Leadership

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Contagion In The Workplace

Recently, Facebook took heat for a little “experiment” they conducted at the beginning of the year. They served ads that were considered to be positive or negative to 700,000 FB members to see how it affected their postings. As my friend Mary’s mom used to say — You shouldn’t have done that (and in this case, we’ll complete the sentence with “Facebook”).

Why? Because Facebook didn’t ask permission. They just did it.

However, now that’s clear, what they learned and even published is important and supported by research that’s been done time and again. It’s also validated by experience, when we pay attention. 

Here’s what the experience part might look like: Read more

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Are Your Players Hitting Home Runs?

Devin Mesoraco is a baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds. He spends his time behind the plate catching a leather-covered piece of rubber. Sometimes it comes at him moving just a tad more than 100 mph.  I have some insight into catching a ball hurling through space. I was on both sides of the pitcher/catcher equation in fast pitch softball in college. I can assure you, I neither caught nor threw at that velocity!

As a catcher, and at that speed, you have to be ready for anything.

Even though the catcher gives the signals and expects the pitch to match the signal, that doesn’t always happen.  So, you have to align your expectations and understand what’s possible outside of them.

Batter Up!

The unexpected also peaks its head in when Devin steps up to the batter’s box. Read more

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Going To Work, Mr. Rogers Style

We spend more time with people at work than we do with our own families, and yet, what do we know about them? This is an important question, because the answer and action that follows can pay off big time.

I was listening to an NPR TED radio podcast while out walking last week. Filmmaker and storyteller Andrew Stanton (Toy Story and others) talked about the ingredients of a great story, and shared a quote that he had heard Fred Rogers kept in his wallet as a reminder:  “Frankly, there isn’t anyone you couldn’t learn to love, once you’ve heard their story.”  

If Mr. Rogers needed to be reminded of this, maybe we do too.  Read more

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Finding The Positive Core

Ah, Thanksgiving! A time when many people in the United States take a moment to reflect on what they are most thankful for.

As we consider what we are most thankful for in the world around us, it makes sense to extend this discovery process to the people we lead and work with on a daily basis.

When we find employees who do not exhibit or behave with a spirit of thanksgiving, it’s our job to help them find their own best selves, or bring back their spark.

I’ll suggest three strategies to help you do this:

  1. Consider why your employees are at your organization. It’s rarely just because it’s the only job that can be found, or that yours is the only place that will pay them. Find out why they chose your organization. Read more
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Brilliant Blunders!

Ira Flatow hosts a radio show called Science Friday on National Public Radio. As you can imagine, it airs on Friday (yes), and it’s about Science (that’s right).

Weird Science

Some of the topics in recent weeks have included:  Insects May Be The Taste of The Next Generation, Resetting the Theory of Time, and The Perils of Plankton.

I don’t know about you, but I find most of this stuff fascinating. Curiosity, after all, is my greatest character strength, as reported by the VIA institute on Character.

I promise, however, that I’m not writing this particular post about bugs, time, or the stuff of the oceans. The latest Science show however, is a whole. other. thing. Not only does it pique my interest but it also includes great lessons for leaders!

Brilliant Blunders

Today, Ira Flatow interviewed astrophysicist and author Mario Livio. His recent book, Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin To Einstein, “explores the colossal errors committed by scientific greats, from chemist Linus Pauling’s botched model of DNA, Read more

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