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 SkipperMessages about change must be designed to draw people together, whether it’s to launch a new marketing strategy or build a mountain of jack-o’-lanterns. If we are not working together, we are not working at our best. Diversity work is all about navigating change. Setting race aside, the objective is to get everyone moving in […]
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 SkipperHardly a speech goes by these days without using the word unprecedented. And I’m weary of the humorless phrase “May we live in interesting times.” And then there’s “In the time of Covid…” as if we existed in a fairy tale. These terms are understandable as we try to make sense of the chaos that […]
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 SkipperThis week I returned to the gym for a shocking dose of reality – not so much the social distancing protocols, but the realization that four months off does not do the body good. At the end of my workout time, I tidied by picking up all my personal items. One of the items was […]
by Jeff SkipperThere’s a lot of shouting going on these days: People are marching for #blacklivesmatter Facebook employees are protesting Zuckerberg’s handling of Trump’s messages Everyday citizens are calling out the pain of layoffs, broken businesses, and evaporating bank accounts Even the call for silence to take a moment to reflect is a banner waved boldly across […]
by Jeff SkipperI don’t know about you but some of these days are EXHAUSTING! And while I maintain a balanced diet of COVID news interspersed with human interest stories and humour, some days still leave me feeling weary from incessant negativity and the dumb things people say…including me. Here is a routine I have found extremely helpful […]
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. […]
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