Career

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    Linked: Why hybrid work is emotionally exhausting

    ByMike McBride Reading Time: 2 minutes

    As I said, I was surprised, at first. The more I read however the more clearly I saw a picture emerging, of leaders implementing hybrid as the appearance of flexibility that isn’t really flexibility. How many of the stories shared are of people who are productive at home, but not allowed to simply be productive that way. Or of people who had any decision about how to schedule days in the office in a way that makes sense to them and what they need to do, taken away?

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    Linked: What If We Just Stopped Being So Available?

    ByMike McBride Reading Time: 2 minutes

    This is really the thing. We all know that our devices are with us all the time, and we all know that everyone else knows. So when the notification pops up, there’s an instantaneous thought process that we all go through.

    And no, it’s not is this important or can it wait? The actual thought process is “they know I see this and are probably expecting a response”

    However the article below also points out that much of the time, that’s isn’t true. Someone was just reaching out and there is no hurry or even an expectation of immediate response but we don’t know that. So, we either drop everything to reply or we apologize for any delay in replying.

    Which makes no sense.

    I’ve been involved in direct work with clients in half-day training, or multi-hours long workshops and replied to an email afterwards with an “I’m sorry, I was tied up” opening.

    Yes, I’m apologizing for doing my job and paying attention to it.

    How dumb is that?

  • An Important Balancing Point – Be Professional Always

    ByMike McBride Reading Time: 1 minute

    I talk a lot about the Great Resignation and employees taking control over their own careers instead of just following along with what the company wants them to do. I stand by it, and like Mark, I am also thrilled that we are seeing a shift in the balance of power as employees start to recognize their value. But, he also raises an important post in the LinkedIn post.

    As long as you are there and getting paid you owe them your best. Be professional, even if the company isn’t. Do your job even if you plan on quitting tomorrow. Commit your best efforts to the project even if you don’t agree with it.

  • Italy’s Employment Minister Touched a Nerve – The Workplace Is Not a Meritocracy

    ByMike McBride Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Mr. Poletti is right, the best thing you can do as a job seeker is be connected to people who can help you. But the Guardian article is also correct that simply leaving it up to that has been, and will be, a guaranteed way to leave too many qualified people behind. Somehow we are going to have to find a middle ground, a place where hiring involves a true meritocracy but allows access to the most diverse group of candidates that we can get. This will not happen by accident. It will only happen person by person and company by company.

    Let’s normalize having a wide and diverse professional network.

  • What’s Your Definition of What a Job Should Be?

    ByMike McBride Reading Time: 3 minutes

    That’s it. I know there are some who will tell you that they are passionate about their work, and they “never work a day in my life”. Good for them, but we have to start admitting that is a very small, select, group of people in a very small, select number of jobs. There are not billions of jobs out there like that for everyone to just go get. There are not even millions of them. Maybe I’m not going to change the world by doing just interesting work with people I don’t hate. That’s OK because I have the time to change the world in my own little way when I’m not working instead.