When Covid-19 pandemic hit us hard, posing significant health, economic, and social challenges, many companies across globe recommended their employees to take up the HBR online course on “Ernest Shackleton and his historic Endurance expedition”. Well, who is this Ernest Shackleton and how can his expedition help us with the unprecedented issues we faced with COVID-19? To understand this, let …
Team Dynamics: Fostering Altruism for Enhanced Collaboration
Have you heard about Forelius pusillus? Forelius pusillus is a Brazilian Ant. At dusk, these ants defend their homes by sealing off the entrances with sand and every night up to eight workers remain outside to finish the job. Left behind, they die by the next day. Behavioural ecologist Adam Tofilski of the Agricultural University of Kraków in Poland and …
Aspiration-Driven Development: Personal Growth Plans in the Workplace
Companies have long crafted personalized roles and career paths for their stars; Yet it is possible – indeed necessary – to extend this personalized approach to all employees. – Reid Hoffman, Co- Founder of LinkedIn. The demand for supportive work environments isn’t going anywhere. As people continue to prioritize themselves in the workplace, employers will have to rethink how they …
The Butterfly Effect: How Minor Gestures Transform Employee Wellbeing
In business operations, a single action can trigger a domino effect, reverberating throughout the organization. Within the complex dynamics of workplaces, prioritizing employee well-being emerges as a linchpin for organizational success. The adage ‘happy employees, productive workforce’ encapsulates a truth proven time and again. However, fostering employee well-being does not necessarily require grand gestures or lavish perks. Often, it begins …
The Unseen Backpack: Supporting Mental Health in Invisible Battles
In the bustling world of business, the spotlight is, more often than not, placed on outward accomplishments and observable triumphs. However, amid the hustle and bustle, there exists a quieter, often overlooked realm—the realm of mental health. Just like an unseen backpack, many professionals carry the weight of invisible battles, grappling with stress, anxiety, and other psychological challenges behind the …
Paws for Thought: The Therapeutic Power of Workplace Pets
The inclusion of pets in the workplace has garnered increasing attention due to its profound impact on employee well-being and productivity, backed by a growing body of research. For instance, a study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that interacting with animals can igger the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with stress reduction and social bonding. This physiological …
Cultivating a Culture of Empathy
Discover the untapped power within your company: its people.” From a Darwinian perspective, survival of the fittest in the workplace looks like how rapidly and efficiently employees adapt to its changing environment. This adaptation ensures the functioning of the company in an ever-changing, complex business environment. One of the elements crucial to the adaption are healthy interpersonal relationships between the …
Addressing Work-Life Balance Challenges in Springtime
Spring appears, colouring the world with bright shades, seducing us with warmer weather and the promise of new initiatives. However, an important aspect is often overlooked between the excitement associated with removing winter layers and planning outdoor adventures: the balance between work and life. Spring renewal’s unique energy and feeling create problems that can ruin the delicate balance between professional …
Workplace Diversity: A new norm
Audre Lorde once said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences”. One can view diversity as putting together different pieces of fabric. As unpleasant as it might seem to look, it has its own charm and is worth embracing and fostering in the workplace, despite the intricacies. Diversity …
From Overworked to Energized: A Fresh Approach to Work
Coming across the topic of this month’s issue, my mind really kept going back to how routines have been helpful in my life. May it be a time when I studied hard for my mid-sems or finals, or may it be a time when I had to wake up, go to school or college, and now work. Routines really do …