Productivity

In this episode of Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead podcast, the acclaimed researcher and thought leader talkw with Kevin Oakes, the head of the world’s leading HR research firm, the Institute for Corporate Productivity, about his new book Culture Renovation: 18 Leadership Actions to Build an Unshakeable Company. From Brené: The best playbooks are a combination

Takeaway: I wrote an Audible Original on the productivity benefits of meditation—and it’s out now! Here’s a link to get it. It’s free with an Audible subscription in the US. Estimated Reading Time: 1 minutes, 1s. The crazier the world gets, the more we need meditation.  Today, I’m thrilled to announce that my latest project

Leveraging data from the largest research study conducted on organizational culture, book showcases interviews and case studies from some of the world’s top CEOs and companies  Seattle, January 12, 2021 – Corporate culture matters—and research proves culture is inextricably linked to organizational performance. With a new year upon us, and organizations that have been unintentionally

In the UK, we’ve started 2021 with news of a third National Lockdown. Across the world, people are experiencing similar situations. Some countries have been in Lockdown for a few weeks now, some might have one looming on the horizon. The constant shift in circumstances, that feeling of instability, is a big trigger for stress.

Takeaway: In her book Time Smart, behavioral scientist and Harvard Business School professor Ashley Whillans digs into the fascinating relationship between time, money, and happiness. While making more money is an easier goal to chase, Ashley’s research shows that making time-first choices ultimately leads to greater happiness. Time Smart outlines strategies to do just that, including tactics to save us time

Perhaps the most mentioned phrase of 2020 has been “when we return to normal.”  Yes, after a year of utter lunacy, a return to normalcy may certainly be what we all need at this moment. However, a return to normal cannot mean that… The heightened attention to and collective resolve to make progress on economic,

Takeaway: Three rituals to close out 2020: conduct a year-end productivity review; create an accomplishments list; and write down what you’re grateful for from the year past (it’s easier than you think). Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 46s. If 2020 were a building, it would have been a big ol’ funhouse mansion, filled to the brim with twisted artifacts: mirrors that reflect back on one another,

We know more in 2020 about the complex issue of gender equity in the workplace than ever before. But have the multiple and momentous upheavals of the past 12 months helped or hindered progress toward gender pay equity? The good news amid so much awful this year is that more employers are conducting pay audits

Takeaway: This year, try giving yourself a non-material gift. Three ways to do this: think about something in your life that’s missing; look at the habits you want to pick up again; and take your vacation days or use up your benefits. Estimated Reading Time: 1 minutes, 57s. Podcast Length: 15 minutes, 17s (link to

It finally happened. Market-watchers and technophiles had long assumed a bigger company would eventually buy Slack, the independent chat and collaboration platform with the rabid fan base. Several days ago rumors surfaced that Salesforce was going to be that buyer, and on Tuesday, December 1 it was made official: Salesforce is buying Slack for more

With the early 2020 publication of Next practices in Holistic Well-Being: The Performance Advantage, the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), detailed its pre-COVID research into workforce well-being.   Conducted in late 2019 and available to the public, the study confirmed that 86% of large organizations (those with workforces >1,000) offered at least some benefits or

Takeaway: The more (authentic) praise you provide your team, the more motivated they’ll be to work hard and, more importantly, continue working for you. This much is pretty obvious—what is surprising is the amount of money praise can save. Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 31s. In addition to being a fan of his work in

If it wasn’t obvious before, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of organizational agility.  Indeed, the ability to anticipate, adapt, and act on change is no longer a nice-to-have. And as the Institute of Corporate Productivity’s (i4cp) research has consistently revealed, an essential component of agility is establishing and fostering a culture of continuous

i4cp is excited to announce Insights from Marshall Goldsmith, the newest section within our Coaching Knowledge Center. The #1 ranked executive coach in the world, and Chairman Emeritus of i4cp, Marshall will periodically share his esteemed leadership insights with i4cp members. Current resources include: Coaching for Behavioral Change The 20 Bad Habits: Challenges in Interpersonal

Between the global pandemic, outcry against systemic social injustice and brutality, and the drawn-out U.S. election results, we can all point to macro sources of stress that have left us totally exhausted. The Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), in collaboration with Professor Rob Cross, has been studying the myriad impacts of 2020, to include looking

Takeaway: Before switching between tasks, take three deep breaths. It’s a super simple way to reset your focus and set a quick intention for what comes next. Three techniques you can try: box breathing, the 4-7-8 technique, and the 5-5-5 breathing technique. Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 28s. Podcast Length: 14 minutes, 21s (link to

This year has delivered an abundance of opportunities to develop new skills and new business strategies in response to the confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, shifting work practices, changes in our personal lives, and many other challenges.   After years of focus on learning and development research at the Institute for Corporate Productivity

Today, we’re handing over the blog to Liam McClintock, who shares his journey to meditation and how that can help us all become Productivity Ninjas in this busy world of information overload. My life seemed to be on track for success by traditional measures. Recently graduated from Yale and working at a growth stage venture

Many of us in the U.S. were forced to celebrate Thanksgiving from afar this year, isolated from friends and family. Unfortunately, that same sense of isolation is felt by millions every day. For years we have been supporting Best Buddies International, the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation experienced

Takeaway: To take a coffee nap: drink a cup of coffee and then immediately nap for 20-25 minutes (depending on how quickly you fall asleep). You’ll wake with a boost from both the nap and the coffee—and the effects of caffeine are actually stronger after a coffee nap. Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes, 47s. Now