3 tips to increase your work productivity

 

NOVEMBER 1, 2010

3 Tips for Increasing Your Productivity

We live in a demanding and distracting world. Being productive can sometimes feel like an impossible feat. Here are three ways to get more done without burning out: Keep one to-do list. Include everything you want or need to do in one place. Writing it down helps get it off your mind and leaves you free to focus on the task at hand. Do the most important thing first. Before you leave work in the evening, decide what one thing you need to accomplish the next day. Do it first thing in the morning, when you're likely to have the most energy and fewest distractions. Schedule time for non-urgent things. It's easy to get caught up in the pressing issues of the day. Block off time in your calendar to do things that would otherwise get squeezed out, like writing, thinking creatively, or building relationships.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Six Ways to Supercharge Your Productivity" by Tony Schwartz.

make people talk in office meetings

 3 Ways to Encourage Meeting Participation !

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You know the drill: A meeting is called to discuss an important issue
but only the usual suspects participate. Everyone else is quiet and
their opinions go unheard. Meaningful contribution is the key to
meeting success. Here are three ways to get more people involved:

1.Don't dominate. This not only gives others less time to speak up but
also conveys that only your ideas are important. Let at least three
people speak before you talk again.

2.Be positive. Demonstrate that all ideas are valuable by restating
important points. Thank people who are usually reticent for their
comments.

3.Ask directly. To get input from everyone, ask each person for their
thoughts. Don't do it in a confrontational way. Try, "Do you have
anything to share?"

Think like a designer - not like a manager

3 Ways to Think like a Designer , not like a Manager ! ( July 2011 ) 
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Good designers see the world differently. Their unique views enable them to come up with new products and innovations that leave the rest of us envious.

Here are three ways you can approach innovation like a designer:

(1) Think about people, not customers. No one asked for the iPod or  WhatsApp like instant messenger for texting in a customer survey. Move beyond asking what customers want to thinking about what they need, or don't know they need.

( 2) Observe. Get out in the world and watch what people do. Don't rely on what they say about their behavior see it first hand. What are their pain areas ? Challenges ? 

*(3) Look at what might change. Be futuristic .  You can't be too focused on today. Think instead about what the future might bring !

Making career change ? 3 tips

 

OCTOBER 28, 2011 Friday

3 Tips for Navigating a Career Change

Whether you're starting your own business or joining a different industry, making a mid-career move can be a challenge. Consider these three tips when contemplating a shift in your career trajectory: Prepare to feel scared and lonely. Career moves can often involve loss of stature and financial stability. Accept that difficult feelings are part of the process. Settle for an uncharted path. Changing careers means leaving the well-trod path. You won't know from the outset what comes next, but that's what taking risks entails. Use new metrics. Perhaps earlier in your career you used money or fame to measure your success. Maybe now you want more autonomy, flexibility, or to make a positive impact on the world.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Disrupt Yourself" by Whitney Johnson.

Find your career sponsor and keep them - here's how ! 3 days

 

NOVEMBER 17, 2011 Thursday

Find and Keep a Sponsor

Sponsors are like turbocharged mentors. They offer guidance but also advocate for you by suggesting you for a promotion, calling in favors, or connecting you with other leaders. (1) To find a sponsor, recognize that you must earn one with performance and loyalty. Look for leaders who are impressed with your ability to get results or appreciate your work ethic. Demonstrate that you are a dedicated and hard-working employee before asking someone to take you on as a protégé. (2)  Then be sure to meet deadlines, exceed targets, and prove that you work for the greater good of the company.  Keep your sponsor in the loop about your progress and your career. (3) Remember it is a two-way street, so find ways to support your sponsor's interests and passions as well.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "The Relationship You Need to Get Right" by Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Melinda Marshall, and Laura Sherbin.

How much money for each vote

 

OCTOBER 18, 2011 Tuesday

The Cost of Getting a Vote: $145

Exploitative capitalistic system in a democratic  society . And the genesis of crony-capitalism  ( context : USA Politics ) Swaying a single voter costs a U.S. politician an average of $145 in campaign spending, according to an analysis of election data by Matilde Bombardini and Francesco Trebbi of the University of British Columbia.  Factoring this into their calculations, the researchers also find that industries and other special-interest groups receive about $71 in government subsidies for every $1 of political contributions.

This holds good for only bench sitter voters who are undecided . It costs nothing to garner votes from people who decided to vote for you anyway . If the voter is bent on voting to the opposite party, you can't do much .

Source: Votes or money? Theory and evidence from the US Congress

Decision Making Blunder - Sunk Cost Bias - how to overcome

 

OCTOBER 24, 2011

Don't Make Decisions Based on Sunk Costs

It's tempting to make choices that justify past choices. For example, you may refuse to end a suffering project because of the time and effort already put into it. But these sunk costs are in the past. Here are three ways to make decisions that focus on the future: Get a second opinion. Listen carefully to people who were uninvolved with earlier decisions and unlikely to be as committed to them. Be easy on yourself. Even the best managers make mistakes and it's okay to reverse a previous decision. Don't encourage a fear of failure. When evaluating decisions, look at the quality of the process, not just the outcomes.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from Harvard Business Review on Making Smart Decisions.

3 tips to managers in engaging their peeps

 

OCTOBER 27, 2011 Thursday  Engage Your People Engaged employees are essential to a manager's success. Without subordinates who care about, participate in, and take ownership over the work, even the best boss will flounder. Here are three ways to win your employees' engagement: Be modest. Share both your mistakes and your successes. Subordinates will see that you're both human and don't have anything to prove. Show that you're listening. People tune in to body language. Manage where you look and what you do with your hands so that employees know you're paying attention. Don't have all the answers. Managers should catalyze problem solving. Be willing to admit that you don't know what the answer is and invite your team to toss around ideas. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "How to Cultivate Engaged Employees" by Charalambos A. Vlachoutsicos.

25, single French men , labour market & unemployment dole

 

OCTOBER 14, 2011

France's Minimum-Income Law Becomes a Disincentive to Work

When single uneducated males in France become 25 years old, the age when the French "minimum income" law kicks in, their participation in the labor force drops by 7% to 10%, according to Olivier Bargain and Karina Doorley of University College Dublin in Ireland. Single men constitute the core group of the social-assistance program's recipients. It's likely that the disincentive diminishes as the men age and the opportunity costs of staying out of the labor market increase, the researchers say.

Source: Caught in the trap? Welfare's disincentive and the labor supply of single men

Property sales price linked to photos & time to sale

 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 Thu

Pics Boost Your Home's Price But Delay the Sale

Photos in real estate listings raise a home's ultimate selling price but tend to increase the number of days it stays on the market, perhaps because buyers need more time to process the information that photos provide, says a team led by Justin D. Benefield of the College of Charleston. On average, a seller can get an additional $11,500 by posting photos, but at the expense of about 20 additional days on the market, the research shows.

Source: On the Relationship Between Property Price, Time-on-Market, and Photo Depictions in a Multiple Listing Service

Murray's Law of success on your own terms

 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 friday  Set Your Own Standards for Personal Success Anyone who has been to a school reunion knows the pressure to look successful. In business, we often define external yardsticks and measure performance against them. But that same logic is not always appropriate when it comes to measuring the success of your professional life. As long as you use external standards to evaluate your success, you are guaranteed dissatisfaction—you'll always find someone who is doing more, making more, or has more. Instead of focusing outward, ask yourself what your standards of success are. Write them down and share them with those closest to you. This ensures you measure what matters to you, not to others. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Murray's Law for Success on Your Own Terms" by Larry Stybel.

Nursing wages and use of anti psychotic drugs and sedatives ( directly proportional)

 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 Friday  Nursing Homes Give More Drugs When Staff Wages Rise A 10% rise in nursing-home staff wages increases the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications for demented patients by 1.1% to 3.5%, according to a team of researchers led by David C. Grabowski of Harvard Medical School. Nursing homes use various means to manage patients' behavior, and drugs are sometimes seen as less-costly substitutes for staff when wages rise. Source: Labor Prices and the Treatment of Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

USA Equity Markets returns

 

OCTOBER 10, 2011 Stock Market's Lost Decade Paid 91 Cents on the Dollar A $1 investment in the S&P 500 Index at the beginning of 2000 was worth just 91 cents 10 years later after "the worst decade in stock market history," writes Charles P. Jones of North Carolina State University in the Journal of Investing. What made the Lost Decade so bad wasn't just the 2008 crash but also the dismal years 2000-2002. In order to earn an overall 7% return on stocks for the first 40 years of the twenty-first century, an investor would have to earn an average 10% return from now through the next three decades, Jones writes. Source: Can Recent Long-Term Investors Recover from Their 2000–2009 Stock Losses?

Fight ' Group Think' & encourage your direct reports to speak up and be frank

 

OCTOBER 10, 2011

Encourage Push Back

Deference to authority is deeply engrained in most of us. As a leader you need to fight it in your direct reports. If people automatically defer to your judgment, you may miss out on critical feedback !  (1)  Make it easy for people to speak up, and remember to actively ask for their opinions. When talking about projects give some initial thoughts, but then ask for help fleshing out ideas. (2)  Recognize people who speak up and reward those who challenge you. (3) Most importantly, try not to react immediately if you start to feel threatened, or you risk shutting down the discussion.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "The Dangers of Deference" by Ron Ashkenas.

Stagnant labour market of USA

 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011 Wednesday

Landing a Job Is Much Harder Now Than in 1990s

An unemployed person stands just a 17% chance of finding a job in the U.S., down from 30% during the 1994-2000 era of healthy economic growth, say Arjun Jayadev of the University of Massachusetts and Michael Konczal of the Roosevelt Institute. In the current economic climate, "entering the labor force and obtaining employment has become incredibly difficult," the researchers say.

Source: The stagnant labor market: some aspects of the bleak picture

Working with global colleagues - cross cultural

 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011 Wednesday

3 Ways to Be a Better Global Collaborator

In our increasingly globalized world, it is essential to know how to collaborate with people from different cultures. But it's not enough to take a class or read a book. Here are three tips for building your global savvy with culturally-diverse colleagues: Be aware of your actions. Be cognizant of how people receive and interpret your behavior. Recognize that you have a different worldview and therefore a different approach to getting work done. Prototype instead of stereotype. It goes without saying that stereotyping can be offensive and ineffective. Develop prototypes instead. Research the culture you'll be working with to understand typical responses or approaches, but remember there is nuance. Be curious. The best way to learn is to ask questions. Invite your counterpart out for coffee or lunch and ask what it means to be a successful leader in his country.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Be a Better Global Collaborator" by Amy Gallo.

From Competition to Collaboration , the transition

 

OCTOBER 17, 2011 Monday  Two Ways to Stop Competing For many people, competing (and winning) is the easiest path to success. But, as the world becomes more complex, collaborating may be more important than competing. If competition is getting in the way of your success, try these two strategies: Trade places. Put yourself in the shoes of the person you would normally compete with. You can shadow them for a day or even do a more formal job rotation. The more you understand the view from the other side, the less inclined you'll be to compete. Talk it out. Get together with your "competition" to discuss ways you might be able to work together. This will help each of you become more invested in the other's success. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Learning Not to Compete" by Ron Ashkenas.

presentation skills - 3 steps to prepare

  

OCTOBER 21, 2011 Friday

3 Steps to Prepare an Effective Presentation

Delivering a successful presentation requires careful preparation. Next time you're getting ready to present, follow these three steps. Create a clear narrative. Don't start by creating slides. First get your story down, and design slides or collect data to illustrate that compelling narrative. Do a dry run. Read through the slides aloud. Do it seated in front of your computer screen so that you don't have to think about your body language. Rehearse without slides. Finally, do a run-through while standing in a vacant conference room without your slides. This will allow you to concentrate on the story, as well as your eye contact, gestures, posture, and voice.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Learning Presenting Skills by Learning to Swim" by Jerry Weissman

Ethical Dangers of Deliberative Decision Making

 

NOVEMBER 18, 2011 Fridasy

Careful Deliberation Makes You More Likely to Cheat

68.2% of people who were in a deliberative mindset were willing to lie for their own gain, compared with just 36.4% of people who were thinking intuitively, suggesting that thoughtful deliberation poses a danger to moral judgment, according to a series of psychological experiments by Chen-Bo Zhong of the University of Toronto. Zhong questions whether traditional business education focuses too intently on cultivating a deliberative decision approach in managers.

Source: The Ethical Dangers of Deliberative Decision Making I don't know what is this ' Deliberative Decision Making ' is ! So I asked Chat GPT, are there really inherent ethical dangers of Deliberative Decision Making process ? Here are 2 answers. 1 regeneration.  Deliberative decision-making, when done ethically and with careful consideration, is generally seen as a valuable process for arriving at well-thought-out and just decisions. However, like any decision-making process, there can be potential ethical dangers or challenges associated with deliberation. Here are some considerations: Exclusionary Practices: Deliberation may inadvertently exclude certain voices or perspectives. If not carefully managed, the process could marginalize minority opinions or disenfranchise certain groups. It's important to ensure inclusivity and representation. Power Dynamics: Power imbalances within the deliberative group can affect the decision-making process. Some participants may have more influence or authority, leading to decisions that favor certain interests over others. Efforts should be made to mitigate power differentials and ensure a fair process. Manipulation and Coercion: Deliberation relies on open and honest communication. However, there's a risk that participants may attempt to manipulate or coerce others to achieve a particular outcome. Ensuring transparency and a commitment to ethical behavior is crucial. Groupthink: Deliberative groups may be susceptible to groupthink, where members prioritize conformity over critical thinking. This can lead to a suppression of dissenting views and a rush to consensus without fully exploring alternative perspectives. Inadequate Information: Deliberation requires relevant and accurate information for participants to make informed decisions. If information is withheld or manipulated, it can compromise the integrity of the decision-making process. Implementation and Follow-through: Even if the deliberative process itself is ethical, there can be ethical challenges in the implementation of decisions. If decisions are not carried out as intended or if there is a lack of accountability, the legitimacy of the deliberative process may be called into question. Time and Resource Constraints: Deliberative decision-making can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. In situations where there are urgent decisions to be made, there may be ethical challenges in balancing the need for thorough deliberation with the need for timely action. To address these ethical challenges, it's important to incorporate principles of fairness, transparency, inclusivity, and accountability into the deliberative process. Additionally, ongoing evaluation and feedback mechanisms can help identify and rectify ethical issues as they arise. Ethical guidelines and codes of conduct for participants can also contribute to a more robust and principled deliberative decision-making process.

Bullet point in your personal elevator pitch

 

NOVEMBER 25, 2011 Friday

Perfect Your Personal Elevator Pitch

To find a job, you need to be ready to market yourself at any time. Make sure you're equipped with the right pitch—don't be afraid to toot your own horn, and don't waste time reiterating your resume. Instead, state in one concrete sentence what makes you so effective. Talking about the impact you've had—and can continue to have—is much more compelling than listing your experience. For example, one assistant said of herself, "I can make any boss shine." Speak at a pace that shows you are calm and confident. Practice your pitch often. And remember that jobs don't just come from interviews. Use any opportunity you have to deliver your pitch—at family gatherings, in waiting rooms, or at the coffee shop. Don't wait for the elevator.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from Guide to Getting a Job.

When U don't ask, the answer is always NO ! Y should U ask for a favor ?

 

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Ask for a Favor

Entrepreneurs or executives often hesitate to ask for help because they worry about being intrusive or appearing needy. The truth is that it's innately satisfying to assist others, and most people want to help. Next time you want to make a connection with someone, ask them for a favor. Request that they serve as a reference or provide a testimonial of your work. Hit them up for new client referrals or job leads. Don't be shy about it. Asking for favors can be a powerful way to get people to like you better, because they become invested in your success.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "The Fear That's Holding Back Your Business" by Dorie Clark.

Take time for long time strategy ( leadership )

 

NOVEMBER 29, 2011

Make Room for the Big Picture

Most leaders recognize the need to think strategically about the future. But many fail to dedicate the proper time and attention to doing it. Thinking about the big picture is not as simple as clearing your calendar and turning off your devices. Here are two things you also need to do: Clear the deck. Don't try to do everything. Say no to administrative tasks and unnecessary meetings. Ask your team for help so that you can find the time. Percolate. Think of the last time you had a great idea. Were you under pressure? More likely it came when you gave it time to gel. Don't force ideas; give yourself time and space to ruminate.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "For Great Leadership, Clear Your Head" by Joshua Ehrlich.

Shaving & grooming fetches you 5% more salary in job interviews

 

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OCTOBER 27, 2011 Are You Unattractive? Then Shave Carefully Good grooming generates a wage premium of 4% to 5% for young men and can partially offset the earnings disadvantage of not being physically attractive, say Philip K. Robins, Jenny F. Homer, and Michael T. French of the University of Miami. Good grooming affects women's wages too, but less so. Previous research has found a "plainness penalty" of 5% to 10% of wages for both men and women. Source: Beauty and the Labor Market: Accounting for the Additional Effects of Personality and Grooming

team vibe is off ... what do u do ? ( vintage tweets of 2023 )

 Fri 29 Dec 2023

Does Your Team Vibe Feel Off?

(In the run-up to the new year, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips from 2023.)

Is your team feeling stuck, stymied, or just a bit stale? Maybe you’ve lost your collective sense of purpose. Maybe interpersonal tensions are building. Or maybe it just doesn’t feel quite like a team anymore.

How can you intervene as a manager? Understand that it’s normal for team dynamics to ebb and flow over time and reflect on what exactly feels off. Then decide whether your team ultimately needs to be realigned or revitalized.

(1) To realign your team, start by resetting mandates and goals. 

Ask yourself and your team: What external trends do we need to adapt to? 

How should our team’s role and value shift as the organization evolves around us? 

Adapt your targets and metrics accordingly—and reevaluate your strategies, workflows, and individual responsibilities to optimize for these new goals.

(2) To revitalize your team, start by auditing your communication habits. 

Your ultimate goal is to establish new ground rules that make collaboration simpler and more respectful. 

What’s working? What’s causing friction?

 Don’t be afraid to redesign your communication channels and expectations to reflect the needs of your team. (This includes rethinking your team’s meeting culture, too.)

This tip is adapted from "28 Questions to Ask When Your Team’s Vibe Is Off," by Liane Davey

( vintage tips 2023 ) 10 Q s to ask ur manager in ur next check in

 Thu 28 Dec 2023 

10 Questions to Ask Your Boss in Your Next Check-In

( In the run-up to the new year, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips from 2023.)

Do you feel like you’re not getting the guidance, clarity, or feedback you need from your manager in your one-on-one meetings? If so, redirect the focus by asking the right questions.

(1) Ask for guidance on tasks and projects:

(a) I’m having some challenges with X. Can you help me think about how to navigate it successfully?

(b) What do you think of my idea Z? Do you have any suggestions for how to improve it, or an alternative idea I should consider?

 (2) Clarify priorities and expectations:

(a) Given what’s on my plate, what should I be prioritizing right now, and can you help me understand why?

(b) As you review my workload, am I taking on the right projects?

 (3) Align with the organization and its strategy:

(a) To help me better understand the big picture, how does the work I’m doing fit into the company’s broader goals?

(b) What’s new in our company’s strategic priorities that you feel I should know about?

 (4) Seek growth opportunities and career advancement:

(a) What can I do to prepare myself for greater opportunities or to pursue X interest of mine?

(b) What should I be targeting as my next career move and why?

(5) Get feedback on your performance:

(a) Am I meeting your expectations? I really value your perspective on my performance.

(b) What should I start, stop, or continue doing?

This tip is adapted from "28 Questions to Ask Your Boss in Your One-on-Ones," by Steven G. Rogelberg et al.