Layout Image

Archive for Workplace

Harnessing Your Inner Musician

Friday, June 7th, 2013

Music has a power that is hard to explain. A single song can bring the hardest, most stubborn person to the point of tears, while sending another into an encouraged state of action. In tackling the beauty and mystery of music, the great Danish author and poet Hans Christian Anderson once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Moreover, there are certain attributes that music creators have that are powerful, and harnessing these traits can actually help you be a more effective leader. But don’t worry; you don’t have to pull out your old six-string and play Beatles songs by the water cooler to lead like a musician.

The Multitasking Brain

Whether you enjoy listening to classical piano music or 8Os shred metal, there is one common characteristic between the two: the pianist and the guitarist are multitasking. Usually, when we hear the term multitasking, our minds go to the thought of texting, sending emails, and getting on social networking sites while working. But no, these musicians aren’t texting their band mates. They’re multitasking by using both hands to complete different tasks. While taking the listener through a story with a beautiful melody with the right hand, the pianist is playing walking bass lines with the left. The same goes for the guitarist. While sweeping through face-melting scales using the left hand, the guitarist is simultaneously navigating each string with the right, picking hand. Read More→

Do You Hire to Fill a Position or Maintain Your Culture?

Tuesday, June 4th, 2013

This is part three of a three part series on developing a strong company culture. Read part one and part two.

In the first two installments of this series on developing a strong company culture, we discussed the importance of developing your core values and how to use them to build an effective mission statement your employees can rally behind. In this final piece, we’ll discuss why keeping those core values and your mission statement top of mind during the hiring process is so vital to building a positive and sustainable company culture.

Why is it so important to hire for culture?
According to a recent study by Deloitte, 94% of executives and 88% of employees say workplace culture is important to success. Company culture is the collective behavior of the people in the organization and the driving force behind the spirit in which they approach the work they do each day. A company’s most valuable asset is its people. And once you’ve put in the time, money, and hard work to ensure they’re an engaged, productive team working to achieve company goals, you don’t want to upset that balance. Read More→

4 Quick Tips for Office Wellness

Thursday, May 30th, 2013

A healthy body and mind is an important part of a productive workday. But for most of us, our weekdays consist of sitting at a desk for roughly 40 hours a week – sometimes with poor posture. Because of our sedentary ways, it seems impossible to achieve our health and fitness goals. You don’t have to have stashes of candy bars to have a work environment that isn’t conducive to a healthy lifestyle. It’s the little things we don’t think about that keep us from reaching our health goals. As they say, the devil’s in the details. So, here are four tips to help encourage eight-to-five wellness for you and your employees!

Get Up, Stand Up

Sometimes, workers can go hours without ever getting out of their chairs. One problem with this is that they aren’t getting the needed movement to help regulate blood flow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that sitting for a prolonged period of time can be linked to serious health risks and chronic illnesses like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In 2011, the CDC started the Take-a-Stand Project, which showed that employees who stood for just one extra hour a day saw a significant reduction in fatigue and pain and an increase in productivity and energy levels. Encourage your staff to take breaks from their desks to walk around the office or even a short stroll outside. This can do wonders for morale and can help get those creative juices flowing again. And if all else fails, find interesting ways to get around the office. Read More→

4 Ways to Get Back to 40 Hours

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Technology has changed how work gets accomplished. With tablets, smartphones, and unlimited software apps, it is easier than ever to get briefed on projects and organize deadlines. These productivity tools were designed to help us be the best we can be in our respective professions. But, it turns out that today’s workers are still feeling overworked and burnt out.

According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), one in three workers suffer from chronic stress, with high workloads being a major factor. The APA also found that 39% of people work more than 40 hours a week. With incoming emails and calls, employees end up working outside of the office, which can actually lower productivity and quality of work. As a business leader, you can’t afford to be less productive – and you definitely can’t afford to have a burnt-out workforce.

So how do we get back to normal work hours and take back precious revitalization time with friends and family? Here are four ways to get a good start. Read More→

Comments (0)

Top Companies Rally Behind a Strong Mission Statement

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

Part two of a three part series on developing a strong company culture. Read part one here.

If you met someone in an elevator and they asked what your company does, could you accurately explain it before you reach your floor? If you’re like many people, you’d probably give a quick three to five word description like “we do software development” or “we’re a small chain of coffee shops.” Yes, you’re answering the question, but with only the bare minimum of information. The elevator doors open, and all your new acquaintance really knows is you do something with computers. Or you sell coffee. Information that will be tucked away or completely forgotten as they move on with their day.

So, how do you share the who, what, and why of your company without breaking out flow charts and annual reports? It may be as simple as developing a solid mission statement. Read More→

How to Cure Bad Boss Syndrome

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Even great leaders have bad days. But if those bad days become habitual, you may be dealing with a condition author Joel Garfinkle calls Bad Boss Syndrome (BBS). If it seems as though your leadership has stagnated, chances are you have BBS.

Thankfully, there’s a cure! Garfinkle explains eight characteristics of a good boss to help reverse the syndrome. Many of his solutions are great ways to build employee engagement and improve overall productivity with your team. Check out the full article:

Do You Have BBS (Bad Boss Syndrome)?

What are your thoughts? What helped cure your BBS? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→

Core Values are the Building Blocks of Company Culture

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013

Part One of a Three Part Series on Developing a Strong Company Culture

Why do companies like Southwest Airlines, Apple®, Zappos.com, Whole Foods Market, and Google always top the lists of the best places to work? Is it because of their competitive compensation packages? Or an emphasis on open communication and teamwork? Maybe it’s the way their leadership teams strive to ensure each employee knows they are indispensable to the company’s overall success?

The answer is that it’s all of that … and much more.

Culture Begins with Core Values
Ultimately, what defines a company culture is the collective behavior of the people in the organization. The driving force behind that behavior is the basic building block of a company’s culture – its core values. Core values are personal, ethical, and ideological guidelines that set the standard for every aspect of business operations, from hiring to decision making to strategic planning.

Let’s break it down even further: Read More→

Madness in the Workplace

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013

For those who follow NCAA basketball, March Madness has begun. Over the next few weeks you’ll likely hear a few cheers –  and probably a good share of tears – up and down the office hallways as brackets are made and broken. The friendly competition between co-workers can be a great workplace morale booster – as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. Check out this article from USA Today on how March Madness in the office should be fun, but under control.

On the Job: Make Sure March Madness is Fun, Not Fanatic

Does your workplace participate in March Madness competitions? If so, does it make an impact on morale? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→

Comments (0)

In our February poll question, we asked how your company encourages health and wellness and the results were somewhat surprising. Of those who participated in the poll, nearly half (48.8%) said their company doesn’t offer any health and wellness programs or incentives. Slightly more than 35% said their company offers a comprehensive wellness plan and 16% said they don’t have an official plan in place, but their company does offer incentives for employees to meet wellness goals on their own.

There are a wide range of benefits to be reaped by companies that invest in a comprehensive wellness program. A recent study by Highmark, a health and wellness company, showed significant healthcare savings – $332 per participant on average – for companies with established wellness initiatives. It’s a simple concept; healthy employees have fewer healthcare needs. Read More→

Working From Home? Not at Yahoo.

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

Business blogs, publications, and news outlets everywhere were all abuzz after Yahoo’s new CEO, Marissa Mayer, announced that she was calling back all of the company’s remote workers. Many consider it an odd move considering the momentum of business has been moving toward a greater ability to work from the home. And Mayer, at age 37, is definitely part of the generation leading that charge. So, what’s the driving force behind her decision? Check out this interview from Forbes.com with Roman Stanek, CEO and founder of GoodData, for some insight into why bringing the troops back to the office might not be that bad of an idea for Yahoo:

Marissa’s Manifesto: Good or Bad for Tech?

Do your employees work from home? If so, how has the arragement affected productivity? Let us know in the comments section below. Read More→