Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Measure Employee Engagement With 2 Meaningful Metrics

What’s the difference between job satisfaction and workplace satisfaction? Why are both so important? Employee experience expert Russ Laraway says that employee engagement is at an all-time low and that ineffective management is the culprit. He explains what employee engagement means and how to measure it in a meaningful way that helps managers know how to draw the best out of their employees. Keep reading to learn how to measure employee engagement and, as a result, measure your effectiveness as a manager.

The Bigger Leaner Stronger Diet: Calories in, Calories Out

What’s the best diet to lose fat and build muscle? Which matters more—how much you eat or what you eat? In Bigger Leaner Stronger, Michael Matthews argues that you can get the physique you want without a trendy diet or a brutal workout. All it takes is a simple and scientific approach to nutrition and exercise. He advocates flexible dieting—a diet that allows you to lose fat, gain muscle, and eat the foods you love. Read more to learn about the Bigger Leaner Stronger diet and its “calories in, calories out” approach.

How to Start Living a Healthy Lifestyle: 3 Changes to Make Today

Are you a participant in today’s productivity culture? Are you ready to step off the treadmill and get a real life? In Do Nothing, Celeste Headlee argues that, by trying to do too much, people are working less efficiently and suffering professionally and personally. She shares several tips for changing the way we work and making space in our life for leisure and human connection. Keep reading for Headlee’s advice on how to start living a healthy lifestyle.

How Myside Bias Fuels Irrationality & an “Us vs. Them” Mentality

Which do you value more—the truth or fitting in? Do you allow your group’s beliefs to trump your better judgment? Most people agree on the importance of rational thinking and behavior. Still, irrationality is rampant. Steven Pinker explores why people hold irrational beliefs such as paranormal phenomena or conspiracy theories in his book Rationality. He identifies myside bias as one of the culprits. Read more to learn about this all-too-common tendency that impacts individuals and society as a whole.

The 3 Essential Leadership Skills for Managers

What’s the difference between a leader and a manager? Should managers bother to develop leadership skills? If so, which ones? Employee experience expert Russ Laraway laments the widespread problem of bad management. But, he has good news. He believes anyone can become a better manager by learning and practicing basic leadership skills: setting and reaching goals, coaching, and helping employees with career development. Continue reading to learn what Laraway thinks are essential leadership skills for managers.

The 5 Steps to Creating Your Bigger Leaner Stronger Meal Plan

Are you looking to burn fat and build muscle? What nutrients will help you do that? Are supplements recommended? In Bigger Leaner Stronger, personal trainer Michael Matthews promotes flexible dieting—a method of eating that helps you trim fat and build muscle without sacrificing the foods you love. He shares five steps to creating a Bigger Leaner Stronger meal plan that works for you. Read more to get the details on determining your goal, calculating your calorie target, calculating your calories-per-macro target, planning your meal schedule, and creating your meals.

Rational Compassion: Paul Bloom’s Alternative to Empathy

What should be the basis for how you behave? Why isn’t empathy the best guide? If we want to be kind and moral people, it seems obvious that we should practice empathy. But, psychologist Paul Bloom suggests that we should cultivate a rational form of compassion instead and use this more measured and distanced approach to make decisions that are better for everyone involved. Continue reading to learn about Bloom’s concept of rational compassion.

How Work in the Industrial Revolution Shaped Today’s Lifestyle

How did the Industrial Revolution change the way people work? In what ways are we still feeling the effects? In today’s fast-paced world, our lives increasingly revolve around productivity, efficiency, and work. In her book Do Nothing, Celeste Headlee writes that our culture of overworking can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution. Continue reading to learn how the nature of work in the Industrial Revolution shaped the modern lifestyle.

What Are Objectives and Key Results? Your Second-Tier Goals

What are Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)? How do they contribute to an organization’s mission? Employee experience expert Russ Laraway says that the first area of focus for an effective manager is setting clear goals for employees: Your workers should know exactly what’s expected of them and when. He lays out four tiers of goals that managers can set for their employees. The second tier is OKRs. Read more to learn what OKRs are and how they fit into the overall goals of an organization.

How to Use the Double Progression Method in Your Workouts

How many reps and sets should you do during your workouts? Why is double progression effective? Personal trainer Michael Matthews recommends a workout program based on progressive overload—a workout approach that maximizes muscle growth. One way of applying progressive tension overload is double progression. Keep reading to learn about the double progression method and why it works so well.