As head of school, I would have my assistant head of school read sensitive emails that I was planning on sending.
As time went on, I would stop sending such emails entirely, and insist on face-to-face meetings.
That's because we do a terrible job of accurately reading intent when it comes to things like email.
We lose sight of tonality. We lose sight of intent.
Read MoreBuilding passion is also a great way to manage and reduce workplace stress. Stress is a serious drain on productivity and had a direct effect on worker health and absenteeism. Stress-related illnesses cost businesses an estimated $200 billion to $300 billion a year in lost productivity, as reported in Stress in the Workplace. A study by Health Advocate found that 1 million workers miss work each day due to stress. This absenteeism costs employers an estimated $600 per worker each year. Twelve percent of employees have called in sick because of job stress. This is not surprising because most people respond to increased stress with added caffeine and alcohol consumption, smoking, and prescription medications.
Read MoreIt’s no surprise that we use email and text for so many of our communications. It’s often faster, it’s neater, and it can easily be saved for future reference without paper sifting and clutter. Digital communication allows us to send and reply at our own convenience. And you can communicate with several people at one time,
But there are also some serious dangers that, unless managed properly, will turn these advantages into a huge disadvantage.
Read MoreProbably the hardest morning for me is Monday.
It's the day that my wife drives carpool and I am responsible to get our little one out the door.
As you can imagine, it's not always so simple.
He's got his own agenda, isn't the quickest to get up in the morning, certainly doesn't love to get dressed.
Giving him breakfast is a challenge.
Helping them decide on what he wants for lunch is a challenge. In general, it's a challenge.
Actually, a lot of the key things that we do when we want to negotiate with our kids, we also need to be thinking about what we want to negotiate with adults too.
Read MoreNetworking is important. We all get that. But what do you do if you’re shy, introverted and/or struggle in social settings?
One workaround is social media. Many folks much prefer engaging from behind a picture or avatar than in person. While the quality of the engagement can often be more limited, there’s a ton that one can achieve by showing up authentically online, sharing great content and demonstrating real interest in others.
Another approach is to use FaceTime, Duo, Skype, Zoom or some other online audio/video chat platforms. It can be less intimidating for folks to talk through their technology and preserve their personal space than to actually get in the same room as them. It can also make connecting much easier from a logistical standpoint.
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