🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

I get super curious when I meet people whose work lives are very different from mine. And after a series of these interactions last week, I gained a new appreciation for the need for 360° respect and appreciation in the workplace.

Leaders cannot expect employees to just blindly follow orders anymore; and employees cannot expect their leaders to have all the answers. Our world has gotten much too complicated. And employees often don’t know the challenges their co-workers are experiencing.

By opening up dialogues so communication flows in all directions, we share our realities and pave the way for positive change.

Here’s an idea to try out this week: have a conversation with someone whose work is very different from yours–either inside or outside your own company. What are their biggest challenges? What do they enjoy most and least—and why? See if what they share provides insights for your workplace and the roles in it. I’m going to wager that respect and appreciation are huge factors in their answers. Let me know how it goes!

🚀 Information & Resources to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week: 

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• J.J. Mazzo hits the right points in this short piece for Forbes on what he learned when his company grew from 1-20 employees. Especially love his share about hiring carefully–a valuable lesson I, too, learned the hard way. 

• This WSJ piece is written for consumers, but it applies to business banking too. AI is helping the bad guys–heads up.

• If it seems very quiet the week of July 1, it is not your imagination, according to this article from Inc.

• I get it…some employees are dishonest, need supervision, and don’t perform to expectations. But I think we need to “get off the clock” and innovate better ways to set performance goals and assess productivity. “The clock” is too subjective for today’s workforce. That being said, I understand the deception needed to be punished, but true confession, I clicked through to the article because the link said it was about mouse jigglers and I didn’t know what those were. Now I do and you can too. 😂

• Now this is cool: blue collar talent is finding lucrative side hustle work—as social influencers.

• Practicing gratitude seems to be on everyone’s list of important skills for leaders to cultivate, including this list from Rolling Stone. Rock on!

• Is it possible to be “too nice” at work? Absolutely! When we’re focused on being “nice” as a mask to our anxiousness, we can come across as disingenuous and untrustworthy. This TEDTalk by social psychologist Tessa West shares her research on how people mask anxiety with overly polite feedback. She, also, gives three tips to be more clear and consistent with feedback.

🌟 Do Good Spotlight: The American Heart Association (AHA)

Founded in 1924, the AHA has become the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Heart Disease is the #1 killer worldwide and AHA continues to provide research funding and programs to help people live healthier. Learn more about aiding their cause: American Heart Association.

💞 Better Workplaces Intention Pod

We’re revamping the intention pod and will be bringing it back in a new format with new times so more of you can participate. It’s an uplifting way to help keep yourself centered throughout the business week (and on the weekend too). Stay tuned…

⏳Until Next Time…

Do you have good plans for the weekend? Active or chill? Do what you need to do to stay refreshed and focused. Taking care of ourselves is the best foundation for helping others, so make sure to invest time in the recharging activities that work best for you. 

I’m listening to “James” by Percival Everett and loving it—that’s my chill. Dinner party at a friends’ home on Sunday—that’s my active. Saturday is me pushing myself to get back on my e-bike after the knee surgery—definitely not chill, hoping it’s active! Wish me luck!

Enjoy the rest of the week and your weekend too,

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

It’s so hot. Like, really hot. So hot that I keep repeating how hot it is to anyone within earshot, who, of course, already knows it’s so freakin’ hot. There’s relief ahead, but in the meantime, it’s so freakin’ hot! 🔥

🚀 Information & Resources to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• ABetterParadigm.com, the new home for Niki’s Notes and so much more, is almost ready to launch. It will be a centralized resource for coaches, training & development programs, assessments, conferences, reading suggestions, and more. All focus is on helping business people like you build and strengthen compassionate workplaces. Special thanks to Natalie Lorenzo of DBE who has contributed significantly to the look and feel of the brand: logo, website, marketing materials, and more. Stay tuned!

• A strong golf game is an in-demand job skill. Not kidding. Here’s more from The Wall Street Journal. Oh, and just as I’m getting back into the swing of things (couldn’t resist) golf clothes for women are leveling up.

• Are you a healthy worker or a workaholic? Quick quiz gives some answers and perspectives. (Scroll down, it’s not the top story on the page.)

• According to researchers, when leaders say, “I am very grateful” rather than “thank you” it has a stronger impact on employees and their productivity. I’m not sure about this one. I think either works well when you provide details, like, “Thank you for the details you provided; going deeper helped me uncover insights I wouldn’t have had….” I think any thanks are appreciated when they don’t feel superficial. Thoughts?

• Want to live longer? Less TV the answer according to this new study.

• It’s not your imagination – air travel is becoming more turbulent. Find out how to keep yourself and your “fellow travelers” safe.

• Some people are not comfortable with the notion of seeking power. Is this you? Perhaps a new definition is in order. Here you go.

• I was at a great presentation/Q&A with former Navy Seal Gregory Hake last week. I keep thinking about a phrase he used, “break contact.” It refers to a strategy to withdraw from a situation when you don’t have an advantage. As he explained, in the movies the hero and their friends always fight through an ambush, but in real life, withdrawing when surprised (and at a disadvantage) can be the smartest move. Business is evolving to where admitting vulnerability is a strength: we can withdraw, regroup, and come back stronger. If the Navy Seals can do this, what a great model for the rest of us.

🌟 Do Good Spotlight: National Civil Rights Museum

To commemorate Juneteenth, we are supporting the National Civil Rights Museum. By remembering the past, we teach ourselves what’s important as we journey forward to equality for all. The National Civil Rights Museum continues the legacy of sharing stories that changed our nation. Learn how you can help: National Civil Rights Museum.

🎵 On a Personal Note

With kids heading off to college soon, these moving tips seem timely. Actually, they work for anyone changing homes, so check out these more-than-clever packing hacks. 😉

⏳Until Next Time…

There’s so much going on in our world, and it’s often challenging to stay focused on what you can influence. When I feel myself spending too much energy outside my areas of influence, I purposefully pause and redirect my attention where my energy has an impact. If we all do that, our ripples will become the waves of change we’re seeking. Let’s keep vibing at those higher frequencies and stay cool regardless of the temperature.

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

…about how to get more “deep sleep.” There’s lots of information about getting “better” sleep and I’m doing all of it, but I still cannot get more than 30 minutes or so of deep sleep each night. According to my Oura, it should be at least 90 minutes per night. Any info out there to help me get more of this restorative level of sleep?

🚀 Information & Resources to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• Consider: “A 2024 Gallup survey indicates that the percentage of employees who strongly agree that their organization cares about their overall well-being has plunged from 49% in 2020 to 21% in 2024, while a previous survey found that improving well-being and culture rated much higher than increasing compensation among the things “quiet quitters” would like to change about their work.” This article from Harvard Business Reviews talks about what employees really need and what companies need to avoid.

• Going “gray rock” isn’t a go-to strategy for all tough situations, but when you have someone in your sphere who just wants to argue for the drama of it, this does work wonders for your peace of mind.

• I’ve talked about the loneliness epidemic and how it affects young people. Here’s some good news and an idea that could work for more of us than just the Gen Z’s reading today.

• I was going to share this video because I thought it made the point about management leading with support rather than leading with force…but then I read the comments, and frankly, I’m sharing this for another reason now. Why is it some people feel the need to turn any post whatsoever into an argument. Some of the comments are relevant, e.g., there is one from someone who said they don’t like being touched, and another from someone who said he uses the “walk and talk” technique, but there were so many other comments that were either irrelevant or missed the point (purposefully?). It’s a serious question, because I post a lot of curated content, and sometimes the post makes a point I want to share but I hesitate when I scan the comments. Thoughts?

• How is your company exploring gen AI? Here’s a tip sheet—well, much more than a tip sheet—on mitigating risks as you and your colleagues wade into the AI waters. Via Öykü Isik, Amit Joshi, and Lazaros Goutas for Harvard Business Review.

🌟 Do Good Spotlight: Home Sweet Hudson and Their Comedy Night Fund Raiser

Navigating the transition for special needs children reaching the age of 21 can feel like “falling off a cliff.” This critical period, when individuals are no longer eligible for IDEA (federal) services and must depend on State vocational rehabilitation and Medicaid waivers, is often challenging and confusing. The team at Home Sweet Hudson provides inclusive aid to families with special needs children during this transition. They assist with accessing unknown services, mentoring, direct community engagement, legislative advocacy, and consolidating resources for parents and caregivers in Hudson County, NJ.

Of special note to my readers in northern NJ, there’s a comedy show fund raiser on Thursday, June 20 in Hoboken. It starts at 7:00 p.m. and features 5 comedians. Sure to be a fun time. Shout out to the founder of Home Sweet Hudson, David Tornabene, I love how you found a community in need and built an organization to support it!

🎵 On a Personal Note

What kind of friend are you? (I’m a firefly).

⏳Until Next Time…

Enjoy your time with family and friends this weekend–life is fleeting, and those connections are everything. And Happy Father’s Day to everyone celebrating!

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

… about how enjoyable it was planting flowers on my deck this past Saturday. It was a lot of work, but it looks really pretty out there now. I ventured into uncharted territory with begonias, a calla lily, and another hibiscus. Since I’m still healing from my knee surgery, I took breaks throughout the afternoon to listen to Huckleberry Finn to prep for listening to a new book, “James.” It’s narrated by the character Jim, and I wanted to absorb the original before moving to the new one.

Intermixing planting and listening was a perfect way to spend an afternoon: sunshine, exercise, and nature. All on the microcosm of my deck. 

How are you integrating activities? If you can’t do everything all at once, can you break it into segments?

🚀 Information & Resources to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• DEI. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Neela Singh talks about DEI as the new Macarena. Everyone’s doing it but not everyone knows why. This article is well constructed, and she shares personal experiences that provide interesting elements.

• Piggybacking off the DEI Macarena piece, here’s an interesting take on DEI by Alain Hunkins for Forbes. Did you know DEI means different things to different generations of workers? Where do your definitions fall? Helpful stats and research, dig in.

• Sean Kernan talks about curiosity as a basis for relationships. While the focus of this piece is on personal relationships, we need more of this at work too, so here you go.

• I couldn’t wait to share this one: HBR Ideacast podcasters (Juan Martinez and Tom Stackpole) and their guest (Ethan Mollick, a management professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) do such a great job making comparisons between how we looked at the pros and risks of early digital technology and considerations businesses are facing with gen AI now. There’s the 39-minute podcast and a transcript: take your pick, but do peruse.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Out & Equal 🌟

To celebrate Pride month, this week’s charity is Out & Equal, a global nonprofit working exclusively on LGBTQ+ workplace equality. They leverage Fortune 500 partnerships, worldwide programs, and conferences to create inclusive company cultures. See what they do and how you can help: Out & Equal.

🎵 On a Personal Note

I always thought most trees had roots that went down as far as the trees went up. Or maybe not quite so far, but I always assumed they went very deep.

Guess what…most trees, even very large ones – have roots that go down about 2-6 feet! They do, however, spread out horizontally, below the ground, 2-4x the diameter of the tree’s crown.

What does this have to do with creating better workplaces? I could find a metaphor but honestly, I just was amazed by this and wanted to share.

Now, my editor, Natalie Lorenzo, on the other hand, thought this was cool and too good not to go for the metaphor, so here’s her note:

One way forest trees communicate with each other is through the fungal network at their roots. Redwoods, in particular, can grow above 300 feet in the air, while their root system is only ~10 feet down. Their roots interlace with each other to hold all the trunks up together.

So by communicating through interconnection, the whole forest is healthier.

How’s that for a metaphor?

⏳Until Next Time…

Please take good care of yourself. We only have one you, and you touch many lives in many ways. Stay strong, stay focused, and keep bringing your best self to all you do. It’s appreciated! Thank you!

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

What if we could join together to make workplaces better, united in a common good? Like this.

🚀 Information & Resources to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• When we talk about building better workplaces, we often talk about Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Here’s a great example of someone demonstrating EQ. In addition to the 3 pillars of EQ described in the article, awareness of oneself and one’s impact on others are vital for building emotionally safe environments.

• Leadership tips for humans in an increasingly AI-driven world include: “Traditionally, leadership centered on an inspirational, guru-like approach, but this is shifting. People are no longer enthused about fulfilling someone else’s agenda; instead, they seek autonomy and meaning in their work.” Here’s more.

• According to KPMG’s recent 2024 CEO Outlook Pulse survey, “74% of U.S. CEOs are prioritizing more initiatives focused on mental well-being such as digital wellness solutions, mindfulness seminars, resilience workshops and coaching sessions.” The post also talks about a topic near and dear to me: improving how we measure productivity so we can “get off the clock.” Read more from KPMG’s Vice Chair, Talent and Culture at KPMG, Sandy Torchia.

• I’ve long supported employees having side hustles, provided they give my company the 100% I’m paying them for. I think it helps them better understand business from an owner’s perspective, expands them as people, and yields other benefits to my business too. Ross Buhrdorf, CEO of ZenBusiness shares his perspectives on side hustles—let me know what you think.

• We talk a lot here about mission-driven businesses. What are the upsides? What are the challenges? Good perspectives shared by Divyesh Patel for Entrepreneur Magazine.

• According to a recent SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) study, “56% of workers report encountering uncivil behavior in their professional environments, averaging nearly three acts per week.” This is what we’re working to fix with Niki’s Notes and our soon-to-launch initiative to bring respect into workplaces—and the world. Check out this article, and stay tuned.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Habitat for Humanity 🌟

Building supportive, stable communities by helping families build and improve their homes is what Habitat for Humanity is all about. Learn more, and consider a team project for your company that can help your community too!

🎵 On a Personal Note

• Have you ever heard of a kangaroo word? Wait, take a pause, what do you think it is? (Okay, click here, were you right?)

⏳Until Next Time…

I hope June brings you all kinds of wonderful. Enjoy the weekend, and come back to work refreshed and refocused.

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

…how I wish every adult would read the book “The Body Keeps Score” by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. It was originally published in 2014 and is mind blowing. Warning: it is very hard to hear the stories of the patients whose trauma he showcases. But, it is so worth the read for anyone who wants to better understand trauma and how minds and bodies are impacted by traumatic events.

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• Coming in hot—May 29, 3 PM (ET): a free, one-hour webinar, hosted by the Center for Compassionate Leadership, designed for people who want to put compassion in their work culture. Learn more and register here. Don’t wait, May 29 is next Wednesday!

• How do we help combat loneliness? I’ve heard several great examples lately of organizations recognizing and attempting to remedy the rise of loneliness. Here’s one example: Mark Scattene told me how his gym assigns members to a small squad and encourages them to achieve goals as a team. Getting to know each other leads to activities outside the gym, like grabbing burgers together. This is especially helpful for people new to living in NYC. I’ve heard many people are going into the office only to find no one else there because the rest of their team works far away. If you see them, invite them to hang with your office mates. Be the one to make the bold move—it can go a long way…

• …yet making the bold move can make you feel a bit vulnerable. That’s okay, we’re finding sharing your vulnerability with confidence is a strength. Check out this story about a software company leader whose employees are extremely loyal to her because she is very real with them.

• How is your company balancing at work/remote/hybrid decisions? One complaint I hear often is how hard it is to build culture while working remotely. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution because businesses vary so much. This article from Inc. shares POVs on how to determine if job candidates are a fit for remote work and keep everyone productive.

• On the culture question, my team has evolved something we call Zoomraderie. It’s time we set aside weekly to meet virtually on Zoom or Kumospace. The activities vary week to week. Sometimes it’s a trivia contest, often there’s a quiz to guess who is who based on how our avatars show up to answer certain questions. We get to know each other as individuals, have fun, and build our trust along the way.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Charity Navigator 🌟

Ever wonder if a charity is making the best use of their resources? Or have you been asked to donate to a not-for-profit you’ve never heard of? You want to make sure your support is going to the right place. Charity Navigator helps you find reputable charities you’re passionate about. Let’s give them a hand and support them, too: Charity Navigator.

🎵 On a Personal Note

• I absolutely love how younger people are bringing about change that previous generations couldn’t pull off, though of course many of us tried. This piece talks about climate change. What can you do, regardless of your role in your organization, to challenge practices that are outdated and not serving the collective good?

⏳Until Next Time…

Enjoy the long weekend. Please pause on Monday to remember the people we are honoring on Memorial Day and those grieving for them. Let’s make this a great summer by staying strong, staying focused, and bringing our best selves to everything we do.

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

…about the cool people I’m meeting as we prepare for the launch of a new website. It’s designed to connect leaders who want to build better workplaces with experts, platforms, tools, programs, and insights. Stay tuned!

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week. BTW, I went down an AI rabbit hole so I’m taking you with me:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• Interesting graphic of how we tend to allocate time based on our age.

• We learn and remember differently when we write versus type—details from NPR.

• Sharing from two perspectives: the tip Vanessa Lau suggests for using ChatGPT for reviewing contracts AND the comments advising caution on using her advice. As with all things gen AI, accuracy is still a question mark.

• MCG Strategic has a quick read for you on AI and project management. There are good takeaways, take a peak. How is your team using AI? What advantages are you gaining?

• And this, from The New Era of Leadership, talks about the risks and rewards of experimenting with AI in your company. Love that HireVue is quoted regarding bias in the workplace and how AI helps to avoid it (we worked with a company they merged with recently, both excellent platforms).

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) 🌟

For over 40 years, COTA has been helping remove the financial barriers to life-saving transplants by providing fundraising assistance and family support. They have provided over 1,000 families with more than $160 million since 1986. Learn more about their cause and how you can help: COTA.

🎵 On a Personal Note

• Seen “The Portal” yet, linking NYC and Dublin? I’m on board for seeing this in person, if you haven’t heard or want some clarification, here you go. And on the “this is why we can’t have nice things” vibe, some people were behaving badly and there’s talk of removing the installation. Heavy sigh….

⏳Until Next Time…

I’ve talked with several people recently who are at a crossroads. They have decisions to make and lots of info, data, and choices pummeling them.

When I experience this sort of overwhelm, I set aside an hour and think with a calm mind, “What do I want?” No arguing about why something won’t work, no dismissing things before a thought settles. Just purely, “What do I want?” Then, I let information come to me.

It seems to take 20-60 minutes before things become more clear. I did it as recently as 3 weeks ago and viola, new opportunities made themselves known and I embraced them. As always, I hope this helps you.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend too!

Niki

🧠 I’ve Been Thinking…

…about the students entering the job market and people who are new in their careers. 

I brought this up with my colleague Natalie Lorenzo this week. I started off saying that newer workers often don’t have the experience of working in an office or physical workspace. I thought it was a distinct disadvantage to be remedied. But flipping it, Natalie reminded me younger people were attending school remotely and learning new ways of collaborating when working together in-person wasn’t an option. Rather than being disadvantaged, perhaps they have advantages to be leveraged and shared. Love that perspective!

And taking it further, how do we make work cultures more supportive and engaging for all new hires? Their coworkers may be working in different locations with different frameworks and expectations for interpersonal engagement and applying technology to their work. 

Most of this week’s shares are around these thoughts. I’ve also included current best practices from recruiting experts to share with job seekers in your network.

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• For your interns: I love this advice from Arjay McCandless, a software developer at Amazon. He shares the first 3 things a new intern should do to win a permanent role with a company. 100%!

• Job scams are flourishing. Despite being savvy, a number of younger job seekers are falling for this one. Read up. And here’s a short video by Erin McGoff on avoiding these types of scams.

• 🎁 Special Gift for You: here’s an evolving tip sheet we’ve created for job seekers looking for respectful work environments. Hiring? Use this tool to align your offerings with criteria the best candidates are using to find companies sharing their values.

• If you ask me why I’m so passionate about bringing more respect to workplaces, this one sums it up: Who’s zoomin’ who? Dr. Raghu Krishnamoorthy asks if employees are commoditizing their organizations after years (decades?) of employers treating employees like “just a number.” Good POVs and questions to pursue.

• Brilliant take on toxic behavior in the workplace: if you see something, say something. And the worst tolerated behavior sets the tone for the organization. Thanks Sally Pedlow for a great net/net on this.

• Here are ChatGPT prompts for job seekers via Your ChatGPT Guide.

• I have not researched this further, but it makes sense: how to optimize LinkedIn searches to find active and verified job openings.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 RefuSHE 🌟

RefuSHE champions a powerful, life-changing mission to protect, educate and empower refugee girls and women. Based in Kenya, they have offered services to over 3,150 refugee girls, women and their children in East Africa. They offer services in mental health, legal aid, education, safe housing, and more. Read more about what they do: RefuSHE.

💞 Better Workplaces Intention Pod

Want to guarantee a smoother transition from Sunday to Monday? Invest the first 15 minutes of your work week with my intention-setting group. Here’s how it works: we meet via Zoom from 9:00-9:15 a.m. ET each Monday. (Email me for the Zoom link.) Say hi (camera on or off, your choice) and then I lead a guided, 3-minute intention-setting session. We each privately set our individual intentions—no need to share. And that’s it! We head off refreshed and refocused. Easy, calm, stress-free, and oh so good for you. Try it out!

🎵 On a Personal Note

• Is your car insurance at risk of major increases because you break hard or drive fast? Oh, you didn’t opt into sharing your driving performance with insurers? Check again. And thanks to Jess Perry for the share.

⏳Until Next Time…

If you like this weekly briefing, please share it with like-minded colleagues and friends. There are bigger things brewing and the more people in our community, the stronger it will grow. 

• Share this link for them to get it in their inbox.
• Share this one for them to get it on LinkedIn.
• Here’s for people who want to subscribe on Medium.

Thanks!

Please take care and give yourself the gift of time when you need it. Remember, there’s only one of you, and you need good energy to help yourself and others. May you focus forward with boundless energy. 😊

Niki

💭I’ve Been Thinking…

… about situations I’ve had as a business leader. I want to share one I have heard echoed by countless others. Perhaps this will help if you find yourself dealing with “the bad manager.”

One of the key reasons people leave their employers is “the bad manager.” While there can be all kinds of reasons someone is labeled “bad,” I’m going to focus on the toxic personality variety. These tend to be angry people who act out in the workplace. They are unaware of their actions’ impacts and/or feel entitled to direct anger at others. Why do so many of them last too long, even when their negative behaviors have become known to the organization?

I think it most frequently comes down to communication and timing. The process starts with employees comparing notes: most people want to find out if others have similar issues with the manager. They may try to address their concerns directly with the difficult manager. If that step fails, HR and/or upper management is alerted. HR/Upper management will want hard evidence, and it takes time to gather that. Then there are meetings with the difficult manager, either as an info exchange or wrapped in a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). If wise, the company is simultaneously searching for an appropriate replacement.

All the while, the clock is ticking and valued employees become increasingly frustrated. They start looking elsewhere, leaving upper management to onboard several new people, sometimes with the difficult manager still in place.

So here’s my advice: Be fair while moving quickly and confidently to protect the people that deserve it.

Many caring people want to give the benefit of the doubt, and we know angry people are usually struggling with deep issues. But when we are truly on a mission to improve workplaces, we can’t tolerate bad behaviors. Remember, there’s a big difference (I learned the hard way) between giving a troubled employee an opportunity to course correct and giving someone who can’t or won’t improve more time to compromise your workplace.

Happy to talk through challenges you may be facing as you work to build a workplace with 360° respect.

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall.

• In 6 months, you will have better recourse if your air travel gets delayed or canceled. I’m thrilled, this is long overdue. Yeaaa consumers’ rights! Yeaaa, one of my least favorite industries being held accountable. 🥳

• Bill Gates has mellowed over the years and is sharing lessons about what he wished he did better re: treating his employees more compassionately.

• For those of us operating in the here and now, Kandi Wiens has tips for recognizing the symptoms of potential burnout, how to redirect yourself and others, and how to change what’s considered “normal.”

• 3 CFOs share their ideas for hitting company goals despite obstacles in 2024.

• Does your business rely on TikTok? Here are two takes on what’s next in my company’s newsletter, Perceptive Marketer.

• This piece from Business Insider talks primarily about tech workers in big tech companies but then segues into general hiring trends for tech workers. It’s long, but the detail and POVs are worth the time investment, IMHO. Oh, and you can learn a new acronym: ZIRP.

• Empathy is back! I like to think it never really left us but that it was overshadowed by, well, a lot. Jamil Zaki, the author of this piece in Vox, thinks so too. Special thanks to Adam Edwards for sharing this with me.

• Are you and your work buddies getting enough sleep? If you’re an average American, the answer is probably not. And it’s really hurting us. Here’s more from The Atlantic.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Foster Love 🌟

Foster Love improves the lives of kids in foster care by providing new bicycles, college supplies, and “sweet cases” to thousands of foster youth across the U.S. This is such a creative charity. Teams of people (including companies) can host events where they build and create kits and boxes. It’s a unique team-builder that also gives back! Check them out: Foster Love.

💞 Compassionate Workplaces Intention Pod

There wasn’t secure wi-fi where I was staying last Monday, so we skipped the intention pod, but we’re back on for this coming Monday. If you want a new way to jump-start your work week, join us.

It’s simple: join the Zoom meeting, say hello, and then quietly sit with the group for 3 minutes or so as we privately set our individual intentions for consciously facilitating kindness in our workplaces. That’s it! Then, we say bye, heading off refreshed and refocused. We meet from 9:00-9:15 a.m. ET each Monday. Email me for the Zoom link. We’d love to have you as part of our better workplaces pod.

🎵 On a Personal Note

• Here are some easy ways to add nature and its benefits to your workspace, a la Natalie Lorenzo from the DBE team.

⏳Until Next Time…

I took a day off to recharge and refresh earlier this week. I’m trying to take mini breaks ahead of when I need them so they feel like retreats, not recovery. When’s the last time you gave yourself some extra time during the work week? Not a full-blown vacation, just a little break from the routine? I love my work, but I loved my mini retreat earlier this week too. 

Wishing you all things wonderful, take care of you!

Niki

Hi,

As I explore the growing movement to bring more respect and consideration into workplaces, I’m excited by the expansiveness of this emerging field. From workshops and communications programs to assessments, coaching, and more, businesspeople are recognizing the value of helping teams reshape their interpersonal interactions.

When 360° awareness of self and others is built into workplace culture, people work more productively and synergistically. This reduces friction and increases positive outcomes, including profitability.

I’m working with pioneers in this field on amplifying initiatives. As things continue to ramp up. I’ll keep you posted.

For now, thanks for being committed to making the world better by making workplaces better.

🚀 Stories to Help You Drive Change

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link. That usually bypasses the pay wall.

• Have you had problems getting restaurant reservations? I know it’s an epidemic in NYC. If you have time to read (or listen to) a fantastic story of opportunistic entrepreneurism, this is a good investment of your time.

• Tensions are growing as companies push back against activist employees. Good overview of how large companies are working to balance between employees wanting to express themselves publicly and companies wanting to protect brand reputation.

• … And when you have “social good” stories to tell, what are the best ways to get those initiatives the attention they deserve? Martha Marchesi of JK Design has tips for you via Fast Company.

• Hate small talk? Introverts especially find it painful. But we’re networking more these days, and we find ourselves thrust into opportunities to talk with people we’ve never met before. What’s the secret to better conversations? Stanford lecturer and communication instructor Matt Abrahams, host of the highly popular podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, advises us to seek to be interested, not interesting. Find out more in this story in Inc.

• Shout out to all the middle managers making the magic happen for the C-Suite above them and the masses of employees below them. David Brooks has an opinion piece for the NY Times, I’m getting you there via his Instagram post.

• The average lowest salary workers will accept for a new job has climbed to $82,822 in March of 2024. This is up from last November when survey respondents needed an offer of $73,391 to change jobs. More data here.
  

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Nature Conservancy & Earth Day 🌟

In honor of Earth Day this past Monday, we’re spotlighting The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature thrive. Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. DBE supports this high-rated not-for-profit, and we encourage you to learn about and support them if their mission resonates with you: The Nature Conservancy.

And if you’re looking for other environmental non-profits, check out some of the other nature-themed organizations my company supports.

💞 Compassionate Workplaces Intention Pod

I’m so grateful people are finding value in my Monday Morning Intention-Setting Pod. 

Could it be a productive way for you to center and focus yourself at the start of your work week? 

It’s a very simple process: join the Zoom meeting, say hello, and then quietly sit together with the group for 3 minutes or so as we privately set our individual intentions for modeling our best behaviors in the workplace. That’s it! Then, we say bye and head off for the week refreshed and refocused. 9:00-9:15 a.m. ET each Monday. Email me for the Zoom link. We’d love to have you as part of our better workplaces pod.

🎵 On a Personal Note

• House plants looking a little sad after the long winter? Need some new green friends? Rose Maura Lorre writing for Wirecutter has tips on which online stores offer the best buying experience for when you want to greenify your home.

⏳ Until Next Time…

Please take time to center yourself throughout each day. We’re being pummeled with data, information, and opinions from the time we wake until the time we sleep. Think about that…. At no point in history have people had so much to filter in real time to stay present. So be kind to yourself. Be aware of how your thoughts impact your actions, and how your actions impact others. Don’t expect perfection but do strive to vibe at those higher frequencies for consistently better outcomes. 

Wishing you a refreshing weekend,

Niki