One of the golden rules of networking is to “be interested” — to ask open-ended questions and listen well. But what about the flip side: How can you be interesting, too? It’s a trait that can make any conversation flow more easily, whether you’re meeting new people or interacting with colleagues or clients at work.Some people have something about them that’s just naturally interesting; maybe they have unusual hobbies or tra...
The explosive power of gymnast Simone Biles.The incredible determination of swimmers Katie Ledecky and Michael Phelps.The feats we see at the Olympics are the result of discipline, grit and hours and hours (and hours) of practice. They showcase teamwork, focus, communication and dedication – coincidentally, all traits that make for a great employee.As the spectacle of Rio winds down, let’s reflect on some workplace lessons...
Just when we start to figure out millennials, everyone starts looking ahead. Don’t get me wrong: I still spend the majority of my time helping leaders think about millennials and the opportunities and challenges they bring to the workplace. But, more and more I’m getting questions about Gen Z, the generation that comes after millennials. I wrote about Gen Z earlier this year, but thought I’d revisit the topic since it seems...
When was the last time you booked a vacation, made a restaurant reservation or bought a new appliance (or even a pair of shoes) without checking online reviews? I’d bet it was quite a while ago, since most of us these days are inclined to check into absolutely everything before we make a move. This week alone I have personally researched HDMI connection cords, hotels in Mystic, CT, and five or six potential new beach reads....
Are you one of the lucky people who loves your boss? Maybe she’s everything you aspire to be one day. Hanging with the team for happy hour. Turning the hallway into a putting green. Giving you solid client insight from her years in the trenches.Or maybe you’re a boss overseeing the employee of your dreams. He reminds you of yourself when you were just starting out. You, too, were once called a rising star, asked to join jun...
As the dog days of summer approach, many employees flee the heat and humidity of August for a shady mountain or breezy beach. I’m counting the days to my upcoming vacation in Maine.Is it possible, though, that summer vacationers like me are actually in the minority? In stark contrast to media reports touting the rise of “unlimited vacation” policies, American workers aren’t actually using many vacation days – in fact, respo...
How can you take 75 million people and say they have anything in common? In other words, how can you take one “generation,” with each person having individual likes and dislikes, quirks, history and background, and treat them as one big, uniform group?You know where I’m going with this: I’m talking about millennials. In my work, I identify characteristics about generations that can help groups of people work more effectivel...
I’ve always been a huge fan of mentors. My own mentors have helped me shape my career. They’ve smoothed my path and taught me countless valuable lessons, large (how to structure my business) and small (the best shoes to wear as a professional speaker).But as I reflect on the mentors who’ve made a difference, I realized that some of the most important people in my career didn’t even know they were my mentors — they were peop...
Pot, meet kettle. A new survey out from Bank of America found that less than 20 percent of adults think they are on their mobile phone too much, yet more than half believe others are. And, only 10 percent of respondents believe they are “tuned out to the world” when they are on their smartphone, while half say that others definitely are.While this is certainly an issue for all generations, it’s something that millennials in...
There is a persistent belief that millennials are entrepreneurs. Maybe that’s because millennials are open about their desire to job hop. Maybe it’s because Gen Y workers have grown up expecting customization and specialization. Maybe it’s because of the prominence of Mark Zuckerberg.But here is a fact: While millennials might be “entrepreneurial” in nature, they’re not necessarily starting businesses.What the Numbers SayRe...