Richard Louv, author of the “Nature Principal,” argues that we’re suffering as a society from what he calls “nature-deficit disorder,” which can hurt us mentally, physically, and even spiritually. It’s been proven over and over again that exposure to natural environments is good for us. It reduces the level of cortisol (stress hormone), heart …
Life is too short to work for jerks. It’s just not worth it. No matter how much you’re paid, or what position you hold, you always deserve to be treated with respect and decency. So what’s normal and what’s not? You may be working for a jerk if your boss: Undermines employees. Pits people against …
Comfort and convenience are easy choices. Stick to what you know. Focus on the familiar. Take the path of least resistance. While we prefer stay in our comfort zones, we also know that it is not always possible. Invariably, we are all faced with challenge and controversy. Molly Fletcher’s book “Fearless at Work” focuses on courage and how …
When you win the morning, says Tim Ferriss, author of “The 4-Hour Workweek,” you win the day. Many studies over the years have provided a mix of anecdotal and empirical data that early morning (4 a.m. to 5 a.m.) may be the most productive time of the day. It’s quiet, there are no distractions, and …
If you’re prone to procrastination (like me) you can take some comfort in the fact that our brains are programmed for it. In general, most of us have trouble taking action now for the promise of a future upside. That trade-off is an abstract concept, and our brains do better with the concrete rather than …
The best pep talks motivate, inspire and energize. They transform teams. They encourage high performance. According to Daniel McGinn, author of “Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help You Succeed,” there is a formula for motivating people with the spoken word. McGinn says an effective pep talk has three main components: Uncertainty-reducing language. This …
Author, pastor, and leadership expert Andy Stanley flashed a quote at the Leadercast Live event in May that seemed to capture the root cause of some of the biggest problems we see in our country, and our world: “Those who devote themselves to themselves will ultimately have nothing but themselves to show for themselves.” Stanley …
Today, there will be lots of extra hugging going on as we celebrate Father’s Day around the country. Millions of hugs – representing love, appreciation and gratitude – will be exchanged among fathers, families and friends. As we all know, some people love hugging, some actively avoid it, and others simply tolerate it. There’s no …
It sounds so simple to say that bosses need to tell employees when they’re screwing up. But it very rarely happens. That smartest bosses know, however, that criticizing your employees when they screw up is not just your job, it’s actually your moral obligation. That simple management mission is what prompted Kim Scott, former Google …
The military seems to have an acronym for everything. And they can be overly-complicated at times. But I like this one: BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) It’s a concept used for communications in the military. But it appeared in a recent article by Kabir Sehgal on writing more precise emails. The BLUF declares the purpose of an email …
