Some employers are embracing internal competition as a way to motivate workers to counteract the trend of quiet quitting. The benefits can include increased engagement and employees knowing exactly where they stand, but experts warn it can also lead to anxiety and turn off younger workers who favor collaboration over rivalry. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (3/16)
Helping workers who are also caregivers Employers, here's a way to show your support for workers who are also family caregivers. The on-demand Prepare to Care Workshop offers tips and resources and can make caring for a loved one more manageable. Ask your employees to register today.
ADVERTISEMENT:
Recruiting & Retention
Burnout is not going away. Here's what to do Surveys show that burnout is still a key issue even though pandemic concerns are easing and some workers have access to flexible working arrangements. It may be necessary to reframe the conversation and for companies to recognize that they have a role to play in mitigating burnout, such as by helping employees clarify their working hours. Full Story: BBC (3/13)
5 Key HR Metrics That Make A Difference Cut through the noise. Now more than ever, easy-to-understand HR "People" metrics are vital for evaluating business processes and driving strategy. Learn how to leverage 5 key HR metrics to drive successful business outcomes across your organization. Find out more.
CFOs, CEOs net compensation gains in 2022 Roughly 80% of CEOs and CFOs received salary increases in 2022, with CFOs on average seeing a 5.5% increase in base salary, according to a report from Compensation Advisory Partners. Both CEOs and CFOs saw annual bonuses decrease by double digits, but equity awards jumped by 17% on average. Total compensation increased by 4% for CEOs and 2% for CFOs, with roughly 40% of CEOs and 33% of CFOs seeing 25% swings in total compensation to the positive or negative. Full Story: CFO (3/15)
OpenAI unveiled its updated artificial intelligence tool, GPT-4, via ChatGPT and a commercial API waitlist. OpenAI says GPT-4 can accept more text and images than its predecessor, and produce more in-depth creative and technical content and analysis with greater "human-level performance" and factual accuracy. Full Story: Ars Technica (3/14),Digital Trends (3/14),Insider Intelligence (3/15)
Dealing honestly with negative emotions, not pursuing happiness for happiness' sake and cultivating an awareness of your emotional state overall can go a long way to boosting both your well-being and success, writes LaRae Quy. "[W]e need to make it a daily routine to look back on the day and dissect a situation because emotional awareness helps us see multiple perspectives," Quy writes. Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (3/15)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
POLL QUESTION: What country is home to the world's first dentist, according to the American Dental Education Association? Check your answer here.
Some friends were over on Labor Day for a BBQ. A few of us decided to play a friendly pick-up game of soccer in the street in front of my house. I grabbed the ball next to my desk, tossed it to my friend Jen and told everyone I’d meet them outside. I needed to change into workout clothes. When I emerged from the house, I saw my roommate laughing and yelling to the guys who had gathered in the driveway to watch. “TMan! You do not know what you’re getting yourself into! She is not losing! Ok…alright. But I’m telling you, she is not losing,” he warned. Then he turned around and saw me standing there in my workout gear. He rolled his eyes and laughed again. I jogged out to the street. It quickly got physical, as we batted the ball around the street in a giant game of keep away. TMan, a tall, lanky former athlete, nabbed the ball away from Angie. I charged him and when he pivoted to box me out, I threw my shoulder into him, knocking him off balance. He stumbled. I grabbed the ball and chipped it to Jen. I heard our friend Edward laughing in the driveway. “Dang Kanoe! So competitive! TMan you better watch out!” We played for the next hour before finally stopping for water and rest. Edward came over to me, still laughing. “I had no idea you were so competitive, Kanoe.” I smiled and shrugged, as I downed a bottle of water. I suppose he’s right. I do have a competitive streak. It comes from years spent running track and playing soccer. It was cemented into my character. And most of the time, it’s good. It comes in handy when I’m brainstorming new products or trying to develop ideas for a story. It pushes me to think and flex my creative muscle. But if it’s not tempered, it can run me into the ground. I put on a brave face to Edward and everyone else, but I was hurting after that game. My back and legs throbbed with pain. I let my ego get away from me and was more aggressive than I should have been. I spent the next two days, slathered in Ben-Gay and popping ibuprofen like they were Altoids. A competitive spirit can be a two-edged sword, as we see in today’s top story. Used properly, it can help drive innovation and improve employee performance. John Winner, CEO of KIzen, demonstrates how he uses it to spark creativity among his teams. But competition should be managed carefully. It’s not one-size-fits-all. It can foster unhealthy rivalries and stress. Los Angeles-based psychologist Connor McClenahan talks about how the lawyers he counsels struggle with anxiety sparked by the competition in their firms over who will make partner. How are you managing competition in your workplace? Is it a benefit or a deficit? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
