If you have worked for a large corporation in the 21st century, chances are good that you have been, or will one day be a part of a merger or acquisition. With the volatile nature of the public stock market, companies are buying each other left and right like they are figurines at an estate sale. These multi-billion dollar transactions can have far-reaching consequences if you are an employee at either the company being purchased or the one doing the purchasing.
I have worked for two different large corporations that had a flare for acquisitions, and have been through the process multiple times. At the time that an acquisition is announced, there is typically a large amount of “synergies” between the two companies that will help offset the purchase cost. Translated, this means that the two companies will have a large number of people who will be doing the same job, and that half of those jobs will be redundant after the merger. To put it bluntly, people will be laid off. Knowing this, there are steps that you should take to position yourself well in the months leading up to closing date, to ensure that you are not one of those who become “synergized.” ..
There are some mornings when I look at the day ahead and just know that it *has* to be productive. Deadlines are approaching, my to-do list is swelling, and procrastination is no longer an option. How can I find a way to buckle down and GS, in this age where focusing has never been more difficult?
The growth of the internet and fact that nearly everyone has a smart phone in their pocket has created an environment where distractions are everywhere. At the workplace we are hit with a constant barrage of text messages, emails, Slack (or HipChat) notifications, and cubicle drive-bys. We end switching our attention so often, that productivity starts to feel like vaporware.
So what can we do break the cycle of distraction? Here are a few tips to help you have a productive day. ..
Isn’t it time that we all stopped complaining so much? We complain about the weather, complain about our lot in life, and perhaps more than anything else– we complain about our jobs. Complaining goes against everything that we have learned about the power of positive thinking, and dwelling on the negativity certainly isn’t going to lift anyone’s spirits. Which begs the question; if all of that time and energy that we spend complaining isn’t going to contribute a lick towards making a situation better, then why do we do it?
A recent article from the New York Times suggests that complaining serves a distinct social purpose. They note that complaining at work can actually be a great icebreaker and an excellent way to build rapport. While I am hesitant to admit it, I have certainly found this to be true. In my experience, whenever things aren’t going well at work (for whatever reason), if my whole team gets together and openly vents our frustrations, everyone seems to feel a bit better. Of course, these discussions (if you can call them that) typically happen behind closed doors or out of the office somewhere. ..