Today we wrap up our discussion of corporate culture with a practical application. In Part 1 we explored the importance of a positive corporate culture to the health of the organization. Then we examined why progressive corporate cultures enhance the inner workings of a company in Part 2. Next, Part 3 focused on how to spot a toxic corporate culture. In Part 4, the last post in … [Read more...]
Five Signs of a Toxic Corporate Culture (Part 3)
If you’ve ever worked somewhere toxic, you can probably spot a toxic corporate culture quickly. Talking with employees or simply watching the way they work and interact says a lot about the health of the organization. When there is a toxic corporate culture, the workflow and interactions between coworkers and even employees and customers is poisoned. I once worked for a … [Read more...]
Five Benefits of a Progressive Corporate Culture (Part 2)
Each organization has its own unique culture. From the way executives handle expansion to the conversation around the water cooler, the organization’s culture permeates the way work happens. New hiring practices have begun looking at culture and personality as two facets for finding the right people to fit the company. For example, some employers have candidates take a … [Read more...]
Is Your Corporate Culture Working for You or Against You? (Part 1)
Culture, like water in a fishbowl, is the environment we are immersed in as we go through our day. We may not even pay attention to the cultural norms all around us because they just seem “normal.” Or we may not recognize the elements of culture because we’ve never experienced anything different. As the Chinese proverb says, “I don’t know who discovered water, but it probably … [Read more...]
5 Ancient Keys to Productivity and Success
Tips for making the most of our time are everywhere. Time management tools to increase productivity are sought after technologies that we hope will give us an edge to get more done. From software platforms to daily planners, we hope to sync our way to success. The number of time management books on the market should give us a hint at how popular this topic is. It seems everyone … [Read more...]
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Working from Home
For many people, working from home sounds like an ideal situation. No more traffic. No more cramped office cubicle. And more flexibility to get the work done while managing other responsibilities. It saves time commuting to and from an office not to mention money normally spent on gas and car maintenance, work attire, and lunches at a local restaurant. The benefits are … [Read more...]
Keeping Your Credentials Current
Staying up-to-date on new information or developing trends in your field is always an ongoing process. In many fields, it is even required to keep your credentials current through continuing education, renewed certifications and licenses, or other professional development. Depending on the field, failing to meet the requirements can cause you to lose your credentials or worse, … [Read more...]
Work-Life Metaphors: Part 2
Work-life metaphors offer insights about the dynamic interaction between work and life spheres. In this second part, we will explore four more common metaphors that offer lessons for managing the many roles and responsibilities we have everyday. If you didn't see Part 1, you can find it here. Spinning Plates Many years ago I saw a skit with a person on the stage spinning … [Read more...]
Work-Life Metaphors: Part 1
Are you keeping the balls in the air? Keeping the plates spinning? Walking the fine line? Surfing the waves? There are a handful of metaphors that are commonly used to describe the intersection of work and life. They help us visualize the challenges we face in managing multiple roles and a range of responsibilities. They also offer some insight into how we can manage our work … [Read more...]
Going Out of Balance on Purpose
We often hear about the importance of balance, yet sometimes we can't achieve our goals and stay balanced too. When we add a new activity to move us closer to our goals, the time and energy have to come from somewhere. Sacrifices must be made, and for me, that usually means upsetting the delicate balance of my life for a season. Recently my husband and I decided now is the … [Read more...]
