Work Archives

How to Improve Work Ethic: Advice for Leaders

Do you feel like your employees are lacking a sense of work ethic? Are you looking for tips on how to improve work ethic in your organization? Work ethic is, to a large extent, down to individual employees: Some people have a greater work ethic than others due to their personality or life experiences. That being said, there are things you can, as a leader, do to improve work ethic among your subordinates. With this in mind, here’s how to improve work ethic in your organization.

Team Topologies Interaction Modes: The 3 Ways Teams Link Up

Do the teams in your organization work well together? Are there protocols in place for smooth interaction? In Team Topologies, software engineers Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais show you how to set up your development teams to work as efficiently as possible. They recommend dividing your workforce into four types of teams, and then they outline three ways these teams can most effectively work together. Keep reading to learn about the three Team Topologies interaction modes.

Problem-Solving Teams: How & When to Deploy Them

Does your team get stuck when it encounters a problem that’s beyond its expertise? What if your organization had a team designed to come in and save the day? In Team Topologies, Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais recommend dividing your workforce into four types of teams. One type is what they call “complicated-subsystem teams,” which are basically problem-solving teams. Read more to understand how and when such specialized teams should be deployed.

Team Topologies: The 4 Team Types Explained

What’s an enabling team? What type of team handles an organization’s infrastructure? What’s the most important team type? Team Topologies is a manual for restructuring your organization’s approach to software design. Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais argue that, by dividing your workforce into four types of teams, you’ll set your organization up for success. Keep reading for an overview of the four Team Topologies team types, plus a discussion on when it’s time to reassign teams.

The Top 20 Professional Development Books for Success

What is the key to success? What are some professional development books that will help you find your passion? If your career is an important part of your life, you should take measures to always develop new skills and take on new challenges. Several professional development books introduce new ways to improve your work relationships, get promotions, and find happiness at your job. Let’s take a look at several books that will benefit your career.

Top 10 Work-Life Balance Books to Sort Out Your Life

Do you think about your job while at home? Do you want a better work-life balance? With demanding schedules and more people working from home these days, it’s hard to separate work from personal life. The stress of work can cause unproductivity at home, a decline in mental and physical health, and can damage relationships. We’ve rounded up the best work-life balance books to help you put a wall between your job and home life.

How Does Attention Work? A Neuroscientist Explains

How does attention work? How does your brain know what to focus on? Can you pay attention to more than one thing at a time? Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains the two modes of attention and how the brain chooses between them. He also argues that multitasking is impossible. Continue reading to learn how attention works.

Noncompete Clauses in Contracts: Will the FTC Ban Them?

What are noncompete clauses in contracts? Why has the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a ban on noncompete clauses? The FTC recently proposed banning noncompete clauses, which restrict former employees and contractors from launching or working with rival companies. The clauses aim to protect businesses’ sensitive information. Keep reading to learn why the FTC wants to ban noncompete clauses in contracts and if they’ll succeed.

How to Stop Getting Distracted by Thoughts: Use Notecards

Do thoughts pop into your head and distract you? Did you just remember that you need to buy bananas? Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains how to stop getting distracted by thoughts by using a practical notecard system. This works because it sorts and stores information outside of your brain. Keep reading to learn how to use this system to deal with distracting thoughts and stay focused on the task at hand.

The Surprising Reasons Behind the Shortage of Skilled Labor

What’s causing the shortage of skilled labor in the U.S.? What are some possible solutions? As the overall labor shortage begins to ease in the U.S., there’s still a chronic shortage of skilled labor. In the long term, efforts to resolve the shortage focus on educating young people about the trades to clear up misconceptions and increase interest. Keep reading to learn what’s causing the shortage of skilled labor and some proposed solutions.