Suicide is a tragedy. When I started writing this post, I thought that introductory sentence might be over the top. But then news organizations started publishing the following headlines: “Canada offered assisted suicide to a Paralympian veteran who wanted a wheelchair lift installed: report“ “Canadian soldier suffering with PTSD offered euthanasia by Veterans Affairs“ “Trudeau Liberals to facilitate suicide for …
Habits in the workplace
Make of this what you will: James Clear‘s best-seller, “Atomic Habits,” has helped so many people because it seems do-able. That is, you can have powerful results just by making small, daily changes. What if you did that with your workforce? A famous Victorian educator argued as such: The formation of habits is education, and education is the formation of …
If artificial intelligence doesn’t care, does it matter?
Where is the line between AIs filling needed voids and AIs replacing humans who make connections with others? We already have computers with warm, empathetic voices. Does it matter that the machine doesn’t care, just its designers do? Could a machine be a pet? A librarian? An engineer? A coach? A manager? A spouse? Big-box checkout lines, Barry Manilow, …
The story of one particular Crucial Conversation
Another plug for the resources we are compiling here: We literally have a Resources page that features collections of podcast episodes, articles and downloads. Here’s one that my podcast partner, Mike Marshall, and I were particularly happy to bring to the world: resources for the important book “Crucial Conversations.” And let’s add to that with this wonderful–and true–story about a …
Discretionary effort: The secret to business success
Have you ever received a gift–say, baked goods, or a small gift–from a customer? News flash for all readers outside of China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos: You don’t live in a Communist country. That means that any gift you received ain’t a bribe: It’s an actual gift. You provide a product or service, they provide payment. That’s the …
Your team needs a story time?
A Wall Street Journal column shared the research behind how reading aloud to students can overcome losses they suffered during pandemic shutdowns. It’s a practice Victorian teachers, classical education proponents and home schoolers have known for years. (See: Read-Aloud Revival. See also: Mark’s amazing wife.) Mark thinks it’s a practice you need, too. Listen in for the benefits …
Conversation: Even more important in an AI world
If you enjoyed our podcast about artificial intelligence (more to come soon!), consider this a complement to it. Carey Nieuwhof is a thoughtful Christian pastor. I bookmark his items occasionally, including this one from a while back: “Why All Future Leaders Will Be Great Conversationalists.” It’s obviously geared for pastors, but interestingly enough, his illustration is a car salesman–a decent …
A “personality test” helps your team–even if you don’t believe in them
If you’ve ever taken one of those “personality tests” and thought, “I think any of these options describes me!” this post is for you. Here’s the Reader’s Digest version: You are at least partly right. But going through the exercise can be crucial for trust, teamwork and engagement in your workplace. 4 types First, a quick review of the DISC …
The two questions that help you work with ANYBODY
“I can’t work with this person!” Have you ever found yourself saying this? What if there were two questions you could ask that would allow you to work with literally anybody? The basics In previous posts about the DISC model of behavior styles, I promised that there were two questions that can help you interact and work with others. A …
A report from one of our listeners: He quit … for less money … doing the same work. Why?
A report from a listener: He quit … for less money … doing the same work. Why? It’s not about money. As the Great Resignation continues, it’s a good time to look at the research from Gallup–and common sense. Make your organization as attractive to employees as possible. (See some related advice here.) Questions? Comments? Ideas for future episodes? Email …