Drowning in Slack? Asynchronous chat may be the answer | 2 skills women need to become top executives | Learning what doesn't work as important as what does
Created for newsletter@newslettercollector.com | Web Version
Some employers are bucking the workplace instant chat trend that's increased during the pandemic via collaborative tools such as Slack, Facebook Workplace and Microsoft Teams, and are instead turning to asynchronous communication tools that don't occur in real time. "Group chat is like a hot tub," says author Nir Eyal, adding, "You should get in and get out, not sit in it all day."
Successful executives display confidence and understand when to be strategic and when to dig into the details, and these two skills constitute "executive mindset" for women, writes Dana Theus. "So the issue really is, instead of merely adopting a power pose or speaking loudly, can we start mentoring women to develop strategic vision and build faith in the business with stakeholders?" she writes.
Researchers are learning more about how the human brain shifts when it struggles to solve a problem. Experts say the brain usually follows one of two decision-making paths: toward things that are working or away from things that aren't. A new study suggests the ability to reset and recognize what is not working can prove vital when confronted with a scenario where there are no good options and the brain has to decide which option is less bad.
Honoring Products that Enhance the Modern Workplace Does your company offer a product designed to solve problems within the modern workplace? Submit your nomination by March 11 to enter SmartBrief's Innovation Awards for Workplace Technology. For more information on how to craft your pitch, click here.
Some companies are rebranding "sick days" as "wellness days" and encouraging employees to use these days to recharge and refresh, especially during the pandemic when vacation days went unused. "Sick days have a negative connotation," writes Sourov De, whose company added wellness days to its HR system. "With everyone trying to look like a strong member of the team, taking a sick day can feel like a sign of weakness."
Certain factors in a home environment, including lighting and clutter, may contribute to feelings of stress among its inhabitants, say therapists. Reducing clutter around the home may reduce anxiety, and lighting conditions should be set according to how each room is used -- such as using dimmable lighting for bedrooms and providing natural lighting for living spaces. The therapists also recommended creating more open spaces inside the home, which can improve the mood, and urged for separating work environments from relaxation spaces.
The Orbital Assembly Corp. is planning to build the world's first space hotel in 2026 as rotating wheel with 24 modules. The Voyager Station plans to open to guests in 2027, according to Orbital's John Blincow.