Thought-provoking Things Worth Sharing - Issue #169
We're a day early so I can have my three day weekend and you can too.
Those of us in the US will be celebrating Independence Day tomorrow, July 4. Whether you feel like celebrating in the midst of what is happening in the country or not, we can all agree on the simple pleasure of a three-day weekend.
So, enjoy the newsletter a day early. Then go live your life for three days. There’s enough uncertainty in the world, and in our workplaces, that we need the break. I know I do.
Welcome to this week’s collection of thought-provoking things. For each issue, I will share information about careers and workplace culture, mental health in the workplace, talent development, and key insights into privacy, security, and legal technology.
You can learn more about me here: Mike McBride Online.
So, enjoy the newsletter a day early. Then go live your life for three days. There’s enough uncertainty in the world, and in our workplaces, that we need the break. I know I do.
How are you dealing with all of this? *Waves arms*
How are you helping your employees deal with all of this?
Careers and the Workplace
Worth Reading - Who (and Who Not) To Ask for a Reference
I get it. Many places likely won't bother checking your references. However, some will, and can you afford to miss an opportunity because you didn't consider who you were listing as a reference, or weren't sure what they would say about you?
It certainly seems that way when you see the headlines versus the details shared in this post - Is Gallup trying to make remote work look bad?
Traditional networking is nice, but it’s the people who know you and your work that make a real difference - Community Is The Career Growth Hack No One's Talking About.
Artificial Intelligence
The challenge, of course, is who is driving the strategy? If firm leadership isn't driving it, you could wind up with AI adoption being pushed from the ground up, and strategic decisions being left to IT personnel or a Tech committee that lacks the authority to make those decisions. In the vacuum of leadership on AI adoption, though, someone will step in.
More people need to stop and think about the implications of recording in the first place, and then again before having AI take notes. There are reasons to not do this. - Before You Hit ‘Record’: Legal Risks In Using AI Notetaking Tools.
I feel like we need more of this in the AI space, and the political space. When “experts” can’t form a reasoned argument for what they are doing, the deserve it. - Make Fun Of Them.
I suspect that a lot of this is simply a desire to know that you’re supporting people and their work as opposed to AI - The AI Backlash Keeps Growing Stronger.
Training and Development
I agree with Seth on this. We can all learn just about anything we want. Do we? - Education is free, learning is expensive.
Speaking of free education - 15 Best Learning and Development Blogs and Websites to Follow in 2025.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Worth Reading - To Change Your Life, Start With Your Algorithm
My advice to you is to find content that gives you hope, even if it's just something that makes you laugh. We need more of that and a lot less outrage.
Related - Every day, we are inundated by bad news. Use these tips to help.
There are people around us every day dealing with burdens we have no clue about. This includes people who work for you. Those burdens don't disappear the second they cross the threshold into the workplace. They come to work with us, and they have an impact on us. Caring workplaces find ways to help, not hinder.
Privacy, Security, and Legal Tech
Just don’t:
Why I'll Never Plug in a Random USB Drive Again—and You Shouldn't Either
The tools users find useful are the ones you should be trying to emulate, not block. - Shadow IT Isn’t Your Enemy -- It’s Your Secret Weapon.
That’s all, folks. If you found something interesting in this week’s newsletter, please share it with your friends. It’s the best way to help support the effort I put into sharing this with you each week.