It's summertime.  There's a laid back feeling in the air, people are taking vacations – especially on the heels of celebrating July 4^th. 

Unwinding is a crucial part to being a productive individual.  So, we ask our followers – how do you unwind?  Vacation or no vacation – are you continuously “plugged-in” 24/7 – checking emails, responding to texts, FB posts, tweets, Linked-In requests, other messages?  Or do you practice a “turn-off mode”?  No phones, iPads, screen-time, etc. while you're in an unwinding stage? 

We stumbled upon this article by Baratunde Thurston – a New York Times Best-selling author and CEO and cofounder of Cultivated Wit, a creative comedic digital agency and product development company.  It's about unplugging and leaving the internet, temporarily at least.  Now, we're all for technology and cutting-edge training tools, but we're ready to listen to someone's insight regarding better lifestyles and healthy habits.

Check out Baratunde's article Here 

No it's not just a category in Wheel of Fortune.  It's an important way of evaluating a strategy.  When it comes to corporate training, companies spend over $100 billion around the world to improve corporate performance.  Most companies spend their greatest efforts developing and improving training content – where according to Mckinsey & Company – the emphasis should lie in the mindsets of participants entering the training – and the actions of the participants leaving the training.  In other words, the “before” and “after”.

Before The Training

The three main factors to consider before training are:

• Encourage people to WANT to learn:  Companies assume employees understand why they need to learn or improve upon a subject area.  This assumption is wrong.  Trainers must convince employees that acquiring new knowledge and skills will indeed help their productivity, outlook, and performance.  An effective way of ensuring a willingness to learn is to involve the participants in the areas of training.  Ask them - which areas within the company need improvement?   What would you like to see changed?  Are there suggestions on how to make these changes occur?  By crediting employees' suggestions and validating their concerns for the company – trainers will see a greater receptiveness to learning.   
• Squander the negative outlooks:  No matter how good the training may be – a great performance will not be executed if employees are hanging onto harmful mindsets.  For example, customer service will not be improved if representatives hold onto racial, gender, or age-related stereotypes.    Instead of focusing on the training content – trainers should first focus on generating a positive attitude and outlook of those participating.
• Make believers out of the leaders:  Get the leaders on board!  This may seem obvious, but unfortunately, it is not.  Many managers are in agreeance with training programs – but they rarely show support either physically or mentally.  There is great value in leaders physically presenting and relating to the training participants.  They should at least be involved in the design and delivery of the content.  A clear demonstration of leadership support is crucial when it comes to employees' attitudes toward training.

After the Training

After the training is simple – reinforce the new skills in a tactful manner and measure the impact so you know whether or not you've succeeded. 

Where WE fit in

On-the-go training like the 3Leaf Group audiobook library, e-learning courseware, and downloadable training materials should also follow this “before” and “after” scrutiny – but it may act as a better system than traditional training.  People naturally want to learn in an environment that is convenient and enjoyable for them.  These positive feelings contribute to a positive outlook and greater receptiveness to learning.  That's a win right there. 

Whatever your training style may be – focus on employees' attitude and outlook – specifically, the “before” and “after” for each training session.   

Do you consider shopping to be an enjoyable experience or would you liken it to walking the plank at gunpoint?  Whether you are shopping for groceries, clothing, or houseware goods, shopping can be a “rewarding or maddening experience” – as RealSimple.com puts it.  The online magazine known for organizing tips, fresh ideas, and family living shares a few insights on how to become a “smarter” shopper.  These days many people are monitoring their budgets very closely – but it's time to not only look at how we do or don't spend our money – but why we shop in the first place.

Want to become a smarter shopper?  Take note to these interesting and helpful points:

•  Don't be seduced by the store:  Retailers are very wise in their marketing endeavors and tactics into getting you into their stores.  They specifically play into your senses with loud music, fresh aromas, or sparkly glitz.  Stick to the facts and not the glitter – ignore the seduction, focus on the merchandise alone.
• Know what kind of shopper you are:  The experts categorize shoppers into two groups – Low Self-Monitors and High-Self-Monitors.  The low monitors buy for their own desires/purposes and care little about social pressures, whereas the high monitors buy based on social pressures or solely to fit in.
• Be mindful of your shopping partner – choose wisely!  Your peers can greatly influence your shopping decisions.  Your friend may think it is reasonable to pay $300 on a pair of pumps – and suddenly – you may too although you haven't in the past.  Watch out!
• Get to your computer:  Many people still prefer the experience of walking into a physical store, but the truth is the best deals are online.  Shoppers can find exceptional deals at shopping.com, pricegrabber.com, and tripadvisor.com, among others.

Believe it or not, financial experts still believe in indulging your needs.  At the end of the day, our basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter – but we obviously stretch our borders far beyond those categories.  There are many other needs that relate to our emotional well-being and not just our physical well-being.  Those indulgences are many times worthwhile – as long as they remain within your budget.

Happy shopping! 

In the corporate world, much emphasis is placed on group thinking, problem solving, and collaboration.  Yes, these strategies promote creative thinking in the form of bouncing ideas back and forth between colleagues.  A premature thought may be enhanced by a fellow employee – and the collaboration between the two can lead to an innovative concept that could not have been developed alone.  

However, whatever happened to thinking on one's own?  Being given the privacy and freedom to develop thoughts and ideas in an uninterrupted space?  It's called solitude.  

The question is – what fosters GREATER creative thinking – teamwork or solitude?  

There are two sides of that argument.

According to Susan Cain, author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking,” – research shows that performance weakens as the group gets larger.  One of the primary reasons why large numbers generate weaker performance is the clash between personalities.  Louder individuals often talk more – even if their ideas are futile - thereby taking up precious time and energy from the group. On the flipside, solid ideas from introverted employees are left unheard.

Team collaboration does have its positive qualities in that it creates a sense of camaraderie and works as a “social glue” to bring employees together.  However, we must not lose sight of the importance of fostering independent thinking – and giving employees time and space alone to solve problems.  The most creative insights were developed through – yes - solitude. 

It is the job of the decision makers and managers to get creative and bridge the gap between teamwork and solitude.  Online discussion forums are a great solution to this debate because it is a communal forum in which collaboration and teamwork is practiced, but it allows individuals to independently respond and provide input.   

Any other ideas?  Please share your thoughts.