We know how much the workplace has changed since COVID, and now punctuality might be the latest thing to go. A survey of workplace manners showed that just 14% of employees consider it important. Can we say goodbye to the “if you’re on time, you’re late” ethos? Maaaaybe. Consistent lateness to meetings ranked #5 on the list of top five irritating behaviors. (Side note: not cleaning up after yourself came in at #1.) This contrast definitely feels like a leftover from the WFH era where the...
24 days ago • 1 min read
In this era of widespread employee dissatisfaction, many employers are looking for ways to boost engagement. To that end, Tiffany & Co. rolled out an internal app (“Tiffany Joy”), where employees were meant to share meaningful moments from their work and personal lives. The goal of Tiffany Joy was to turn Tiffany into a more enjoyable place to work. Unfortunately, under pressure from managers to increase their app usage, employees quickly nicknamed it “Forced Joy”. Forced joy would be funny...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Sarah Wynn-William's book on her time at Meta, Careless People, had been making the usual tech-memoir rounds until the day after its publication when an arbitrator ruled that she can no longer promote the book. Meta filed suit alleging that Wynn-Williams violated the non-disparagement agreement she signed when she left the company, and received an injunction until an arbitrator makes their ruling. I read the book, and it's compelling. It’s also a fascinating look behind the curtain at a...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Nearly all of the leaders I’ve coached struggle with conflict. Some might not want to be perceived as “choosing sides”. Others tell me they don’t like arguing. And for most leaders, delivering difficult feedback can feel so hard because they simply don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. The driver behind most of these conflict-avoidant behaviors is that many leaders just really want to be liked. You may well be asking what on earth this has to do with Volodymyr Zelensky. Most of us have seen...
2 months ago • 1 min read
A survey cited in Fortune declared Gen Z the “most challenging generation to work with”. What’s more, 50% of Gen Zers said their own generation is the most difficult to manage. Ouch. Gen Z's entry into the workforce has been rough. Many of them didn’t get valuable internship experience due to COVID, or even have the same in-person college experiences that previous generations did. They might be more used to working independently but less comfortable working on teams or giving presentations....
3 months ago • 1 min read
Dozens of companies have rolled back their DEI initiatives this year - including Target, Amazon, Meta, and just this week, Google. Each company has cited slightly different reasons, but most of the cuts have been viewed by employees and the media alike as related to the Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance and its stated goal of dismantling DEI. It’s confusing (and for me, sad) to see these companies dropping their DEI programs so soon after making such sweeping commitments to them. And to...
3 months ago • 1 min read
LinkedIn took a sharp turn a few years ago, as it went from a place to share professional achievements to an active social network. I’ve written before about LinkedIn’s popularity among young people as they start managing their careers and networks earlier and earlier. As LinkedIn’s demographic begins to shift, and its social side has grown, we’re witnessing the rise of the “LinkedInfluencer” and seeing paid partnerships on the platform like never before. The erosion of trust in other social...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Does 2025 feel like the FUTURE to you? It does to me. Can’t wait to see what it brings for us all. One thing it’s less likely than 2024 to bring - a new job. People are changing jobs at the slowest pace since pre-pandemic times. One simple explanation could be that those who left the workforce entirely during the Great Resignation are back in the labor market. Or it could be that new hire pay growth has shrunk dramatically. Rather than the long-held benchmark of 10%, pay increases for new...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Welcome to the final STRUCK BY of 2024. It’s been a great year with all of you - thank you so much for spending your time with me. STRUCK BY 2024 by the numbers: Most read: The Great Exhaustion. Do you feel less burnt out, exhausted, and / or stagnant at the end of 2024 than you did at the beginning? Let me know! Least read: Moving Fast and Breaking Really Big Things. I think tackling airline software problems was probably a bridge too far for STRUCK BY Most shared: A Love Letter to...
5 months ago • 1 min read