● How Chronic Stress is Starving Your Potential – Chronic stress environments are hurting your bottom line. They making your smartest employees less intelligent and negatively impacting how young potential talent view your organisation. Treating toxic work culture requires bold leadership. Read this article by Tamryn Batcheller-Adams on how to manage chronic stress and build happier, healthier teams.
● Employers across industries bemoan the difficulty of finding qualified talent. With Baby Boomers retiring in droves and a smaller Gen Z cohort entering the workforce, many companies face real skills shortages. Yet, at the same time, legions of capable workers, especially caregivers, find themselves shut out of employment altogether due to inflexible employer attitudes.
The solution? Forward-looking companies willing to be flexible and reimagine traditional career paths stand to gain access to a deep well of hidden talent. Read the full article here by Entrepreneur.
● In this episode, Zanele (The UnLearning Lady) shares 3 steps that will help you reframe and succeed at any change or transformation journey.
1. Get clear on what you want to unlearn (what you want to let go of).
2. Understand what is on the other side of that behaviour, habit or mindset.
3. Get learning & stay consistent.
Watch this episode on How to UnLern: A successful change journey!
● As we come to the end of the year your teams are probably quite exhausted. Given the collective need to recoup, November and December are often very busy work months, as businesses and clients often want to wrap up projects and meet year-end targets. It’s important to recognise that our teams might need some extra support especially because things are busy. Here are some helpful ways to support your team at this time of the year:
1. Acknowledge Achievements: Leaders should make a point to personally acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of their team members. Reminding people of what they’ve achieved, especially in a public setting, shows genuine appreciation and boosts morale and individual confidence.
2. Foster Belonging and Community: Create opportunities for team bonding and shared experiences, even virtually. This strengthens team cohesion and understanding, providing a supportive environment that is especially valuable when energy levels are low at the end of the year. It could be as simple as after-work drinks. Even do team ‘Secret Santa’ gift giving.
3. Generosity in Leadership: As we come to the end of the year, it’s helpful to proactively ask team members where they need support. Demonstrating generosity of time and spirit not only builds the team emotionally but can also lead to increased productivity and a more harmonious work environment.
4. Provide Flexible Work Options: Offer flexible working hours or remote work options, if feasible. This approach can help team members manage personal commitments and reduce stress during the hectic end-of-year period.
5. Encourage Time Off: After pushing through and ending the work-year on a high, actively encourage your teams to take deserved time off. Emphasize the importance of rest and recuperation to rejuvenate creativity and productivity. You’ll be grateful for this as you start 2024!
For more on Building Resilient Teams, you can visit us here.
● In the past few episodes of ThrowForward Thursday, we’ve looked at a variety of technology tools that allow you to create digital versions of humans. In this episode, Graeme looks at three ways you can use these technologies in your businesses today (or at least, start experimenting with them in 2024).
If you’re interested in learning more about Building Bionic Businesses – sign up for Graeme’s Futures Club.
You’re welcome to contact us for more information on how we can help your team face the future with confidence.