Language is power. It can both clarify or obfuscate, (even both at the same time). Asking the right questions the right way, and at the right time, will forward you in all phases of every kind of work. Socrates stated that the unexamined life is not worth living. He developed a teaching methodology based on questions. The socratic method is still one of the cornerstones of western thought, consisting of questions designed to elicit critical thinking. Hence the examined life. Epistemologies have multiplied through the centuries branching into evermore sophisticated systems of knowledge. For instance, our scientific method of…
Author: AAI Staff
Tips For Thriving as a Multi-Generational Workplace
Today’s businesses are becoming increasingly diverse in age demographics. Baby boomer employees are working longer and Generation Z is making its debut into the workforce this year. Multi-generational workplaces are becoming increasingly common. Maneuvering through the differences that come with a multi-generational workplace can feel like a maze at first, but they provide a great opportunity to learn from one another and thrive in business. Here we’re sharing our best tips for thriving in your multi-generational workplace. Break Down Stereotypes Virtually every generation has been subjected to unflattering stereotypes. For example, Gen Z has no interpersonal skills, Millennials are lazy,…
Real Work Office Design
In the 19th century, the meteoric rise of global commerce, fueled the need for a white collar “support staff” – a class of the nimble witted, at the ready to sell their skills – examples of these skills included letters to clients, computation, transcription, analysis, records, and of course, promotion. The list of tasks has only grown and mutated from the multiple and long lineages of work as we know it. The physical need to put these workers somewhere, tells us the history of how actual workspace and offices became organized. Who has not seen the photographs from 1910 of rows…
Tips for the Perfect Remote Worker Relationship
In today’s business landscape, leveraging remote relationships is a key strategy for success. Whether you have a client on another continent, a freelancer across the country, or even an entire team collaborating across time zones, successfully managing remote relationships is the cornerstone to your organization’s success. Executives, managers and employees shouldn’t gloss over or ignore that fact that remote relationships are very different from in person ones. Embracing the differences can help you formulate a nuanced management plan that will help your modernized business flourish. Begin with these key steps to optimizing your remote relationships:
Distributed Leadership: The Definition and Theory Behind This New Leadership Approach
Many companies are moving away from old structures that involve top-down leadership in favor of a newer approach called distributed leadership. Adding elements of distributed leadership to your organization’s way of getting things done will revolutionize the way your company functions. Distributed leadership can help spread decision-making ability throughout a team, particularly to those on the front lines of the operation. Encouraging initiative and collaboration, this technique allows those closest to the action to make the decisions that will most affect their success. Although it’s common for people to view a single person as the leader of an organization, such…
What is Appreciative Inquiry? (And How Can It Improve Your Workplace?)
Appreciate Inquiry (AI) is the study of what breathes life into organizations, teams, and individuals when they are functioning at their very best. AI is the brainchild of organizational psychologist David Cooperrider: By definition it rests upon the principle that an organization will grow in whichever direction its members choose to focus and direct their attention. Here at Adventure Associates, we like to use AI in our team building and workshop events to uncover what is working in an organization, instead of solely focusing on what isn’t. Often this focus on strengths can create the type of growth that organizations…
Use Intrinsic Motivation to Increase Workplace Engagement
Some teams fire on all cylinders — they function with boundless energy, intense focus, and passionate drive — but how can you get there? The answer is simple: intrinsic motivation! Motivation is everywhere in your life. Whether you’re at work, relaxing on the couch, or raiding the fridge, some kind of motivation has caused you to be doing whatever you’re doing. We can be motivated by love, fear, greed or something else. But not all motivation is created equal– sometimes the motivation isn’t strong to begin with, or it wanes over time, eventually resulting in a total lack of productivity.…