Human contact was already pretty much taboo in the workplace, but with COVID it feels like hugs are a luxury out of reach for those of us working from our homes. But touch is still important. In fact, it’s been proven critical for the developing child and the mental health...
Remembering The Power of Hope
Over a year ago I had an insight into what motivates people during change. WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) is the classic view: We move towards goals that offer something in our self-interest. This is dissatisfying because it is inherently selfish. I set out to find contradictions to the...
How to raise your employees’ capacity for change in just 10 minutes
In your next meeting, try out this short exercise. “Go to a new page in your notebook. Thinking about your day from the moment you woke up, list at least ten ways you’ve adapted or navigated something new or unexpected. You have two minutes.“ Some will have no problem listing...
We Change Together or Not At All
Messages about change must be designed to draw people together, whether it’s to launch a new marketing strategy or build a mountain of jack-o’-lanterns. If we are not working together, we are not working at our best. Diversity work is all about navigating change. Setting race aside, the objective is...
Unify Employees with a Common Goal
In 2013, the City of Keene, New Hampshire broke the record for most lit jack-o'-lanterns with 30,581 on display. It takes a lot of work and coordination to create a wall of fiery pumpkins. Can you imagine how the city felt at the achievement of a world record? I guarantee...
We are all racist and sexist. It’s more subtle than you think.
Read this excerpt from a recent McKinsey report: “Research shows that company profits and share performance can be close to 50 percent higher when women are well represented at the top. Beyond that, senior-level women have a vast and meaningful impact on a company’s culture. They are more likely than...
We Want Your Productivity, Not Your Opinion. How To Promote Fear And Kill Innovation.
Welcome to Skipco! Here’s your desk, laptop, and work assignments. My door is open and I’m happy to help you succeed. However, if you could please keep all discourse to work-related topics, we would appreciate it. We have a strict ‘no personal opinions’ policy here. We have found controversy to...
Your training is broken. Employees have the fix.
“Jeff, how do you find such beautiful pictures for your newsletter?” Setting up a quick Zoom session from Canada to New Zealand, within ten minutes my friend Diana was on her way to brighter images at zero cost (thank you unsplash!). We’ve all done it. Need help? Phone a friend....
If You Want to Build Resilience Stop Saying These Words
Hardly a speech goes by these days without using the word unprecedented. And I’m weary of the humorless phrase “May we live in interesting times.” And then there’s “In the time of Covid…” as if we existed in a fairy tale. These terms are understandable as we try to make...
It’s “Temporary” is the Enemy of Change
There are 2 racks of shoes, boxes of boots, and a rack of coats in my office. While our main level flooring is replaced, the contents of our closet are my closest companions at work. I hate it. So why can’t a master of navigating change deal with a temporary...
