry—everyone has one, including native English speakers.) As you continue speaking, pause often. Pausing will give listeners a chance to comprehend your message, and give you a break. To make sure they understand you, you can ask a question: “I know that I am making sense to myself in [your native language]. How am I doing in English?” Your goal doesn’t have to be to speak perfect English. Instead, focus on presenting with confidence.

Adapted from “3 Tips for Presenting in English When You're Not a Native Speaker,” by Deborah Grayson Riegel

Don’t Let a Promotion Hurt Your Work Friendships

August 24, 2018
Don’t Let a Promotion Hurt Your Work Friendships

It’s good to have friends at work, but those relationships can get complicated. If you’ve been promoted above your friends, and people who used to be peers are now your direct reports, you might feel unsure of how to act toward them. You can reduce any strain on your friendships by being open and honest. Talk to your friends about the stresses and responsibilities of the new position. You may think that what you’re dealing with is obvious, but that’s probably not the case. Explain the tensions you feel between valuing your friends and, for example, having to evaluate them or assign them work. Discuss how to strike a balance, whether it’s avoiding work-related topics when you’re socializing or agreeing to keep each other in the loop (when you can) about what’s going on. You don’t have to lose your friends when you’re promoted — but you do need to be careful in how you interact.

Adapted from “Why Work Friendships Go Awry, and How to Prevent It,” by Art Markman

Complex Problem Solving - some tips.

Complex Problem Solving - some tips.

Solve Complex Problems by EXPANDING Your Thinking !!

Too many leaders approach complex problems with" EITHER-OR " thinking: The answer is right or wrong, good or bad, win or lose.

To cultivate a NUANCED perspective, challenge your understanding of the problem.
How ?
Ask yourself, “What am I not seeing here?” and
“What else might be true?”
Don’t seek out answers that just CONFIRM what you already know ( leaders to Confirmation Bias ) !

It’s also helpful to tackle this kind of challenge first thing in the morning, when your mind is fresh. Spend at least AN HOUR on it without interruption. The dedicated time ensures that you give a complex issue the ATTENTION it needs — attention that might otherwise be consumed by less intellectually demanding tasks.

And as you work, pay attention to how you're FEELING. !!

Embracing complexity is an EMOTIONAL challenge in addition to a cognitive one.

You’ll need to manage TOUGH emotions like FEAR and ANGER and get yourself out of " flight-or-fight" mode so that you can think more expansively.
Courtesy : Harvard Business Review

If You Need to Be Invited to That Big Meeting, Prove It

August 3, 2018
If You Need to Be Invited to That Big Meeting, Prove It
We often try to cut down on the number of meetings we have. But sometimes you need to get into an important meeting. To prove you should be in the room, be proactive. Start by thinking objectively about why you weren’t invited. Was it an oversight, or an intentional decision by the meeting organizer? Ask yourself what unique contribution you can make to the discussion. How will you advance the goal of the meeting, and how can you make that clear to the organizer? Then assess your work style. You may have been left out because of the way others perceive you—perhaps you aren’t seen as a good listener or collaborator. Consider asking your peers for feedback on how you act and then making the necessary shifts so that others can appreciate what you bring. Once you’ve taken these steps, you’ll be in a better position to secure that invitation.

Adapted from “How to Get Yourself Invited to Important Meetings,” by Nina Bowman

To Make Networking Less Exhausting, Bring a Talkative Colleague

August 6, 2018

To Make Networking Less Exhausting, Bring a Talkative Colleague

Networking can be good for your career, but introducing yourself to a roomful of people can also be draining. The next time you attend a conference or professional happy hour, consider bringing along a coworker to help. The two of you can divide and conquer, meaning you’ll each talk to different people and then share notes. That way you’ll both expend less energy while still gathering a large number of contacts by the end of the night. Choose a colleague who is more extroverted than you and who gets excited by socializing with others. Come up with a plan for who will talk to whom. And remember that it’s OK to take a break during the event to restore your energy. Even if it’s just a few minutes long, it might give you the boost you need to get back to making small talk.

Adapted from “How to Keep Networking from Draining You,” by Jordana Valencia

When Presenting, Speak Slowly and Use Simple Words

August 16, 2018
When Presenting, Speak Slowly and Use Simple Words
You might have a great idea or exciting results to share, but if you don’t deliver your message with confidence, it will fall flat. To look confident when you’re speaking to an audience, pace your talking speed. Speak a little slower than you think you need to. Pay particular attention to speed if your presentation isn’t live (maybe you’re talking on the phone or in a webinar), since the audience can’t watch your mouth and facial expressions. And no matter the format, use simple words. Long, convoluted sentences and jargon don’t make you sound smart. You gain credibility and respect by articulating complex ideas in simple language. To remember to go slow and speak plainly, make yourself rehearse under stress. Practicing the presentation in front of people, even if it’s in your office or your living room, will keep you from cracking under pressure when delivering the real deal.

Adapted from “5 Ways to Project Confidence in Front of an Audience,” by Carmine Gallo

How to Say No to Office Housework

July 9, 2018

How to Say No to Office Housework

No one likes “office housework” — low-importance tasks such as ordering lunch and taking notes in meetings. But research shows that certain groups of people, including women and people of color, are more likely to be assigned this kind of work, and that taking it on can hurt their careers. When faced with office housework, what should you do? First, have a prepared answer about how your time would be better spent: “I was hired to do X, and this new task would take away time from completing X well.” For on-the-spot requests like ordering lunch, you might say, “I really need to be present during that meeting, as it’s critical to what I’m working on.” When you say no to housework, offer to do something higher-value instead. And if you can’t say no, make sure that people are aware of the extra work you’re doing and that you at least get credit for it.

Adapted from “Women of Color Get Asked to Do More ‘Office Housework.’ Here’s How They Can Say No,” by Ruchika Tulshyan

When Joining a Company, Figure Out How Decisions Are Made

july 3, 2018
When Joining a Company, Figure Out How Decisions Are Made
When you join an organization, you have a short window of time to adapt to its culture. And one of the most important aspects of a work culture is how decisions are made. Does your new company have a bias for action, or a bias for analysis and consensus? In organizations with the former, decisions are made quickly and attention spans tend to be limited. If you’re pushing for an initiative in these companies, present your position clearly and give stakeholders the information they need to make a decision. Other company cultures prefer a more protracted discussion of options, models, and strategies. In these companies you’ll likely need to send around materials and analyses, and perhaps even redo a presentation several times, before a decision is made. Once you understand how your new organization works, think about your own preferences and how they fit with the culture.

Adapted from “When You Start a New Job, Pay Attention to These 5 Aspects of Company Culture,” by Allan H. Church and Jay A. Conger

To Motivate a Mid-Career Employee, Offer a Change of Scenery

June 29, 2018


To Motivate a Mid-Career Employee, Offer a Change of Scenery

The mid-career crisis is a real phenomenon. Research has shown that people’s satisfaction bottoms out when they’re in the middle of their careers. 
As a manager, you don’t want to lose these valuable employees just because they fall into a slump. 
To keep them engaged, consider offering a change of scenery through remote work or even a relocation.
(a) Remote work can let them change their personal lives without hurting their professional progress.
(b) A relocation to a different office could make sense for both the company and the employee if that office needs the employee’s skills. Of course, a relocation is a big life change for the employee, so the company should be ready to assist with the move. 
In offering these options, you can help an experienced employee who still has years left in their career rekindle their enthusiasm for work.

Adapted from “Many Employees Have a Mid-Career Crisis. Here’s How Employers Can Help,” by Serenity Gibbons

When You Give Feedback, Do You Listen, Too?

When You Give Feedback, Do You Listen, Too?

As a manager, your job is to give feedback. But if you want your employees to really hear what you’re saying, you need to listen, too. Research suggests a manager’s attentive, nonjudgmental listening makes an employee more relaxed, more self-aware, and less defensive. The next time you’re coaching someone, listen carefully and thoughtfully to everything they say. Don’t jump to conclusions or interrupt. Give the person space to express themselves, and ask good questions to encourage them to keep talking. When people sense that others are truly hearing them, they’re much more likely to open up. Use eye contact and body language to signal that you’re focused on your employee and want to hear their thoughts. And refrain from suggesting solutions to problems. Even with feedback, your role should be to help the employee discover solutions themselves.

Adapted from “The Power of Listening in Helping People Change,” by Guy Itzchakov and Avraham N. Kluger

Instead of Complaining About a Colleague, Talk to Them

August 13, 2018
Instead of Complaining About a Colleague, Talk to Them
Let’s be honest: Sometimes complaining about a coworker feels good. But although it helps you release pent-up emotions, venting is a sideways move. In other words, we usually complain to a friend or colleague — and we rarely confront the person we’re complaining about. So the next time you want to complain, try taking it to the source of the problem. For example, let’s say a coworker yells in a meeting. Your first instinct might be to complain to another colleague about their brash behavior. Instead, take some time to calm down. Think about exactly what bothered you and what you want to complain about (it’s not OK to yell and disrespect others in a meeting). Decide what you can do to shift the person’s behavior or improve the situation (perhaps saying, “Please don’t shout in meetings — let’s respect each other in our conversations”). And then follow through by speaking to the person directly.

Adapted from “The Next Time You Want to Complain at Work, Do This Instead,” by Peter Bregman

Does Your Team's Work Style Inconvenience Remote Employees?

August 9, 2018

Does Your Team's Work Style Inconvenience Remote Employees?

Life on a global team isn’t necessarily equitable. Employees far from headquarters often have less access to the team leader, and have to deal with regular inconveniences such as late-night calls because they’re in a different time zone. As a manager, it’s your job to ensure that remote employees aren’t carrying an extra burden. Consider rotating the time of weekly team calls so that everyone takes a turn at having the meeting during regular business hours (or at the very least, find the least inconvenient time for your remote employees to participate.) Even small courtesies can help distant team members feel noticed, such as translating meeting times into all the time zones that your people work in. And schedule periodic offsites for the whole team to get together and connect. If your budget allows, you can even hold these meetings in different locations around the globe.

Adapted from “How to Keep a Global Team Engaged,” by Andy Molinksy

Read the room before your next meeting . Feel it

August 10, 2018

Read the Room Before Your Next Meeting

In every conversation at work, there’s the explicit discussion (the words being spoken out loud) and the tacit one — the things being communicated subtly. It’s important to know how to read a room so that you can understand what’s NOT being said. 
The best way to do this is to pay attention to the people in it. 
Note who’s next to whom, who’s relaxed, who’s not, who’s standing, and who’s sitting. 
Look at their facial expressions, posture, and body language.

 Does the mood in the room feel tense, or relaxed?
 Then think about possible reasons for your colleagues’ emotional states. 
What's happening in their lives and jobs?
 This can be tricky if you don’t know the people in the room, but you can still come up with hypotheses.
 Then check those hypotheses by talking to colleagues in private. You might say something like, “In the meeting I saw you furrow your brow when discussion turned to the big project.
 How do you feel about it?”.

Adapted from “Tips for Reading the Room Before a Meeting or Presentation,” by Rebecca Knight