PRODUCTIVITYWork & Walk
The formula for the perfect work rhythm continues to evolve. Whereas once the standard was to work for four hours with a one-hour lunch break, more recent systems like the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work followed by 5-minute breaks) favor shorter bursts. Now, research from the University of Colorado suggests that longer work periods paired with active breaks — such as hourly sessions with a five-minute walk — are more effective. This routine boosts energy, sharpens focus, improves mood, and reduces afternoon fatigue. Since personal variation matters, experimentation is key. Give it a try.
COMMUNICATIONIf It Wasn’t For You…
According to a study by Gallup and Workhuman, less than 40% of employees feel recognized and appreciated enough for what they do in the workplace. Yet hearing “thank you” just once a week from a manager was shown to cut disengagement in half. In Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee, authors Tamara Myles and Wes Adams say one particularly powerful way to show gratitude is using “if it wasn’t for you” messaging to keep your thank-yous personal, meaningful, and focused on impact. An example: “Thank you for helping to close up on Friday. If it weren’t for you, I would have missed my friend’s dinner party.”
MANAGEMENTHeart It
To Gen Zers, emojis are central to the way they communicate. According to a recent YouGov survey, almost nine in 10 Gen Zers say emojis are useful at work, compared to fewer than half of Boomers and Gen Xers who feel the same. Millennials are also 2.5 times as likely to say they’re motivated by emoji reactions from colleagues and bosses than Boomers, while almost two in three Gen Zers admitted they’re more likely to read messages that include emojis. By 2030, Gen Z will account for almost one-third of all workers — and be responsible for a large share of the country’s consumption. To get on the same page, you’ll likely need to up your emoji game even if it’s something as simple as replacing the message “nice work” with a “heart.”
SALESJust Answer the Question …
When surprised with a difficult question, most salespeople waffle uncommittedly. A far better approach is to just answer the question asked, says Roy Williams in his Monday Morning Memo. Provide the simplest answer in the fewest words, he says. “When you act like the customer has asked the wrong question, you’re basically telling them that they’ve hit you where you’re weak,” he says. “When you provide simple and straightforward answers to your customer’s questions, they feel that you’re there for them.”
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MANAGEMENTSeparate the Issue From the Problem
When faced with a difficult situation, the best approach invariably involves separating the issue from the problem, or in the words of productivity coach Ben Meer: “Be soft on the person and hard on the problem.” This approach — which involves active listening, understanding the other person’s perspective, and avoiding accusations, while also being decisive in addressing the issue itself and its root causes — allows for a more productive and less emotionally charged interaction, argues Meer on his blog.
MANAGEMENTHorrible Bosses
Being overloaded with work is the most commonly cited reason that employees use to explain being uncivil to customers, colleagues or other business partners. But not far behind is “rude bosses;” about one in four employees in a study done by Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business admitted to being uncivil because their “bosses are rude.” The manager’s poor behavior was in turn attributed to stress or an attempt to create distance — to show everyone who’s boss. If that’s you, you may want to rethink your approach. You’re creating a hostile environment that hurts staff morale and your business.
