VIDEO OF THE MONTH: "How Miscommunication Happens (and How To Avoid It)" lesson developedby Katherine Hampsten - TED-Ed
Have you ever talked with a friend about a problem, only to realize that he just doesn’t seem to grasp why the issue is so important to you? Have you ever presented an idea to a group, and it’s met with utter confusion? What’s going on here? Katherine Hampsten describes why
miscommunication occurs so frequently, and how we can minimize frustration while expressing ourselves better.
ARTICLE OF THE MONTH: "Q&A: UConn Researcher Explains How Toxic Bosses Damage the Workplace" by Claire Hall - UConn Today
During his time as a strategic planner with a former employer, Professor Kyoungjo “Jo” Oh had a tyrannical boss, who used to yell, swear, berate, and bully his employees.
The experience fostered Oh’s interest in organizational behavior, human resources management, and workplace civility. His goal is to produce research that can help make the workplace more welcoming and rewarding for everyone.
Q: Why are we so fascinated with this topic of toxic bosses?
A: Almost everyone in the workplace has had a bad or toxic boss. If you haven’t, you’re lucky.
Although I have a good relationship with my former employer, a multinational corporation, I did have one abusive boss during my time there. He yelled, dismissed others' ideas, never offered a compliment, swore at employees, and lobbed personal insults and attacks. The supervisor remained in power until he harmed a subordinate.
We all spend a substantial amount of time in the workplace. It should be a pleasant experience. However, when it isn’t, that’s when employees lose focus, think about leaving, and, overall, performance suffers.
"Next Generation Leader: Five Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future" by Andy Stanley -Book Reviewed by TLP Cohort #6 Member
In the book “Next Generation Leader," the author Andy Stanley provides clear and concise strategies to performing at the best obtainable level in both the present and future.
I would recommend this book to any who are tired of the same Wall Street techniques and strategies that state, do whatever you have to, to whomever you have to, to get ahead. These are the failed strategies, which taught from birth and instilled into many, have led to moral decline, decreased productivity, and a lack of integrity as well as a sense of entitlement.
This book teaches us that in order to lead, one must be able to be taught. We must be willing to listen to others to ascertain when our own leadership has become ineffective, as well as competent and secure enough with our inadequacies to seek knowledge, implement new strategies and re-evaluate our status for flaws and deficiencies.
If you utilized this book, you will then possess the insight and direction to help you make yourself a leader for today as well as tomorrow.
To Get Through Life, We All Need to Ask for Help —
Here's How NOT to Do It
Social psychologist Heidi Grant shares 4 common ways that we inadvertently make things weird for other people when we request their assistance. Read this before your next ask.
Asking for help isn’t just about what you say and do; it’s also about what you don’t say and do. In my research, I’ve found there are specific things you can say that can really backfire on you. Here are 4 of the most common ways that well-intentioned people screw up and make things weird for their helper when they’re asking for help.
Wrong way #1: Emphasizing how much the other person will enjoy helping
“You’re going to love it! It will be so much fun!” One of my collaborators has a friend who has a habit of phrasing requests this way. “Any chance you could help me repaint the living room? We can totally drink beers and catch up! Girl time!” she might say.
Or, “Hey, could you pick me up at the auto mechanic? I haven’t seen you in ages! Road trip!” It’s a testament to the strength of their friendship that it survives this kind of request.
