Last month I was fortunate enough to spend some time behind-the-scenes in a well-known Boston-area robotics company. This is a workplace that requires a signed NDA before entry, but one thing I can talk about that came up during the conversations about their engineers is relevant to workplaces the world over – the idea thatContinue reading “Are You a “Furniture Maker,” or Simply a “Maker?””
Category Archives: Weekly Tips
Trevor Noah on Text, Voice, and Recalibrating Tone
Have you ever received a message from someone at work and interpreted the tone as angry, terse, or upset, leaving you stewing for days over what you did that caused that response, or how your reputation or relationships might be damaged as a result? On the flip side, have you ever sent a quick textContinue reading “Trevor Noah on Text, Voice, and Recalibrating Tone”
Could You be Your Workplace’s “Minister for Loneliness?”
Have you been through periods of life where you’ve felt isolated from the people around you? How about times where you’ve felt a strong sense of connection and belonging? How have the eras of your life felt different in that regard? If it’s a spectrum, where would you place this current era of your lifeContinue reading “Could You be Your Workplace’s “Minister for Loneliness?””
Build “Breathing Breaks” Into Your Day
In many of Building Bridges Leadership’s programs we look at a number of reasons we all make biased decisions. One major factor that’s true for us all is that our brains take in around 11 millions bits of information per second – a number that has increased dramatically over the last 30 years with theContinue reading “Build “Breathing Breaks” Into Your Day”
Speaking For or Speaking Over: Allyship in Action
Who do you consider to be allies of yours? What makes them an ally? How is that different from being a friend? Do you consider yourself to be an ally of others? Who, and how? On a local level, the term “ally” has taken on almost-singular meaning in the last decade. On the world stageContinue reading “Speaking For or Speaking Over: Allyship in Action”
The Value of Drop-In AMAs
Do you have that one colleague whose work you just don’t understand? You’re always confused about what their role is and what it is they actually do? Turning it around, would any colleagues wonder the same about you? Whether we work in a complex organizations with multiple departments, or in a small tight-nit organization, manyContinue reading “The Value of Drop-In AMAs”
A Census Approach: Representation through Authenticity
Do you wear glasses? Are you on a health-related diet? Do you use a hearing aid? Take ADHD medication? Are you an addict in recovery, with a support system in place? Whether any of these specific situations are true for you or not, the majority of us use aids or accommodations of some kind toContinue reading “A Census Approach: Representation through Authenticity”
Considering “Culture” as a Verb
Cultural heritage, organizational culture, cultural expressions, a nation’s culture, family culture, a different culture, Culture Club, cultured yogurt, multiculturalism… I wonder how many times you’ve heard or used the word “culture” in different contexts over the last 24 hours. Many of us use the term on a regular basis – probably more than you realize.Continue reading “Considering “Culture” as a Verb”
Agreeing on a Currency that Works
Do you have a handful of foreign coins in your home – sometimes from countries you’ve never even been to? Somehow we always have in our house, despite moves and several “why do we have these?” conversations. I’m pretty sure ours even includes a car wash token for a place that no longer exists, andContinue reading “Agreeing on a Currency that Works”
How to Make Your Bed at Work
You’ve probably heard axioms along the lines of “success starts with making your bed.” You may have even seen the popular 2014 University of Texas at Austin Commencement address by Naval Admiral William H. McRaven, which has inspired thousands of people to make their beds each morning when they first wake up. But whether or not youContinue reading “How to Make Your Bed at Work”
Building Bridges Leadership 