Happier Hour and The Power of Fun

Happier Hour and The Power of Fun

by Meghan SchiedelNo Comments
Recently I read two books that had interesting points of intersection. The first was The Power of Fun by Catherine Price, and the second was Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes. On a fundamental level, both books look at how you spend your time. Both books are working to present a new way of thinking about time management and “productivity.” Neither are explicitly business books, but we can learn a lot from applying these individualized approaches to staff training, development, and retention. With “quiet quitting” being a hot business topic, I think leaders could gain much insight from these two books.  Employees are looking for a work culture where they feel valued and respected. Most would argue that adequate compensation for their work is the most important thing. Still, another important factor is whether or not a place of work supports healthy boundaries and the ability to care for both your physical and mental health. I hope you will consider reading these...
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The Power of Objective-Based Training

The Power of Objective-Based Training

by Meghan SchiedelNo Comments
How many times have you been to a training where the instructor or facilitator dives right into the material, and you are so confused about what will be covered and why you are even trying to learn this in the first place? I know I have been to many of those and have, unfortunately, probably led a few of them too. That was before I started using objective-based training. Objective-based trainings are trainings designed around desired outcomes or objectives. These trainings clearly state the goals, identifying what trainees should be able to do after completing the training. Here are the three reasons I love this style of training so much. First... Objectives force an instructor to get real with the constraints they are dealing with for a specific training. Many outcomes that you might want are entirely unreasonable if you do a one-hour virtual training. The outcomes shape what you will teach, but the constraints shape your results.Things to consider when looking...
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How a Wardrobe Change Built My Confidence

How a Wardrobe Change Built My Confidence

by Meghan SchiedelNo Comments
Here is the story of how a wardrobe change built my confidence at work. Spoiler: it isn’t what you would expect. In 2015 after the birth of my first daughter, I found myself in a difficult situation, one which many moms will understand – none of my clothes fit. I also didn’t have a lot of money. People had warned me that kids were expensive, but I didn’t fully understand what they meant until I was there. So, with the need for new clothes and the limitations of my budget, I looked for options. At the time, I had a very stylish coworker who I admired a lot. So I asked her if I was creating a new wardrobe, what were the key pieces she would recommend? She had a shortlist for me, but she also suggested I google capsule wardrobes. Capsule wardrobes are interchangeable base pieces that you can mix and match to create numerous looks for various needs....
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To Remote or Not to Remote; That is the question. 

by Meghan SchiedelNo Comments
As the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to shift and change, companies are left wondering whether or not to allow teams to continue remote work or to mandate a return to the office either in a full or hybrid model. A recent study in the journal Nature Human Behavior explored remote work's impact on over 61,000 Microsoft employees. Here are some of the key findings:   Organization-wide remote work reduced the collaboration network of workers.The reduction decreased new connections and worsened "siloed" connections.  The timing of communication shifted from synchronous communication to more asynchronous communication.  The issue is complex. Although the study discusses some significant limitations and reinforces the need for future research, it is clear that these three critical challenges with remote work may make it harder for employees to collaborate. The end goal of the collaboration is the ability to acquire and share new information across the network, and this study indicates the changes that exist in this area. Companies must also weigh the benefits of remote...
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Improv’s “Yes and…” to Improve Brainstorming

Improv’s “Yes and…” to Improve Brainstorming

by Meghan SchiedelNo Comments
I have always loved brainstorming. There was a time when my team seemed to sour on brainstorming, and I was heartbroken. I was determined to understand why. With a few minor tweaks, I improved the quality of our brainstorms and decreased resistance to them.  Have you ever been in a brainstorming session where ideas seem to propagate more great ideas, and the energy in the room feels like it is sizzling? Picture that brainstorm session, and now picture a brainstorm that you have been at that felt awful. When done poorly, brainstorming sessions can drain the energy from the room and have a lasting impact on morale.  How do you develop a team that is good at brainstorming? Here are a few of my favorite ideas:  1. Practice “yes and” skills through improv. By playing improv games that encourage your team to practice a “yes and” mentality, you will create a team that can take risks and is resilient when brainstorming. This article lists some...
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