There are a lot of benefits associated with working from home or some other off-site location. Remote employees don’t need to uproot their lives and move to wherever the home office is. And there’s no need for a long, daily commute. Working from home also allows for greater flexibility. And for some people, it’s easier(…)
What makes employees feel happy and engaged? Cool perks like free lunches and company parties can give people a boost. But research indicates that one of the biggest contributors to employee happiness is transparency. People feel positive, invested, and engaged when information is shared openly and freely. Too often, company leaders keep information secret. There’s(…)
“Plain English refers to the writing and setting out of essential information in a way that gives a co-operative, motivated person a good chance of understanding it at first reading, and in the same sense that the writer meant it to be understood.” Cutts, M. (2013). Oxford Guide to Plain English. Oxford, England: Oxford University(…)
Ask almost any employee what the most expensive software is for a university. I think most people would respond by talking about our financial system, SAP. I disagree. I think email is where we spend the most money by far, but I wonder whether it’s where we derive the most value. Roll the clock back about(…)
Have you ever had a really difficult coworker? Someone who frustrated or annoyed you, or someone whom you clashed with on a regular basis? If you’ve answered “yes,” you’re certainly not alone. I think that most people have experienced this at some point in their career. In most workplaces, a bunch of different people (with(…)
I will never forget the first time I was invited to attend a project team meeting for a large project. I was so excited and proud to be asked as a non-scientist and administrative assistant to attend this weekly meeting. Here I was, finally sitting at the table as a “team member” — or so I(…)
You can tighten up your writing by getting rid of unneeded words. Here are a few examples: Advance planning. Just say planning. Isn’t all planning done in advance? Past experience. Past adds nothing to your sentence. Absolutely essential. It’s either essential or it isn’t. What’s the difference between essential and absolutely essential? Predict in advance.(…)
The following is an (edited) excerpt from a recent 60 Minutes report, “How Dogs Express Their Emotions.” If you have ever watched YouTube videos of dogs welcoming home returning service members, it’s easy to see the bond between dogs and their owners. But have you ever wondered if dogs love us the way we love(…)
There are so many places and occasions where it is either unsafe, rude, or otherwise inappropriate to use a cell phone. Surely, you’d think it would be relatively simple to block cell phone signals in places where people shouldn’t be using them. I would certainly like a restaurant where they guaranteed that I wouldn’t hear the irritating(…)
When I travel, I notice that in other countries, they make more use of symbols and images than we do in the United States. I saw the sign below when I traveled on a Mexican bus recently. One word and one picture made the point briefly and without ambiguity. I wonder what readers think. Is it because(…)