Thought-provoking Things Worth Sharing - Issue #67
Who schedules deep-thought meetings the morning after a 4-day weekend? Oh that was me. Oops.
Last week I shared some links that I thought provided some decent advice for what to do after being laid off. This week I found this article, and if you’re looking for work, maybe this can help:
5 Apps to Manage Your Job Hunt, Track Applications, and Get Employment
This week is about getting back into the swing of things after a long holiday. I mainly enjoyed being disconnected during the long weekend, exploring the Gulf Coast with my wife and camera. That might have meant our Thanksgiving meal came from Buc-ee’s, but they do make a pretty good brisket, so I’m not complaining. Plus, even though it was overcast with some rain, we were able to find one pretty decent sunset.
I hope your week has gone smoothly and the planning for 2023 hasn’t become too much of a drag! (And that your Training and Development person was kind enough not to follow my lead and schedule a strategy discussion for this past Monday morning. There isn’t enough coffee in the world to be mentally ready. Thankfully, it was a good discussion anyway.)
Here are some things I’ve been reading and writing this week:
Careers and The Workplace
Linked - What Great Remote Managers Do Differently
“If you haven’t taught your managers how to do more than measure time in seats, you’ve done everyone a disservice, especially those same workers who performed so well for you remotely that you’ve rewarded them by making them return to what they did before.”
For Younger Workers, Job Hopping Is the New Normal
The interesting thing in this article, with a bunch of quotes from a Texas workforce official, is that he seems very concerned about how disloyal and disengaged young workers seem to be when they job-hop but has absolutely nothing to say about workplaces who have returned the loyalty of their older workers with layoffs and cost-cutting.
“For the most part, people aren't into small talk with strangers. Take LinkedIn for example...LinkedIn messages are, well, messages. It isn't a chat. You don't need to warm people up with small talk. You're a stranger. We know you want something... ask. Just tell people what you need. Let people know how they can help you. You can't build a relationship in 5 sentences, so don't try. Be nice. Be polite. Be friendly. Be someone who others *want* to help. But don't feel you must build up to it with fake conversation. People are *much* more inclined to respond to specific questions, as opposed to random messages that just say "Hi" (you know what I'm talking about). Don't overthink it. Don't overcomplicate it. Just be nice and be clear on *how* we can help.”
Training and Development
Want Them to Learn? Give Them Time to Think!
“L&D professionals want to create value for learners. One of the most valuable activities we can build into the design and delivery of our courses is intentional reflection and implementation planning. To improve our training programs, we must stop talking and pushing content, and let learners think.”
Linked – Talent Development—Let’s Get These Myths Out of the Way!
“The report notes that 94 percent of employees will stay at a job if their professional development needs are met.
Yes, the thought that people aren’t loyal and won’t stay no matter what you invest in them is, in fact, a myth.”
Mental Health
Can a toxic workplace ruin your health?
“The pandemic offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for knowledge workers to redefine archaic relics from the industrial revolution. (Um hello, 9-to-5.)
But clearly, that isn’t happening. Instead, some jobs are pushing people deeper into a health crisis.”
How to Respond When an Employee Shares a Mental Health Challenge
“What should you do if your employee comes to you with a mental health challenge? While you will have to have a conversation that may feel intimate and discomfiting, it’s also not your job to be the office therapist, and you don’t need to have all the solutions when a team member is struggling. First, make sure you’ve prepared for such conversations in advance, including knowing where to point people for resources within your company. Second, set boundaries to ensure people can get help without depleting you or the team. Finally, remember that the most important thing you can do is show up and make the conversation about them — not you.”
Security and Privacy
Computer Repair Shops are Not Safe
“I’ve written before about the IT people in your company who probably know more about you than you might think. This now extends to taking your personal devices to a repair shop. You should assume someone might be surfing through your data while working on your computer, and you should decide if you are OK with that or if the physical destruction of the device after being replaced is the safer option.”
Why You Need Privacy- Because We All Have Something to Hide
“The bottom line, there are lots of people who need privacy, for many reasons. none of them are doing anything illegal. None of them are acting in an immoral way. They are simply dealing with things, or trying to learn about things, that, unfortunately, their social or professional world is stigmatized against. Taking away anonymity and privacy through surveillance is going to hurt them directly, and everyone else right along with it.”
“Phishing attacks are here to stay and will likely continue to increase in number.”
eDiscovery and Legal
Don’t Seek Direct Access to Opponents’ Devices
Craig Ball explains it well:
“As a partisan working for one side or the other, I’d like to be able to say, “trust me, I’ll be bulwark against revealing your privileged communications and irrelevant stuff,” but that’s not a role I covet absent considerable trust and an express agreement. Trying to be partisan and neutral fosters divided loyalties, and as an attorney, I’m obliged to avoid conflict of interest or anything that looks like it. Lay examiners should, too.”
Five Great Reads on Cyber, Data, and Legal Discovery for November 2022
Last for this week, but certainly not least!