Eight bad tech habits to quit in the new year

msnbc.com offers up a list of Eight bad tech habits to quit in the new year - "Bad habits are hard to break. But as 2009 ushers in a new year, it's time to usher out some of our bad technology-based behavior..."



#6 is probably responsible for a measurable decrease in office productivity. Read the full list...

Heart attack, eh? Boss may be cause

The Boston Globe: "Bosses like (above) Mr. Burns on "The Simpsons," Michael Scott from "The Office," Miranda Priestly of "The Devil Wears Prada," and Jack Donaghy of "30 Rock" can be health hazards. (Fox Broadcasting)...

Swedish researchers report today that workers saddled for four years with managers who were inconsiderate, opaque, uncommunicative, and poor advocates were about 60 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack or other life-threatening cardiac condition. By contrast, employees whose managers exhibited robust leadership skills were roughly 40 percent less likely to suffer heart emergencies.

"Now, we'll ask what is your job like? Are you happy in your job? Is your boss difficult to work with?" Cannon said. "I guess Dilbert would fit in here. Dilbert's looking at an early heart attack, given that he has very little control over his life and doesn't seem to have a very nice boss." Read the full article here.

If your boss isn't a cartoon, but is a cause for high blood pressure, then perhaps they need to hear about it.

Are Employees Twittering Away Productivity?

Fast Company offers answers to executives' tough questions about microsharing in the enterprise: "As the enterprise microsharing market grows all in, I hear from skeptical leaders befuddled by this trend, wanting to be reassured their people aren't simply wasting time. Here are specific questions I've received and how I respond to each..."

The author goes on to offer Q&A on these three questions:

• How can all of this yammering be good for business and my bottom line?
• Will these super short messages that some people write so frequently open us up to litigation?
• Is social software going to unravel organizational systems?

Read the full article here. In the meantime, I'm going to go link to this blog entry on our twitter feed ;-P

Photo credit: wonderferret