Career reinvention involves trusting yourself Licensed clinical social worker Andrea Rosenhaft speaks from personal experience when encouraging clients who are considering midlife career changes to embrace the risk involved in making the transition. "I'm glad I never looked back," writes Rosenhaft, who previously worked in advertising and overcame several obstacles to enter graduate school at age 38. Full Story: Psychology Today (7/3)
Bored at work? It might be good for you While boredom is typically viewed as a negative emotion, it can also have positive effects, such as signaling a change needs to be made or leading to deeper insights or creativity. Companies can harness this connection by incorporating more downtime into the workday, perhaps by shortening the length of meetings. Full Story: InTheBlack (Australia) (7/1)
Conflict between co-workers can be turned into a benefit by savvy leaders who can defuse the anger, bring clarity to the situation and are willing to have difficult, but transformational, conversations, consultant Marlene Chism writes. Chism outlines four areas to focus on and offers a series of questions to ask yourself to get to the root of the conflict and bring about positive change. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (7/3)
Hire Smart
Diversity doesn't end with hiring Fostering diversity is about retaining and nurturing and not just hiring, experts say. In a report published by the European Corporate Governance Institute, researchers found that a measure of diversity, equity and inclusion was better correlated with financial performance than diversity alone. "Companies can 'hit the target, but miss the point' -- improve diversity statistics without improving DEI," researchers said. Full Story: Reuters (6/26)
The Landscape
Boomers, Gen X workers add motivation, stability to workforce For a variety of reasons, some workers remain with a company for the long haul, a situation that benefits both employee and employer. Unlike their younger counterparts, these workers don't jump from job to job, providing needed stability, talent retention and continuity. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (7/4)
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"Analysis paralysis" can be a symptom of perfectionism, which can leave people drained from thinking so much and cause stress and anxiety, says Jenny Maenpaa, a licensed clinical social worker. Maenpaa suggests breaking decisions into small parts to make them less intimidating, and cites the importance of realizing there is no perfect choice in life. Full Story: Self (6/30)
Balancing Yourself
How fatigue can damage your communication skills Make your communication with others more effective by being prepared before a meeting, and checking in with your own level of energy, says Muriel Wilkins, the co-founder of Paravis Partners, who recommends stepping back or rescheduling if you're tired, frustrated or angry. "For some people, it will make things worse for them to hear that their leader is stressed out or doesn't agree or is tired. And for others, it'll actually help humanize it, it'll make it better," Wilkins says. Full Story: Harvard Business Review (tiered subscription model) (7/3)
Scientists have found the third known octopus nursery in the world in the Dorado Outcrop off the coast of Costa Rica. In addition to potentially identifying a new species of Muusoctopus in the area, the researchers believe the nursery shows that some octopus species hatch their eggs in low-temperature hydrothermal vents deep below the ocean's surface. Full Story: National Public Radio (7/3)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
The story goes that Lennon and McCartney first met on July 6, 1957 at a church in Liverpool. What song did Paul remember John was singing? Check your answer here.
