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.

Distractions at work could help problem-solving

Telegraph.co.uk: "Distractions in the workplace have long been a source of complaint between colleagues but according to a new study, they may actually help us solve problems...

Professor Adam Galinsky, who led the study, said: "Conscious thought is better at making linear, analytic decisions, but unconscious thought is especially effective at solving complex problems. Unconscious activation may provide inspirational sparks underlying the 'Aha!' moment that eventually leads to important discoveries.""

So, in other words, LOLcats are an effective workplace productivity tool - right?

Should Salaries Be Made Public?

The radio show Here and Now on NPR station WBUR in Boston had an interesting segment today. It discussed the pros and cons of "salary transparency". Here's a summary of the discussion:

"Some researchers say most of us think we are underpaid and that colleagues are making more money than they actually are. Is salary transparency the solution? We speak to Traci Fenton, founder of WorldBlu, which compiles a list of what it calls the most democratic workplaces..."

The best part comes at the end. The host asks the proponent what her salary is, and she chooses not to share that information. Telling perhaps, but there may be certain work situations where this could help. It will be interesting to see if this becomes more widely adopted.

You can listen to the full audio clip online here.

Photo credit: su.bo

Working together: Teambuilding seminars gain popularity

Birmingham Business Journal: "Unique seminars are popping up around the area to unite employees. Most managers would equate the thought of their staff banging on drums in a circle with other inappropriate office behaviors, such as excessive e-mail usage or gabbing with unproductive co-workers who just won’t leave your desk.

But one local “teambuilder” sees things a little differently. He’s even taking drumming to another level by using its rhythm to bring coworkers together..."

An interesting angle on team building activities. What do you think? Are these promising alternatives, or just 'same seminar, different day'?

Best Way to Annoy Your Co-Workers? E-mail

"ALL CAPS, Passive-Aggressive Copying Top Etiquette Experts' Electronic Don'ts List:

• Netiquette No-No #1: The Passive-Aggressive Copy
• Netiquette No-No #2: Reply All
• Netiquette No-No #3: SHOUTING AT YOUR COWORKERS"

Read the full article...

Projection: it ain't just for the movies!

Christine Hassler dispenses some excellent advice in this answer to "how do I deal with an irritating coworker?" As she points out, our temptation to lash out at a coworker often has as much to do with ourselves as with the other. Before giving them a piece of our mind, it's a good idea to look inside ourselves and think about what part psychological projection may be playing. And when we decide it is necessary to communicate our frustrations (i.e. with a Coworkers.com Review) we should keep in mind that it's in both persons' interest to keep it professional and constructive.

Tip: Fight Your Way to Breakthroughs

behance.com: "Many creative teams believe that their greatest mistakes are made when nobody argues. When you really care about an idea, you are likely to develop an opinion; when multiple people have a strong opinion, you’re bound to disagree - and clash. Your approach to managing the impassioned "fighting" that ensues is a critical factor in your ability to find the best solution. While some people shy away from confrontation, we have found that a healthy dose of tension helps ideas thrive...

In poorly run teams, the person with the most power or experience just makes the call. Or, sometimes people openly disagree and eventually some people become apathetic and give up... Rather than focus on the discomforts of fighting, consider the benefits from opposite perspectives duking it out!" Read on...

This is an interesting perspective. It's important to consider the effectiveness of disagreeing, when balanced against a genuine effort to move an idea forward toward success.

7 Tips for Resolving Conflicts Quickly and Peacefully

"Everyone has to deal with difficult people, whether they are argumentative, abusive, stubborn, or combative. The question is, how can you assert your own rights without creating an unnecessary incident?

In most cases, angry people are screaming to be heard. They want to be valued, loved, and listened to. They want to feel important but aren’t able to express themselves constructively. With the right attitude, it’s possible to get past these insecurities and reach an understanding. These 7 strategies will help you setting disputes quickly and peacefully for the benefit of everyone involved..."

See the list at PickTheBrain.com

You can't read minds, but...

Coworkers.com is all about identifying areas for improvement in people's professional lives, and probably the most common weakness we come across is the inability to "read" other people's cues, but overt and nonverbal. That's why this article caught our eye...

A company called SpeedReading People has developed a program to pick up on cues to help communicate with different personalities

By Sacha Pfeiffer, Globe Staff | July 23, 2007

CAMBRIDGE -- We've all been there. Locking horns with a colleague who focuses on the nitty-gritty instead of the big picture, or who likes abstract ideas but ignores details. Impatient with a friend who speaks painfully slowly, or who talks too quickly and too much. Frustrated with a spouse who is overly sensitive, or who can be blunt and unemotional.

In the workplace, social settings, and family situations, effective communication is key to productive relationships. But different personality types communicate in different ways, often causing communication breakdowns when opposing styles clash. Marriages chafe. Friendships falter. Work product suffers as office mates conflict. Article continues...