When you pass over a team member for an internal promotion, they may feel hurt or start hunting for another job, writes Dan Rockwell, who recommends delivering the news yourself, helping them strategize for future advancement and inviting them to share their feelings. "Ask, 'How can I help?' and mean it."
Put it into practice: Make sure your internal candidates at least get an interview with the hiring manager so they feel they've been recognized and offer mentoring to give them a path to advancement, Rockwell suggests. "Tip: Not everyone expects the promotion. They want to get on the radar."
Baby boomers and Generation X employees often like to communicate face-to-face or talk on the phone, but their millennial and Generation Z colleagues prefer texts, emails or social media posts, which means each generation must tailor their techniques and honor each other's preferences to work together, writes John Millen. "In the end, the answer is for each of us to grow in our understanding of continually evolving communication preferences, styles and technology," Millen concludes.
Put it into practice: It's best to think about which mode of communication will work best for each situation, considering the recipient's generation and preferred mode of contact, Millen notes. "For example, if you're a GenZ asking for a raise, a text is probably not the answer unless your manager is a couple of years older than you."
Speakers have an array of tools and resources at their fingertips in the form of apps that can help them with everything from editing and presenting slides to a timer and a way to collect and categorize quotes they like, writes Jim Anderson. "Take the time to download these apps, play around with them, and then determine if they are just what you have been looking for in order to make your next presentation your best ever," Anderson writes.
Put it into practice: Some of the apps Anderson features include Google's QuickOffice, which allows slide editing on the fly, and Presenter Remote Control, which will enable you to advance slides using your phone. "The mobile phones and tablets that we are always traveling with can be loaded with software tools that can help to make your next speech even better."
The effects of the "sleepy girl mocktail," which has tart cherry juice and magnesium and is trending on social media, are likely to be largely placebo, but the drink may have some limited positive effects due to tryptophan and melatonin content, says Dr. Steven Feinsilver of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. There's likely no harm in trying the combination at "reasonable doses," Feinsilver says, but Dr. Mike Sevilla says people should consult a physician first and avoid the drink if they have irritable bowel syndrome or a sensitive stomach.
The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra has been making music for 25 years, playing nothing but vegetables fashioned into instruments such as pepper horns, carrot marimbas and celery guitars. The group spends a couple of hours before a show fashioning their instruments, and when they're done with them, they toss them into a pot of soup cooking on the stage, which is finally served to the audience by the band.
If you want a distraction from work today, binge on a few YouTube videos from The Vegetable Orchestra. I like the squeaky leeks and gourd bass on this one.
Enjoy your weekend!
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