Are workers coming in just for coffee? Trouble's brewing

Are workers coming in just for coffee? Trouble's brewing | practice | Mothball multitasking: Rushing is doing you no favors Created for {EMAIL} | [{NAME}]( at [{NAME}]( [For more relevant content - Update Your Profile]( | [Web Version]( December 19, 2023 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [SmartBrief on Leadership]( Innovative Ideas. Ahead of the Curve. [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [SHARE](  [] Leading the Way [] [Are workers coming in just for coffee? Trouble's brewing]( [Are workers coming in just for coffee? Trouble's brewing]( (andresr/Getty Images) Nearly 60% of hybrid workers -- and about two-thirds of their managers -- have engaged in "coffee badging," where they come into the office long enough to swipe their ID badge, grab some coffee, and then head back home to work. The practice can be a warning sign of burnout among your employees, says Niki Jorgensen, managing director of client implementation with Insperity, who recommends having frank conversations with team members about their needs and implementing flexible schedules. Full Story: [Fox Business]( (12/18) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: If you notice [a lot of "coffee-badging" happening](, it's time to get curious about your team's needs and concerns, says Jorgensen. You may discover "that the motivations for coffee badging are rarely ill-intentioned."   [] SmartBrief on Leadership [] [Mothball multitasking: Rushing is doing you no favors]( [Mothball multitasking: Rushing is doing you no favors]( (Bobex-73/Getty Images) Rushing "robs your focus and damages your mind and body," writes leadership consultant Joel Garfinkle, often putting a dent in both your work and home life. Garfinkle outlines six strategies to help dial back stress and give you space to breathe, such as ending the habit of multitasking. Full Story: [SmartBrief/Leadership]( (12/18) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Giving your full attention to a single task builds concentration and can help you accomplish more. Garfinkle also suggests how to avoid getting overwhelmed by big projects, [why to stop nitpicking]( and redefining your maximum capacity, among other strategies. [] [Read more]( from Joel Garfinkle on SmartBrief on Leadership [] Smarter Communication [] [Redefining mentoring in the era of remote work]( Supporting and helping young employees grow, especially their soft skills, is more complicated with remote work, but flexibility is essential, writes Bryan Otte, the chief human resources officer at MGAC. Noting an Albert Einstein quote -- "You cannot use an old map to explore a new world" -- Otte offers suggestions for adapting a mentor/mentee relationship, including making intentional matches that involve "mutual respect and compatibility." Full Story: [Chief Executive]( (12/15) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Put it into practice: Mentors and mentees both can benefit from the relationship's career advancement as well as personal and professional growth, so [specific training for mentors]( will help them navigate the sometimes tricky territory of written or virtual communication, Otte writes. Recognize that younger people will get more benefit from having multiple mentees for different areas of growth, and make sure both parties know the learning can flow both ways. Free eBooks and Resources Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors - [AI Terms Cheat Sheet]( - [Getting Started with Apache Hadoop]( - [12 Ways to Approach the Cybersecurity Skills Gap Challenge in 2023]( - [Data Center Acronyms Cheat Sheet]( - [6 Worthless Security Tactics That Won't Go Away]( [] Smarter Strategy [] - [Strategically build teams that can successfully execute strategy]( INSEAD Knowledge (12/18) [] - [Data strategy must start with its internal owners]( Forbes (tiered subscription model) (12/15) [] - [Tech goes green with these sustainable tools]( TWICE (12/14) [] SmartPulse [] Do you have your team members write self-appraisals and use those as a basis for the review you write? Yes 73.64% No 15.46% We don't write performance appraisals 10.90% [] Write it yourself. If you have the opportunity to write your own self appraisal (and based on the poll results, it looks like most people do), there are a few tips for getting the appraisal you want and deserve. First, write it in the third person which makes it easier for your manager to cut and paste your well-written words about yourself. It also minimizes the amount of editing they'll need to do which they'll appreciate. Second, be fact-based in your assessment. The more you stretch things, the more likely it is that your manager will discard your thoughts and write a more balanced appraisal. Where you have facts to back up performance assertions, use them. Metrics are solid ways to establish performance. And finally, present a balanced picture. Include the things that didn't go well. It demonstrates self-awareness and makes it easier to have the final appraisal conversation because your manager knows you're already aware of those shortcomings. -- Mike Figliuolo is managing director of [thoughtLEADERS](, which includes TITAN -- the firm's e-learning platform. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co., Capital One and Scotts Miracle-Gro. He is a West Point graduate and author of three leadership books: ["One Piece of Paper,"]( ["Lead Inside the Box"]( and ["The Elegant Pitch."]( [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] How are intellectual property and trademark rights viewed in your organization? [Vote]( [They're sacred and should never be violated]( [Vote]( [One should be careful not to violate them but ... sometimes it happens]( [Vote]( [It's not a big deal if you're not overly obvious about violating them]( [Vote]( [Who cares? It's imaginary stuff anyway]( [] In Their Own Words [] [How this CEO uses mindfulness to help creativity]( [How this CEO uses mindfulness to help creativity]( (Pixabay) Ryan Glick, CEO and founder of CNC Agency, explains why mindfulness is the tool he most uses at work. "In this fast-paced world of creative and agency life, it can be challenging to live in the present moment," Glick says, noting, "I integrate mindfulness into my daily routine, regardless of my location, ensuring I maintain clarity and creativity in my work." Full Story: [Adweek]( (12/15) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] Daily Diversion [] [Thai rice fields transformed into cat portraits]( Tanyapong Jaikham, a rice farmer in Thailand, and his crew are creating cat-themed artwork in their rice fields by designing portraits of cats (one snuggling up with a fish) that tourists can see in elevated viewing towers. Getting the shading on the aerial artwork is an art in itself, says Tanyapong, because "the rice will gradually change shades over time." Full Story: [Reuters]( (12/18) [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( [] SmartBreak: Question of the Day [] Yuck -- eggnog is my least favorite holiday beverage, so it makes no sense to me that there was an "Eggnog Riot" that took place on which military campus? [Vote]( [US Navy, Annapolis, Md.]( [Vote]( [US Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colo.]( [Vote]( [US Coast Guard, New London, Conn.]( [Vote]( [US Army, West Point, N.Y.]( [] About The Editor [] Candace Chellew Candace Chellew Chellew When I worked at CNNRadio in the late 1990s, I was expected to be a master at multitasking. I operated what was known as "Master C." It was a studio with several banks of small screens, two reel-to-reel tape machines (yes, this was before we digitally edited sound), a large soundboard and a computer to input each sound clip (or actuality, as we called them). I was the only person in the room and was tasked with monitoring all of CNN's networks, live feeds and other networks (in case they broke news we had yet to hear). It was a hectic job because the news anchors would be watching a press conference or other report and telling you which piece of sound they wanted for their next newscast, which inevitably was coming up in just a few minutes. I was in constant motion in that room -- stopping one reel-to-reel to retrieve an actuality while the other whirred on. It was like being in an air traffic control tower! I loved the job, though, since I'm a bit distractible. Having to pay attention to 20 things at once felt easy for me, but I understand why [Joel Garfinkle and researchers warn us away from multitasking](. There were certainly things I missed; on hectic days, another person would be in that small room with me to pitch in. These days, I try to multitask less. I do more work faster if I can concentrate on one thing. How about you? Can you multitask? Have you found it detrimental or helpful? [Let me know](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). If this newsletter helps you, please tell your colleagues, friends or anyone who can benefit. Forward them this email, or [send this link](. What topics do you see in your daily work that I should know about? Do you have praise? Criticism? [Drop me a note](mailto:candace.chellew@futurenet.com). And don't forget to send me photos of your pets, your office and where you spend your time off. [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email]( Sharing SmartBrief on Leadership with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free. Help Spread the Word [SHARE]( Or copy and share your personalized link: smartbrief.com/leadership/?referrerId=japnABMSAp [] [] You will have the opportunity to say 'Yes' to many different things, but you also will have the opportunity in the saying of 'Yes' to say 'No' sometimes. [Cokie Roberts](, broadcast journalist, writer [LinkedIn]( [X]( [Facebook]( [Email](   SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - [Browse our portfolio]( [Sign Up]( | [Update Profile]( | [Advertise with SmartBrief]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy policy]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:leadership@smartbrief.com) | [ADVERTISE](mailto:lengel@smartbrief.com) [SmartBrief Future]( SmartBrief, a division of Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036