My introduction to an open floor plan was in high school. I walked into the building and thought, Wow! This is so cool! There were no separate classrooms, no closed doors, and I could see from one end of the building to the other. What a change from the claustrophobic school I had come from! Once my classes began however,…
Each day we work toward completing a specific number of tasks to feel efficient at work. When we don’t get these things accomplished, we feel stressed out and unproductive. Distractions are the number one problem we face in productivity, not just in the office but just getting things done in general. Emails, phone calls, multitasking, working too many hours, and…
Most of us want to be more productive, but how do we go about getting everything done we need to? Do we sacrifice our productivity to get smaller non-essential tasks done in lieu of the more difficult, larger tasks? Are there activities we unconsciously do each day that make our efficiency drop dramatically? When we think about all the things…
You worked all day and in several hours your project will be complete. Do you take a break for dinner or do you keep working and eat at your desk? Though it’s tempting to keep working, you’re not only hurting yourself but you have a higher chance of making errors on what you are working on. When you don’t take…
One of my favorite movies is Nine to Five starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton. These three secretaries work for a boss who they refer to as a “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.” Now, I can’t imagine that any one of us would think of our bosses in this way however, this movie makes a strong statement that…
Though many leaders have heard of empowerment, there were still those who struggle with actually handing over the reins. It is not uncommon for a leader to feel insecure causing them to cling to familiarity as it is what they know best. However, insecurity can also force leaders to keep information and skills to themselves, ensuring they are important and irreplaceable.…
As a leader, you want people to follow you, but to have followers you have to be seen as an influential leader. This article is not about learning how to make people do what you want them to do but about the influence we have with the people we know and who we work with. Leaders want to have a positive…
Many new leaders believe that leading a team, or having the title, makes them a leader. Not true. There is more to leadership than sitting at the head of the table, delegating tasks, or being the owner of the company. Whether you own a company, have risen through the ranks, or were thrust into a leadership role unceremoniously, there are…