productivityRewire Your Brain
One thing is clear — the future of business will belong to the people with the biggest brains. The good news is that it is possible to leverage your brain’s ability to grow (known as neuroplasticity) to optimize mental function and it doesn’t take much time — although it does require spending less time on social media (attention fragmentation, reduced deep thinking, negative emotions, addiction, etc.). Writing on the Atlassian Productivity blog, Jonathan Thompson says science has proved in recent years that it’s possible to consciously boost neuroplasticity with a few regular exercises, such as using your non-dominant hand to do everyday tasks (like brushing your teeth), playing chess (even online), juggling or learning a new word every day. Give it a shot. At the very least, you’ll be unbeatable at Scrabble after 30 days.
SELF-IMPROVEMENTGo Easy on Yourself
Self-esteem has long been considered the key to individual success. But for many, the quality of self-compassion, or a willingness to look at your own shortcomings with kindness and understanding, may be more important. With a realistic sense of your abilities and actions, you can figure out what needs to be done differently next time. “Being perfect doesn’t lead to success, but being able to avoid the same mistake twice does,” writes social psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson, author of Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals.
MARKETINGTone It Down
In the final days before Christmas, with many consumers totally stressed, it can pay to tone down your marketing, says marketing psychologist Nancy Puccinelli. The forced good cheer of corporate Christmas can be too much for some. So, instead of putting up a sign that says “Tis the Season to be Merry,” she recommends a more contemporary twist like “Engage in the Season” as this “might give consumers the motivation they need to improve their mood and increase consumption.”
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EMPLOYEE RELATIONSGive Better Criticism
If an employee has screwed up, don’t go on and on about it, says consultant Peter Bregman, author of the workplace efficiency book 18 Minutes. Be clear and direct in your talk, with an emphasis on ensuring the mistake doesn’t happen again. Then stop talking. “Silence locks in the message and allows for a response,” Bregman says. If your employee thanks you at the end of your chat, then you know you’ve got your message across in the right way.
MERCHANDISINGNot in the Cases
With the arrival of the holidays comes the impulse to decorate your store to show your seasonal spirit. Just keep the trimmings outside your displays, says Larry Johnson. “Cases cluttered with décor can make it harder to see the goods,” he says.
PSYCHOLOGYDon’t Sleep on Lies
Call it a victory of lies over truth. In a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers from Colorado College found that the human brain will perform better if its owner has been told he is getting enough sleep — or “placebo sleep,” as they called it — regardless of the actual quality of their Zs. Conversely, constantly talking about how tired you are, as so often happens in our culture, might be detrimental to your performance.
REVIEWSWhen Excellent Is Not Excellent
“Excellent” sounds like a notch up from “good,” but it’s actually not a great word for opinion surveys, says FORBES blogger Micah Solomon. “Excellence” is essentially indefinable,” he says, “so look for something that is based on your customer’s own experience. ‘Exceeded expectations’ is OK as the wording for your top rating category—or consider calling your top rating something emotive like ‘Loved it!’”
