| NOVEMBER 30, 2012 Friday | |||
| What You Can Do To Prevent Layoffs | |||
Are layoffs just a fact of life? Or are they avoidable? Sure, few managers have a say in whether their company will lay off employees, but there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood:
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| SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 Tuesday |
| For a Relaxing Commute, Hitch Your Car to a Wireless "Road Train" |
| Volvo has tested a "road train" concept in which drivers queue behind a designated lead vehicle, such as a truck, driven by a professional driver, and a wireless system from the truck takes over the operation of the cars. Drivers can regain control of their cars and get out of line when they reach their destinations. In a tryout in Spain, three vehicles followed a truck for 124 miles at 53 miles per hour, according to the Wall Street Journal. |
| Source: No Drivers, Many Roads |
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| OCTOBER 5, 2012 Friday | |||
| Starting a Business? Skip the Plan | |||
| Not all entrepreneurs need a business plan. Most start-ups succeed because the founder had an authentic vision and clarity of purpose, not a well-written document. While not all planning is bad, the content that most business plans focus on has little to do with the reality that will actually emerge. Instead of agonizing over a document, focus on identifying exactly why your business should exist. Clearly articulate the bigger goal at hand, whether you call it vision, purpose, or calling. This will guide you and the business. And remember that the team is more important than any plan. It's worth spending time making sure you are working and partnering with the right people. | |||
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| NOVEMBER 20, 2012 Tuesday |
| Kids in Big Families Get Less, but Achieve More |
| Each additional child in a family is associated with higher reading scores, even though additional births reduce parents' investments in their offspring: In a study by Marc Frenette of the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation in Canada, the number of computers per child in homes with six children was 64% lower than in homes with two children, and parents in six-child homes were 54% less likely to have saved for college than parents in two-child homes. Parents of large families may be more likely to be out of the workforce, and their presence in the home may boost children's abilities. Another possibility is that parental investments in children ultimately have no effect, Frenette says. |
| Source: Why do larger families reduce parental investments in child quality, but not child quality per se? |
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Monday 27 March 2023
Make Peace with a Difficult Colleague
Think about your most annoying colleague—the one who does that thing that just irks you. Now consider the possibility that they might never change. How can you make peace with their flaws and not build resentment?
(1) Clarify your principles.
Write down what you believe about forgiveness. Are there conditions that can warrant it, and if so, what are they? Do you have limits on how frequently you forgive (e.g., three strikes and you’re out)? What things have you deemed unforgivable?
(2) Separate your emotions from your actions.
Write down all the emotions you’ve felt toward your colleague—resentment, vindictiveness, fear, etc. Next, consider how these emotions have shaped your behavior. Have you vented about the person to colleagues, or given them the cold shoulder? Be honest about which reactions are counterproductive.
(3) Reflect on the whole story.
Take a step back and reconsider. Are there factors you’ve ignored? How might you be contributing to the problem? Are you being unfair? Be willing to shape a new mindset about the situation and your colleague.
(4) Forgive—and adjust your posture.
Consciously choose to let go of your negative feelings toward your colleague. Just as important, forgive yourself for any part you’ve played in the problem, and for expecting someone to be something they’re not. Choose to be more gracious, hospitable, and kind.
This tip is adapted from “Forgiving a Difficult Colleague,” by Ron Carucci
| DECEMBER 20, 2012 | |||
| Don't Grow Your Business Too Fast | |||
Yes, growth is a good thing. But high growth can easily overwhelm a small enterprise, and put it at risk of going under. Before you push your company toward an audacious sales goal, know the following:
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| DECEMBER 20, 2012 Thursday |
| Will Falling Rates of Driving Lead to Lower Obesity? |
| A study of car and light-truck use in the U.S. between 1985 and 2007 shows that each increase in daily vehicle travel by one mile per licensed driver was associated with a 2.16% increase in the adult obesity rate six years later, says a team led by Sheldon H. Jacobson of the University of Illinois. The number of miles per driver had been rising until 2004, when it leveled off. In 2007, miles driven began falling, but it's unclear whether that drop will lead to lower obseity rates, the researchers say. |
| Source: A note on the relationship between obesity and driving |
| DECEMBER 21, 2012 |
| South Korea's Mass Pardons of Traffic Offenders Led to More Accidents |
| Since 1995, four presidents of South Korea have issued mass pardons to drivers who had lost their licenses because of drunk driving, vehicular homicide, and other violations. About 24.6 million people, more than 10% of the country's population, have benefited from these populist gestures, but the pardons increased traffic accidents by an average of 4.3% in the subsequent years, says a team led by Youngsun Kwon of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Arbitrary and irrelevant pardons can be considered an abuse of clemency power, the researchers suggest. |
| Source: Estimating the costs of political populism: Traffic violation pardons in Korea |
Friday 24 March 2023
You Can Say “No” to Your Boss
Saying “no” when your boss asks you to take on an extra task is undoubtedly challenging, but sometimes, it’s necessary. Here’s how to decide whether to say no—and how to do it tactfully.
(1) First, take a day to think about whether the task will help or hurt you. Ask yourself a few questions: (a ) Will I learn something new or gain experience by saying yes?
(b) Does this task align with my future career goals? What experiences will I miss out on if I say yes to this task?
(c) Am I already feeling overwhelmed?
The answers to these questions will inform whether you’re able to take on the extra work.
( 2) Next, don’t just say no—explain why you’re saying it. If you’ve determined that you just can’t say yes to your boss’s request, be transparent about why. Perhaps you can’t finish the task or project within the required timeframe, you don’t feel you have the resources to do the work successfully, or you’ll have to neglect other key responsibilities to get it done. Whatever your reasoning, explain it. If you have data to make your case, include it.
(3) If your manager still needs you to complete the work, they should adjust your priorities—and their expectations—accordingly.
This tip is adapted from “3 Ways to Say “No” to Your Boss,” by Paige Cohen
Thu 23 March 2023
Are You Frustrated with Your Team’s Performance?
As a manager, you won’t always have confidence in your team’s engagement, effort, and performance. How should you respond when doubt or frustration starts to creep in? Start by asking yourself these six questions.
(1) Have I been clear about expectations?
Without this cue, your team won’t feel a sense of purpose—or be able to strategically organize their time, energy, and resources.
(2) Are those expectations reasonable?
If the current goals are unrealistic, you may need to seek out more resources, or recalibrate your expectations. You may also need to provide more guidance to help your team achieve its goals.
(3) Could something else be going on?
If you notice a dip in someone’s performance, have a direct and kind conversation to find out the cause. Be patient: There may be personal events at play, such as an ailing family member, a breakup, or additional caregiving responsibilities.
(4) Am I in the way?
Grant your team the autonomy to realize your vision. Don’t micromanage.
(5) Am I holding everyone to the same standard?
Beware unconscious bias. If you’re unsure whether you’re being fair to everyone, talk with a trusted colleague to get their perspective on the situation.
(6) Am I providing good and timely feedback?
Reach out and set up a candid conversation as soon as a potential misalignment appears. It’s much better to catch it early, and not let issues fester.
This tip is adapted from “6 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Frustrated with Your Team,” by Amii Barnard-Bahn and Noémie Le Pertel
| DECEMBER 26, 2012 Wednesday | |||
| Don't Hurt Your Own Cause | |||
It's easy to get overexcited when you have a good idea. But in your enthusiasm, you may balk if other people don't immediately support your thinking. Don't let your impatience hurt your cause. Try to avoid these two things when pitching your idea to a skeptical group:
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Wed 22 March 2023
Seek Out the Leadership Feedback You Need !
Being a leader doesn’t make you immune to feedback. In fact, the quality of your leadership depends on your ability to receive and implement feedback—especially when circumstances are challenging or uncertain. To get an accurate pulse on your leadership performance,
(1) first, actively seek out negative feedback. If what you’re hearing from your colleagues is all feel-good praise and no hard-to-hear criticism, you need to work harder to get them to criticize you. To do this, come up with go-to questions you can ask your manager, your peers, and your direct reports.
Avoid yes-or-no questions (“Do you have any feedback for me?”) and instead invite specific suggestions (“What’s one thing you need me to do differently?”). No matter how good your go-to question is, the other person is likely to feel uncomfortable; embrace that discomfort.
(2) Try asking your question and then remaining silent. Count to six, slowly, in your head. Very few people can endure six full seconds of silence—they’ll tell you something. Then, listen carefully. Really try to understand what they’re saying rather than focusing on how you’re going to respond. Look for the criticism. Often people will sandwich the negative thought between two positive ones.
(3) Finally, the best way to ensure you’ll continue receiving feedback is to follow up and share the actions you’ve taken based on what you heard.
This tip is adapted from “How Leaders Can Get the Feedback They Need to Grow,” by Kim Scott et al.
Tue 21 March 2023
Prioritize Yourself After a Layoff !
Being laid off is a painful experience. But even through the difficult emotions, you have the autonomy to shape a positive experience and outlook. Before you can redirect your career and focus on the future, you need to first prioritize self-care in the present.
(a) This means creating a predictable routine, which will give your weeks much-needed structure and focus. Make sure that routine isn’t built entirely around finding a new job; you also need to invest in your physical and mental well-being—perhaps by setting aside some daily time for exercise and meditation.
( b ) If you find yourself feeling down or overwhelmed, take a break and shift your focus to others. See if you can help someone else, even if it’s simply by reaching out to ask how someone is doing. Finally, focus on building community and relationships. It’s easy to forget that you’re not alone.
( c ) Over the years, you’ve built countless meaningful connections and you’ve been there for people. Lean on those relationships—and make an effort to build new ones that will nourish you. Prioritizing yourself in this challenging time will remind you that your career does not—and never did—define you.
This tip is adapted from “Shifting Your Perception After Being Laid Off,” by Vivek Gulati and Emma Seppälä
| OCTOBER 12, 2012 Friday | |||
| Money Isn't the Only Motivator for Top Talent | |||
Many managers worry about how to retain top talent without breaking the bank. The good news is that even with the most sought after A-players, research shows non-monetary rewards can be more appealing than high salaries. Here are three things you can provide that often rank equal to or higher than compensation:
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| NOVEMBER 6, 2012 Tuesday | |||
| Make the Most of a Bad Job | |||
If you're unhappy at work, you don't have to live with it. And you don't have to quit. Here's how to make the most of an imperfect job situation.
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| NOVEMBER 7, 2012 Wednesday | |||
| Prepare to Answer Customers' Toughest Questions | |||
No salesperson likes to take a hard question from a skeptical prospective customer. But since providing good answers is often the difference between winning and losing their business, it pays to get it right:
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Tue 20 Nov 2012
| " Maintain Control When Conducting a Job Interview" ------------------------------------------------ When interviewing a job candidate, your goal is to learn as much as possible so you can make an informed decision. It's your job to keep the conversation focused and encourage the candidate to talk. You should ask most of the questions and do most of the listening. If the candidate gets off track, gently steer the conversation back to the topic. Use phrases such as, "You were saying earlier..." or "tell me more about..." Regularly summarize what you hear so you can confirm what has been said, make transitions to other topics, and limit the comments of a wordy candidate. An example of such a summary would be, "Are you saying that there was a six-month period when you were supervising 20 people in two different departments? That must have been difficult. How did you stay organized and on top of what was happening?" |
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| AUGUST 7, 2012 Tuesday |
| Invest in Karma to Get a Job? Why Not? |
| Job-fair attendees who were prompted to think about their lack of control over their employment prospects offered to donate 67% more money to a charity than other attendees, an indication that people are inclined to do good deeds to try to improve their fortunes, according to a study by Benjamin A. Converse of the University of Virginia and Jane L. Risen and Travis J. Carter of the University of Chicago. People who made these kinds of investments in "karma" were more optimistic about getting what they wanted, the researchers say. |
| Source: Investing in Karma : When Wanting Promotes Helping |
