Feeling a little bit Zoomed out? You’re not alone. Several researchers and social scientists have weighed in recently on why virtual meetings can be so draining. First, you experience a cognitive dissonance as your brain thinks you’re with someone but you can’t pick up all their non-verbal cues. Second, you typically have more distractions coming
How do you sell (or outreach, fundraise, negotiate, network, interview, or gain buy-in) when the people you’re trying to reach are remote and afraid? Being socially distanced can prove to be challenging but also full of opportunity for new growth and outreach. Giving in to fear and isolating yourself beyond necessary means will only lead
Since writing the article below a year ago, virtual meetings have become exponentially more common – especially with global health concerns restricting travel and group gatherings. It’s more important than ever to ensure virtual meetings are productive, engaging, and relevant. Each person responds differently to a virtual environment: some struggle mightily to resist multi-tasking; others
It was startling to find out Linda doesn’t use email. Not only that, her office assistants are instructed not to take messages but to send callers to voicemail. When they get there, they’ll hear this message: “Thank you for your call. I only check and return messages on Mondays. If your call is urgent, please
I worked for my dad for about ten years, during which time he persistently asked me this question: “How is your system working for you?” As he explained it, “Successful people develop a structured approach to their work. They are successful because they consistently work their system.” But for years, I frankly had no idea
Early in his career, one of my university professors set a constraint on how much money he would ever make in one year. He established a modest fixed cost of living amount, adjusted for inflation each year and gave away the rest. Incredible, I always thought. Especially because he was the highest rated professor in
The past week brought communication of conflict and crisis. I read news of human violence, learned about friends in difficult circumstances, and I had hard conversations. My mind was on high alert. As situations arose, I was one part anxious, one part awkward, and one part focused. Have you been there? Where I was directly
As a leader, there will be times when you’ll need to change someone’s behavior or mindset. If you’re like most of us, your instinct will be to put your powers of persuasion to work, to come up with all the best arguments to sway the person. Persuasion, which relies on logic and wit, is an
We get in our own way. Impulse, laziness, fear and mindlessness often lead us away from what makes us most alive. Structure can save us. Whether it’s a cadence, routine, discipline or policy, we need to build structure into our lives and organizations to protect us from ourselves. At times in my life, I’ve felt
Structure is essential to inspiring creativity and self-expression. Neuroscientists have recently demonstrated that improvisation occurs when the self-monitoring region of our brain turns off through mastery of a foundational structure. Musician Yo-Yo Ma said, “An innovation, to grow organically from within, has to be based on an intact tradition.” I wish I could fully enjoy
Matt Norman is president of Norman & Associates, which offers Dale Carnegie Training in the North Central US. Dale Carnegie Training is a global organization ...READ MORE