Today’s Food for Thought
April 27, 2012 – Friday
Less is More, Multi-Tasking, and Failure
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Today’s Food for Thought
April 24, 2012
Positive Psychology, The Happiness Advantage, and Humor in the Workplace
From academia to main street, old school HR thinking is being questioned…if not turned on its ear!
Forbes.com has been pointing to this trend with titles like:
Are Funny People More Successful In Business?
Are You Investing In The Happiness Advantage?
And even going so far as to suggest the 8 Tips for Using Workplace Humor!
Without going into depth, because this is supposed to be Food for Thought and not a buffet, it seems as though the more relaxed workplace we are witnessing across corporate America is also ushering in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Interestingly, while you might assume that one naturally goes hand-in-hand with the other, it is not always the case.
But there does seem to be movement, if not momentum, in that direction!
Forbes has gone so far as to run a series of slides entitled:
In Pictures: 10 Of America’s Happiest Companies
PsyMax Solution's Food for Thought, The Forbes Money Clown, and Humor in the Workplace
To grease the skids, so to speak, there is a significant body of research suggesting that happy employees are more productive employees, productive in terms of work product (up to 31% higher) and in terms of sales productivity (up to 37% higher).
I think numbers like that might even make Ebeneezer Scrooge smile…if not crack a joke to two!
And here’s one for the Annals of Medicine:
Doctors who were primed to be positive came to the correct diagnosis 19% faster...and more accurately!
And business teams solved problems more quickly and were looked upon as “better by bosses and got higher customer satisfaction ratings.”
Furthermore, “’Humor can serve to facilitate trust, ease tension and establish a sense of group cohesion,’ says Anthony Pescosolido, a management and organizational behavior professor at the University of New Hampshire.”
Food for Thought was inspired by my research over the past 25 years, the articles noted above, and the work of my colleagues in the field of Organizational Psychology and the budding field of Positive Psychology.
Want to Build a Happy and Productive Workforce?
The PsyMax Solution Will Put a Smile on Your Face!
Contact us directly by clicking here!
Dr. Wayne Nemeroff
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
Today’s Food for Thought
April 20, 2012
“Great works are performed, not by strength, but perseverance: yonder palace was raised by single stones, yet you see its height and spaciousness. He that shall walk with vigour three hours a day will pass in seven years a space equal to the circumference of the globe.” Samuel Johnson
Jim Collins has authored a number of books dealing with excellence, peak performance, why some companies and corporations succeed and others don’t, and many other factors directly related to how we run our lives and our businesses.
In my opinion, one of the best to date, and certainly one of the most appropriate given today’s quote, is Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck–Why Some Thrive Despite Them All.
Great by Choice was written by Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen and should be required reading for anyone running a business. In fact, I’d go a step further and make it required reading for every college student…regardless of major.
Great by Choice addresses a number of performance-related topics and provides compelling examples of success and failure in business and in life.
Perhaps the most compelling lesson has to do with The 20 Mile March. The 20 Mile March is a wonderful example of balance at work and in life. In fact, it is the best lesson I have come across, one that can be applied to any of life’s arenas.
The 20 Mile March is a simple, straight-forward life lesson.
The 20 Mile March: A Life Lesson
The Samuel Johnson quote provides a clue!
Stop back on Monday for more about The 20 Mile March.
Can’t wait?
Great by Choice is available in audiobook form. The unabridged text takes 8 hours and 45 minutes to listen to. It will be 8 hours and 45 minutes well spent.
See you Monday!
If you have questions about The PsyMax Solution and how we can help you with the hiring process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at once or click the link below.
Contact us directly by clicking here!
Dr. Wayne Nemeroff
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
Today’s Food for Thought
April 18, 2012
Hump Day
Hump Day was to be my topic for today.
Where the term came from, how it grew into a synonym for Wednesday, and so on.
However, I am going to save it for another Wednesday.
Hump Day is an interesting phrase because it says a lot about how we perceive our lives…and particularly our working lives.
After all, a hump is generally something we get over, something we face and struggle to put behind us on the way to something…better?
Easier?
Well, let’s think about it and come back to it another day.
Perhaps a Tuesday or a Thursday?
We’ll see!
Definition for Food for Thought
Food for Thought is generally thought to be anything that provides mental stimulus for thinking, intellectual nourishment, and/or cognitive content.
Food for Thought may be a mental object.
Food for Thought may be interesting or boring content.
Food for Thought may be the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.
Whatever Food for Thought is, from this point forward I certainly hope that whatever is offered here is more interesting than the definitions suggested above!
Food for Thought may be exciting, provocative, imaginative, surprising, and even wonderful.
Food for Thought may be terrible, repulsive, embarrassing, repugnant, and/or disgusting.
Food for Thought makes us think.
Food for Thought makes us explore.
Food for Thought makes us question.
Food for Thought makes us grow.
Food for Thought is nourishment.
It is our hope that as we go forward with this page, and with this topic, that you will provide your own comments, ideas, and stories…your own Food for Thought!
If you have something you’d like to share with our readers and subscribers?
Please submit it and we will do our best to post it in a timely manner.
If you like something you’ve read here?
Please bookmark this page and share it with your social media friends and connections!
We’d love to hear from you, either by way of a comment below or by way of email!
Send Submissions
to
FoodforThought@PsyMaxSolutions.org
If you have questions about The PsyMax Solution and how we can help you with the hiring process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at once or click the link below.
Contact us directly by clicking here!
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
Today’s Food for Thought
April 13, 2012 – This will make your Friday the 13th memorable!
The Simple Truths of Service
The Simple Truths of Service is the story of a young boy with Down’s Syndrome…his name is Johnny. The message conveyed is a powerful one and the affect on almost everyone who watches it is immediate and profound. The connection Johnny’s gentle and genuine act had on a community or people is awe inspiring.
This is indeed Food for Thought!
These are just a few of the comments made by people who took the time to watch this incredible video:
Imagine what the world could be like if we all took the time and thought to do or say something kind for each person we meet each day! S.D.
Well worth watching! Not just for business reasons either! R.K.
A simple gift of service touches many and makes a huge difference…very inspiring! K.S.
This is beautiful and very touching….if we could all be like him… Anonymous
By the way, our intention is not to have you buy the video.
Our intention is to have you buy into
An idea
A mindset
A commitment to service
We hope to have something special for you over the weekend and on Monday! Please don’t forget to bookmark this site, share it with a friend, and come back soon.
Have a wonderful weekend!
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
Today’s Food for Thought
April 11, 2012 – See the lead-in April 7, 2012
Imagine one employment candidate believes he is on a career path
Imagine the other employment candidate believes she is pursuing a calling
All else being equal, the candidate who views an employment opportunity as the fulfillment of a calling will work harder, longer, and for less pay…because it isn’t about the money.
Additionally, that employee will derive more satisfaction and be happier in their job longer than the “career oriented” candidate.
Imagine one believes there are African unicorns
Imagine one does not
The African Unicorn was anything but possible until the Okapi was discovered. Half giraffe, half-zebra? Also impossible, the two simply would not, could not mate.
Just ask the experts of the day!
One believes in all things possible…the other does not!
Enough said?
The African Unicorn was anything but possible until the Okapi was discovered.
Imagine you have to choose between 2 candidates
Imagine you have to fill a key management position
Imagine one management candidate has an imagination, views his or her job as a calling, and doesn’t stop simply because something hasn’t been done, hasn’t been seen, or hasn’t been tried.
Never mind what the experts say!
That job candidate is a real find. That individual is key management material!
Imagine!
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
Today’s Food for Thought
April 7, 2012
Imagine
Imagine
Imagine you have to fill a key management position
Imagine you have to choose between 2 candidates
Imagine they are both well and appropriately educated
Imagine they are both awash with experienced
Imagine they nail their respective pre-employment psychological assessments
Imagine they do equally well on their respective pre-employment performance assessments
Imagine both are attractive, well-spoken, and charismatic
Imagine one is a man and the other a woman
Imagine one believes in what is possible
Imagine the other believes in what is certain
Imagine one employment candidate believes he is on a career path
Imagine the other employment candidate believes she is pursuing a calling
Imagine one believes there are African unicorns
Imagine one does not
Imagine you have to choose between 2 candidates
Imagine you have to fill a key management position
Imagine
Imagine
Dr. Wayne Nemeroff
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
Today’s Food for Thought
April 6, 2012
Trends, Fads, and the Lens of Time and Experience
Over the years one trend has been remarkably consistent:
Fads come and fads go. Pop psychology and pop psychologists come and go almost as often!
Looking back over the years and through the lens of time, basing opinions on experience anchored in testing and what has proven to work, we all understand one thing:
Most fads come and most fads go!
When building your business, planning the course your business will take over at least the next decade, do you want pseudoscience or do you want results?
Yes, it is true that new and valuable trends emerge!
Here is the ultimate test, the question you must answer, if you are looking to grow your business over the next decade:
What better guide than one experienced enough to evaluate and implement your business plan based on what works…
…a guide focused using both the lens of time and experience!
Dr. Wayne Nemeroff
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
www.PsyMaxSolutions.com
Today’s Food for Thought
April 5, 2012
How and Why Employee Development Increases Retention
Building a winning development culture and fostering employee retention does not come from simply giving speeches, reading the latest book on management or attending an inspirational seminar. Developing an involved, effective, highly committed employee requires planning, commitment, and a variety of interventions and strategies that:
For the rest by Dr. Wayne Nemeroff
Today’s Food for Thought
April 4, 2012
In order to multiply your results in all areas of life, it’s critical that you have a compelling and exciting vision of your future. If your future vision isn’t significantly better than what your life looks like now, why change anything? Dan Sullivan
Today’s Food for Thought
April 3, 2012
JOB MATCHER
Hire for today’s needs and tomorrow’s vision:
- Consider Cultural Compatibility. A company requires employees who are compatible with their culture. Someone who does not fit with your company’s values and practices most likely will not succeed.
- Identify Candidates Who Fit the Job Requirements. You need to hire individuals who not only fit your company culture, but also whose abilities and competencies match with the requirements of the role they are being considered to perform. Wayne F. Nemeroff, Ph.D., CEO, Nemeroff Consulting Group, HCA PsyMax Solutions
Contact us directly by clicking here!
PsyMax Solutions, LLC
2000 Auburn Drive
Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
Phone: 216-896-9991
866-774-2273 (toll free)
216-360-9907 (fax)
http://www.hudsongrp.com
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