Mike McBride Online

Career | Training

The Benefits of the Arts in Business
ByMike McBride November 21, 2022November 22, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

My point was that as a trainer, I do quite a bit of presenting and public speaking. I also do a fair bit of storytelling, but I didn’t learn that skill in business school or from my technical education. I had to learn those skills later in my professional life. So, I take every opportunity to encourage young people to learn those skills. You may not be looking for a career as a speaker, actor, or Improvisational Comedy, but the skills you learn there will make you stand out in the workplace when it comes time to do a presentation or speak up for your ideas.

I was reminded of this again last week when I listened to my friend and former colleague Laura Prael being interviewed on the Aussie podcast Two Drunk Accountants.

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Career | SocialNetworking

Linked – Here’s What Happens To Your Brain And Body If You Work More Than 40 Hours A Week
ByMike McBride November 16, 2022November 16, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

I’d argue that no job is worth risking your health, but I don’t think Elon would see it that way.

I know he likes to brag about his work hours and how “No one ever changed the world working 40 hours per week”. Reading the science on how more mistake-prone employees working all of those long hours can be makes me wonder if Elon had taken a few hours off and gotten some rest maybe he doesn’t make that offer to buy Twitter and find himself in the mess he’s in.

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Career | Links

Linked – Facebook layoffs are a reminder that your job won’t love you back
ByMike McBride November 14, 2022November 14, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nevertheless, the most significant point of the article below isn’t to argue about the negatives of being a public company or not, it’s to point out what should have been obvious but too many people in tech have lost sight of. A company that consistently reminds you that you’re part of the family and that everyone should view it that way and dedicate themselves accordingly will let you go in a heartbeat when things aren’t going as well as they’d like.

And people wonder why quiet quitting is all the rage.

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Career | Mental Health

Linked – Job Insecurity Is Toxic to Health
ByMike McBride November 11, 2022November 11, 2022 Reading Time: 1 minute

I’m sure there are still some “old-school” bosses running around who believe the best way to motivate employees is to threaten them and never let them forget that they can be fired at a moment’s notice.

Turns out that they aren’t motivating as much as actively harming them.

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Career | Personal

Quick Thought – The Scourge of Back-to-Back Meetings
ByMike McBride November 10, 2022November 9, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Don’t get me wrong. I would have still spent some time reviewing the document before the meeting, making notes, and mapping out plans after the other meeting. But because these were not in the middle of back-to-back meetings, I could do them and keep the flow through the process. I wasn’t filing it away in my brain and hoping I could fully recall it later. It was fresh.

It was better.

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Career

Linked – Mental Health At Work: How To Dodge OOO Anxiety
ByMike McBride November 7, 2022November 7, 2022 Reading Time: 2 minutes

More importantly, consider what you communicate in your actions when someone does take PTO. Does everyone on the team email them while they are out so they can get a response as soon as they are back? Do you cram in a bunch of meetings or work they need to do before leaving?

Do you think this helps them feel less stressed?

It’s much more likely that they’ll take PTO but not get any benefits from being away from work. That’s missing the point entirely.

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