Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and here is a 3-minute video that helps reset the frame for the quality of your life.  Enjoy!

Reading, Writing and Thinking

 

Without a doubt the finest instrument in the known universe is the human mind.  This remarkable structure has remade the Earth to meet its needs and wants.  In fact some astro-physicists refer to the idea that the universe was created to support the human mind as the anthropic principle (actually it’s a conjecture).

 

Yet many people never spend any time nurturing this fine instrument. There is an important relationship between reading, writing and thinking.  The development of the first two are a powerful tool for improving our ability to think.

 

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Peak Time For Everything

As we have just changed time, perhaps it is valuable to look at the effects of day-night rhythms on performance.  This intriguing article in the WS Journal will give some food for thought and perhaps better planning of precious time.

There are a couple of ways that people can subscribe to this blog. Click the “+ Follow” link on the bottom right section of the site and enter your email address. This is a very easy way to receive the newest post as an email. The other way is via RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. The RSS Feed link is located on the right sidebar of the site, directly above the Categories section. Click on “RSS – Posts” to receive your posts in their favorite RSS reader. The RSS reader that many prefer is Google Reader (http://reader.google.com). It is free, well organized, and easy to use.

When Co-Workers Are Nasty To Each Other

From the August 27 Wall Street Journal:

Keeping the Peace

Tips for making your office environment more civil:

• Address performance or other issues in private.
• Don’t criticize people behind their backs. Never say or write anything you wouldn’t be proud to sign.
• In the presence of co-workers practice the 10/5 rule: Within 10 feet, acknowledge the person, and within five feet say hello.
• Don’t take an employee’s contributions for granted; make it a point to thank them.
• Be careful taking too much credit for collaborative work; share recognition for work well done.
• Never cut off or finish someone’s sentences (even to make a point or decision); instead be patient and listen fully before jumping in.
• Instead of pointing the finger when you’ve contributed to a mistake, take responsibility-especially if you’re the leader.
• When dealing with conflict, performance issues, or other emotionally-laden matters, use face-to-face communication in lieu of email.
• When someone is talking to you, pay attention and listen fully; don’t half tune in or fidget with your gadget.
• Resist the temptation to send unprofessional emails. If it isn’t work-appropriate, don’t say it or send it all.

–Christine Porath, an associate professor at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, studies the impact of incivility

There are a couple of ways that people can subscribe to this blog. Click the “+ Follow” link on the bottom right section of the site and enter your email address. This is a very easy way to receive the newest post as an email. The other way is via RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. The RSS Feed link is located on the right sidebar of the site, directly above the Categories section. Click on “RSS – Posts” to receive your posts in their favorite RSS reader. The RSS reader that many prefer is Google Reader (http://reader.google.com). It is free, well organized, and easy to use.