There have been many recent―and best-selling―books on creating better habits. James Clear’s Atomic Habits, Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit and Stephen Covey’s classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, are all full of valuable advice. But Michael Norton, an award-winning behavioral scientist, makes a case for rituals in his new book, The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, […]
In one of our weekly Positive Networking® tips (read it here) we suggest that speed networking is having a comeback so maybe it’s time to try it again. But here is the problem. Don’t most of us dread going to one of these things? It’s a formulaic, mechanical way of meeting people, but with so many people working from […]
“Research has shown that exposure to natural environments can stimulate the brain and increase cognitive function. This means that taking your work outside can help you generate new ideas and solve problems more effectively. Plus, the fresh air and change of scenery can help reduce mental fatigue and increase energy levels, allowing you to stay […]
Meh: slang for boring, uninterested, indifferent This is what we have been thinking about: Why are conversations so one-sided? It seems worse than ever. Here is the scenario: You meet someone who either you’ve never met before, or don’t know very well. You have a conversation with them and when it’s over you realize they never […]
We should have taken more photos of all the places we have travelled for work. From hosting our Work the Pond! book launch in Washington, DC to speaking on a seasick-inducing stage aboard a Princess Cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles (we have new respect for ship performers), to presenting at an international women’s conference in […]
We all know the importance of soft skills in work. Employers often place more weight on a person’s social and emotional intelligence than their technical skills. But the definition of soft skills needs some refining. Author Ray Williams in The Importance of “Soft Skills” in Today’s Workplace says “within the academic world, a semantic and definitional debate […]
Who hasn’t walked into a room full of strangers at a business networking event thinking… Here are seven great tips to take the ‘big sweat’ out of walking into a business networking situation solo: 1. Don’t be too invested in the outcome Many of us think that every interaction has to be a slam dunk. It […]
Chances are you are going to be attending a sit-down luncheon (or breakfast or dinner) business networking event in the near future because face-to-face networking is back—big time! We have spent a lot of time at events like these and have seen many missed networking opportunities and some cringeworthy behavior. Post-pandemic why not approach your next […]
An impressive business networking skill is the Glowing Introduction™ but it’s not one that is used all that often. Here’s what usually happens. Jasmine and Natasha go to a networking event together — they are what we call a networking tag team. Jasmine sees Max, a senior colleague of hers. She and Natasha walk over to […]