I recently surveyed a group of EAs on their single biggest email frustration. We turned every response into a word cloud, and the result wasn’t subtle. One word towers over everything else: volume. It’s easy to see why; Look at the words clustered around it — too many, reply all, cc’s, junk, spam, cluttered, overwhelm. […]
Responsibility is one of those words we hear constantly in the workplace. Take responsibility. Own your work. Be accountable. Step up. But responsibility isn’t something we simply have. It is something we learn. And often, we learn it long before we have a title, a team, or a corner office. Think about the first time […]
Whenever we do good for others anonymously, our sense of intrinsic worth and self-respect increases. Studies have shown that our job satisfaction and performance is driven more by intrinsic motivators rather than monetary rewards or incentives. We can find small ways to perform some secret service at the office. Several years ago, one of my […]
In times of significant change, the ways you cope can either speed up or slow down your ability to adapt. Problem-focused coping This method involves taking proactive steps to address or lessen the root cause of the stress. For instance, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by a new software system, a problem-focused approach would see you […]
If you’ve ever had one of those days when every request feels urgent and every ping demands attention, you’re in familiar territory. Your executive is rushing to a meeting, a department head wants a “quick” briefing packet, a vendor needs approval, and your inbox is filling with calendar conflicts. In the middle of all that […]
Interruptions happen in a heartbeat and can steal your power. Knowing how to regain control, quickly, is an art. Here are five easy steps to regain control from a hijacker in an assertive, respectful, and classy approach. Eye contact, in many parts of the world, implies and is inferred to mean various states: attention, respect, […]
A well-planned brainstorming session can generate fresh ideas, solve problems, and bring people together in a creative way. Over the last few years, I have organised brainstorming sessions with groups ranging from four to 50 people. From my experience, a successful session follows a number of simple guidelines, along with your own personal touch as […]
In his book Canoeing the Mountains, Tod Bolsinger shares an observation about anxiety. He writes, “Anxiety isn’t a bad thing; it’s a creaturely thing. It just is. We feel anxious when reacting to a threat, whether real or imagined. Sometimes the anxiety is a gift that tells us that something bad is threatening the clan.” […]
Networking is an excellent way to build your career, brand, skillsets, development, leadership, etc. Several studies reveal that having supportive and diverse networks leads to more opportunities, access, and resources. Unfortunately, many times we find ourselves shying away from networking, and procrastinating due to anxiety. Lack of confidence can also produce negative, unwanted, and false […]
In every team, company or group, there is that one individual that is always asking questions. You can see the wheels turning in their minds and the sparks shooting, as they try and figure out a new, better and more creative way of doing things. These people are what I call Curiosity Giants. I see […]