by Jeff SkipperHuman contact was already pretty much taboo in the workplace, but with COVID it feels like hugs are a luxury out of reach for those of us working from our homes. But touch is still important. In fact, it’s been proven critical for the developing child and the mental health of adults. In one of […]
by Jeff SkipperOver a year ago I had an insight into what motivates people during change. WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) is the classic view: We move towards goals that offer something in our self-interest. This is dissatisfying because it is inherently selfish. I set out to find contradictions to the pursuit of self-interest and found […]
by Jeff SkipperIn your next meeting, try out this short exercise. “Go to a new page in your notebook. Thinking about your day from the moment you woke up, list at least ten ways you’ve adapted or navigated something new or unexpected. You have two minutes.“ Some will have no problem listing ten, but several people will […]
by Jeff SkipperIn 2013, the City of Keene, New Hampshire broke the record for most lit jack-o’-lanterns with 30,581 on display. It takes a lot of work and coordination to create a wall of fiery pumpkins. Can you imagine how the city felt at the achievement of a world record? I guarantee people talk about where they […]
by Jeff SkipperRead this excerpt from a recent McKinsey report: “Research shows that company profits and share performance can be close to 50 percent higher when women are well represented at the top. Beyond that, senior-level women have a vast and meaningful impact on a company’s culture. They are more likely than senior-level men to embrace employee-friendly […]
by Jeff SkipperWelcome to Skipco! Here’s your desk, laptop, and work assignments. My door is open and I’m happy to help you succeed. However, if you could please keep all discourse to work-related topics, we would appreciate it. We have a strict ‘no personal opinions’ policy here. We have found controversy to be unproductive. Feeling ‘on board’ […]
by Jeff Skipper“Jeff, how do you find such beautiful pictures for your newsletter?” Setting up a quick Zoom session from Canada to New Zealand, within ten minutes my friend Diana was on her way to brighter images at zero cost (thank you unsplash!). We’ve all done it. Need help? Phone a friend. Or text, IM, email. Virtual […]
by Jeff SkipperChange is good! Thanks to everyone who provided such great feedback on the value of these updates. Let me know what you think of the new approach! I have planned additional surprises. Just wait until next week! And if you like it, please share it. New fans can SUBSCRIBE HERE 🙂 Leading from the Front […]
by Jeff SkipperAfter ten years of plants growing unchecked, beauty had morphed into chaos. Cute little gumdrop bushes had either died or grown into shaggy bullies to neighboring flowers. The elderberry had become a menace to anyone approaching our front door (Sorry, couriers!!). A small tree had made contact with our front window to provide creepy screeching […]
by Jeff SkipperFrom coffee-antique shops to do-it-yourself community libraries to contactless pizza, innovation is everywhere these days.Small and large business are finding new ways to serve their communities and employees as we wade through a sea of forced change. Individuals have been adapting in incredible ways – not just learning new technologies, but putting them to brand […]
by Jeff SkipperResearch shows that when we shift our focus to what we can control, we see meaningful and lasting differences in our well-being, health, and performance. ~ The Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook We all want control of our destiny, we all want control of our lives We all want control of each other, we all see the […]
by Jeff SkipperHave you ever seen someone ‘bristle’? If you’re not sure, tell someone to do something they really don’t want to do. You can almost see the hairs standing up on the back of their neck. Instant porcupine. A colleague once said, the reason people struggle with change is that they don’t like being told what to do. […]
by Jeff SkipperI previously wrote about how well Starbucks’ letter to customers exemplified the right way to communicate. Since then I’ve reviewed many more messages that range from uplifting to vague and inconsequential. Enter PayPal’s memo today which really caught my attention (pasted in entirety at the end of this article). Keep in mind that PayPal is […]
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