It has been proven that poor mental health affects job performance in many ways. The environment we work in, however, can either worsen or ease the overall impact. And that’s where psychological safety comes in. For the first installment of The Productivity Box series in 2023, we will discuss what psychological safety means and why it is so beneficial in the workplace.
Back in 2005, a British psychologist named Dr. Cliff Arnall created a formula to establish the third Monday in January as the peak of seasonal depression. He based this calculation on numerous variables including the weather, salary, debt, low motivation, post-holiday gloom, attempts to quit a job, and a sense of urgency to take action. An this is how Blue Mondays became an instant hit.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work. Many employees are still working from home or in a hybrid system. While working remotely comes with advantages, there are also many drawbacks. One of the most significant challenges of hybrid and remote workers is dealing with loneliness.
The modern business environment is driven by meetings. According to this 2021 Productivity Trends Report, the average business professional spends 21.5 hours in meetings each week. Meanwhile, a busy professional spends almost 33 hours in meetings, weekly. Companies are constantly looking for ideal meeting times in order to increase productivity. And what about the meeting format? If you are looking to reclaim time and increase meeting productivity, consider audio conferences. Here are a few reasons why this is the best option to run your business and keep your team members engaged.
This season is hectic and there’s often no way around it. That mad rush to complete all of your end-of-year tasks while keeping up with holiday parties, office events, and family plans can feel nearly impossible. There’s a house to decorate, gifts to shop for, meals to plan out, and guests to entertain. And that’s on top of your normal workload. How do you balance it all, while holding onto sanity in the process? Let’s follow the magic of the checklist.
For many companies, January signals more than the beginning of a new year. It is also the start of a fiscal year with new goals, deadlines, and challenges ahead. December is treated as a period for reflecting on the past 12 months while gearing up for the year ahead. Thus, it’s the perfect time to prepare for a successful new year.
According to a recent survey, 88 percent of Americans think the winter holiday season is the most stressful time of year. Almost a whooping 60 percent would characterize it as chaotic. With so many time-sensitive commitments and activities on the average person’s calendar this season, it’s not hard to see where all that stress is coming from.
The holiday season is also a season of vacations and time off. In fact, almost all (97 percent) of American workers expect to have Thanksgiving and Christmas off. New Year’s Day and Eve, Christmas Eve, and Black Friday are also popular days to close offices. During this time, many people use their vacation days and take a little extra time for themselves. As a result, your office goes quiet and so does your holiday communication.
In a culture that glorifies busyness and hustle, it’s not uncommon to avoid declining a request, at all costs. A strategic, intentional no, however, can actually be one of the most effective tools to boost your well-being and performance at work. For this month’s edition of The Productivity Box series, we are making the case to normalize saying no.
Leadership skills and methods need to change to accommodate the new hybrid model of work, part in-person, and part virtual. Coordinating remote teams is quite different from coordinating office teams. Leaders need to improve some skills and even acquire new ones to stay relevant and effective.
