How collaboration fuels career success Being distrustful or closed off from others for fear of losing a competitive edge is a recipe for failure, explains business coach Cait Scudder. To achieve success, collaboration is the key, Scudder points out, and so, being open to sharing ideas and working with others is mutually beneficial for all involved. Fast Company online (12/19)
Making the Connection
Go above and beyond the networking game Plan your strategy for before, during and after a networking event to ensure your time is well spent at the event and in the future. One way to go the extra mile after an event is to blog about it and link back to important people you met, suggests Shelcy Joseph. Forbes (12/21)
The Landscape
Do Planned Parenthood, others show bias against pregnant workers? Women working at organizations known for feminism, such as Planned Parenthood, say they have faced discrimination while pregnant. Ta'Lisa Hairston, a former medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, says she quit because managers ignored her dire health concerns, denied her frequent breaks and pressured her to return early from maternity leave. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (12/20)
Some small businesses are tapping into company culture to attract and retain talented workers amid a tight labor market. For example, Vinnie Sposari, who runs a Mr. Rooter location in Seattle, offers perks and gifts such as baseball tickets to reward staffers who do a superior job. The Associated Press (12/19)
Balancing Yourself
Spot signs of burnout before it spirals out of control Be on the lookout for telltale signs of burnout, including physical or emotional exhaustion, being sick more frequently, trouble concentrating, and feelings of isolation. Burnout should be taken seriously, writes Amanda van Mulligen, so be proactive at recognizing and addressing the common signs. The Good Men Project (12/23)
Scientists thought to have found fossil cloud from Big Bang Astronomers in Hawaii have discovered a relic cloud in the distant universe they're referring to as a "fossil," as scientists think it consists of remnants from the Big Bang. There are only two other such fossil clouds ever discovered. EarthSky (12/23)
Let us harness our collective energies to create a culture of peace and a land of prosperity.
