When you have a few free moments during the work day, what do you do? Do you get fresh air? Text a friend? Close your eyes and meditate? Stretch your muscles? Last week’s post about the Pomodoro Technique suggested that after each 25 minute stretch of focused work, you would be well served by aContinue reading “Napping… at Work? How a Short Siesta Can Help Productivity”
Author Archives: Ian Jackson
Having Trouble Focusing? Try the Pomodoro Technique
Have you been having trouble focusing recently? Whether your mind has been on the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fighting to save their families and their country, or you have been thinking about the complications, concerns, and possibilities of lifting Covid restrictions, it can be hard to stay on task these days. If you’re findingContinue reading “Having Trouble Focusing? Try the Pomodoro Technique”
“Teach Me Your Name”
In a few different workshop settings over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to take part in variations of the same activity. Whether in a group or in a partnership, each person has the chance to “teach me your name.” This starts off as a simple exercise in sharing your full name andContinue reading ““Teach Me Your Name””
Annexation, Invasion and Sanctions in the Microcosm of the Workplace
Watching and reading about the ongoing situation in Ukraine, it is only natural to be heartbroken and anxious about the lives at stake there. The understandable tendency is to see the Russian leadership, troops and aggressors as ‘the bad guys,’ ‘the villains,’ or possibly even ‘evil.’ Some of us may like to believe that surelyContinue reading “Annexation, Invasion and Sanctions in the Microcosm of the Workplace”
Tuning in to Your Team’s Communication Preferences
For many of us, the days of bumping into colleagues in your workplace’s hallway or break room feel like a lifetime ago. These organic interactions either replaced by more formal communications or not replaced at all. Emails, Slack, Discord, and even texts… while statistics aren’t easy to quantify, the majority of workplace communication in theContinue reading “Tuning in to Your Team’s Communication Preferences”
Showing Support for Your Team through Acts of Service
When’s the last time you felt overwhelmed or lost while working on a project – perhaps even paralyzed because you were unsure of your next step? Have others offered “let me know if you need help,” but you haven’t even known what to ask for, or perhaps been too embarrassed to ask? Now think backContinue reading “Showing Support for Your Team through Acts of Service”
Notes of Gratitude
Do you remember the last time you received a handwritten note from a colleague or client thanking you for the work you did on a particular project? Or, if not a handwritten note, an email or a small gift as a token of gratitude? How did that acknowledgement feel? In my role at Harvard UniversityContinue reading “Notes of Gratitude”
Some Do’s & Don’ts of Celebrating Black History Month at Work
Each February, Black History Month celebrates the contributions, achievements, history and culture of African Americans throughout the history of the United States. Originally a weeklong celebration planned to correlate with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (February 12th and 14th), what was known as “Negro History Week” grew over time into what we knowContinue reading “Some Do’s & Don’ts of Celebrating Black History Month at Work”
Can You Sleep Your Problems Away?
How often do you face a hard choice, perhaps related to your work team or hiring, only to receive the advice “just sleep on it”? Does that feel like just putting the problem off for another time? Conversely, have you ever rushed into a decision about something only to regret it and wish you’d leftContinue reading “Can You Sleep Your Problems Away?”
Dr. King, and Sitting in Difficult Truths
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a chance each year to reflect and take action on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality. While Dr. King is rightfully held up as a legendary and inspirational figure, this often results in him being seen as a more-than-human icon, memorialized in carefullyContinue reading “Dr. King, and Sitting in Difficult Truths”
Building Bridges Leadership 