Why have so many people made so many bad decisions in dealing with COVID, from the start of the pandemic onwards? If you enjoy video, here’s a videocast based on this blog: And if you like audio, here’s a podcast based on the blog: Or simply read onward! On the one hand, many ignored the information about the pandemic at first, dismissing its importance. Plenty believed — and some continue to believe — COVID-19 is no... Read more
“I really like working with other people. I’m uncomfortable working by myself, it’s just not the same. So I’d love to have everyone go back to the office five days a week.” That’s what Marvin, the long-time CEO of a company with 4,000 employees, told me when we discussed his plans for creating competitive advantage in the post-pandemic transition back to the office. Then, he added: “However, we’re doing a lot of hiring for managerial roles right now to... Read more
Surveys show that anywhere from two-thirds to three-quarters of all employers intend to have a hybrid workforce after the pandemic as part of their return to office plan. Employees would come in anywhere from one to three days per week to work on collaborative tasks with their teams. The rest of the time, they would work on their own tasks wherever they want – their home, a coffee shop, or if they wish in the office. Many of these employers... Read more
Due to strong employee resistance and turnover, Google recently backtracked from its plan to force all employees to return back to the office and allowed many to work remotely. Apple’s plan to force its staff back to the office has caused many to leave Apple and led to substantial internal opposition. Why are these and so many other leaders forcing employees to return to the office? They must know about the extensive, in-depth surveys from early Spring 2021 (1,... Read more
When it comes to shopping choices, we overestimate our abilities to keep our impulses in check. You can avoid poor shopping choices by developing a host of shopping mental skills. That’s the key take-away message of this episode of the Wise Decision Maker Show, which describes what influences your shopping choices. Video: “What Influences Your Shopping Choices?” Podcast: “What Influences Your Shopping Choices?” Links Mentioned in Videocast and Podcast Here is the article: What Influences... Read more
Our assumptions about what others want are often incorrect due to the cognitive bias called the false consensus effect. Extensive research shows that most employees place a premium on telework and work-life quality after the pandemic. That’s the key take-away message of this episode of the Wise Decision Maker Show, which describes what employees want when they return to the office. Video: “What Do Employees Want When They Return to the Office?” Podcast: “What Do Employees Want When... Read more
To cope with depression in the post-pandemic recovery, find new ways of fulfilling your needs for exploration, love, and meaning and purpose. That’s the key take-away message of this episode of the Wise Decision Maker Show, which describes how to cope with depression in the post-pandemic recovery. Video: “How to Cope With Depression in the Post-Pandemic Recovery” Podcast: “How to Cope With Depression in the Post-Pandemic Recovery” Links Mentioned in Videocast and Podcast Here is... Read more
What do employees want in returning to the office after the pandemic? It’s easy to assume we know what they want. Our assumption is that they want what we would want in their circumstances. In other words, we place ourselves in other people’s shoes. Unfortunately, that assumption falls into a dangerous judgment error termed the false consensus effect. This problematic mental blindspot causes us to perceive others who we feel to be in our tribe, such as those... Read more
Are you, or someone you know, struggling to cope with depression as we’re transitioning out of the pandemic? If you enjoy video, here’s a videocast based on this blog: And if you like audio, here’s a podcast based on the blog: Or simply read onward! What you or they are going through isn’t as uncommon as you might think. According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, depression has been three times higher during this pandemic than it... Read more
In Part 1 of this series, I talked about how I helped Matt, the CEO of an insurance company with a staff of 1,300, navigate through a widespread work-from-home burnout crisis in his company. I advised Matt that what he needs to do in order to defeat work-from-home burnout is to stop thinking of COVID as an emergency situation to be handled via operational tactics. Companies need to approach COVID and the post-COVID world as our new abnormal reality, and... Read more
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