Opportunities for employees to keep their managers updated on projects, goals and challenges have dwindled since so many work arrangements have become remote, but there are ways to address this issue, writes Sandra Vogel. Carving out opportunities to be approachable, such as videoconference catch-ups that don't have strict agendas, can help, writes Vogel.
An internet search on ways to motivate employees often leads to misinformation or unproven ideas, just one example of how artificial intelligence can lead us astray, writes Susan Fowler, an author and the founder of Mojo Moments and MojoCoach. Some of the incorrect information Fowler found: the idea that rewards are effective motivators, that asking workers what they want elicits their real needs and that Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a proven theory.
Leaders can understand the needs of their employees better if they embark on a global listening tour and seek to get at the true concern underneath staff questions, say Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon and Wella Company CEO Annie Young-Scrivner, who recently appeared on a leadership panel together. The pair also emphasized the importance of diversity, as well as releasing perfectionism as a leader because, as Young-Scrivner noted, "if you're perfect, no one wants to help you, so show some of that authenticity and show that you need help."
Half of people reneged after accepting a job offer and went to work for another employer, while 47% who started a new job said they were still willing to hear other offers, according to a Gartner survey focusing on a one-year period starting in May 2022. "We are seeing many candidates uncommitted to their new employer and keeping one foot in the job market," says Gartner senior research director Jamie Kohn, who suggests employers have hiring managers meet with job candidates early and keep them engaged after they accept an offer.
Many American customer service employees still respond with "you're welcome" after a customer thanks them, but responses such as "no problem" and "mmhmm" have had a moment in the social media spotlight as international customers posted mixed reactions. Some millennials say they don't use "you're welcome" because they believe it has taken on a passive-aggressive tone, attributing the change to their parents using it to antagonize them.
Delta Air Lines will announce further "modifications" to its frequent flyer program in coming weeks, CEO Ed Bastian said. "We need to make certain that we can serve our higher tiers with the level of premium experience that you deserve and that you expect," Bastian said, but recent changes "probably went too far in doing that."
With more workers suffering from "time famine," some companies are exploring new ways to increase productivity by eliminating meetings. One concept is to designate a day of the week to have no meetings.
Florida has lost 90% of its coral reefs in recent years. Pollution and water temps topping 100 degrees mean the remaining 10% is on the brink of collapse. A big threat comes in the form of algae, which blooms in polluted water and feasts on coral reefs. Scientists have come up with an idea that just might rescue reefs in a pinch: crabs. An army of crabs is being prepped for deployment because crabs eat algae. How the crabs are trained for this important mission is worth a read because ... yes, the training includes puppets.
