Communication
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Change: Alter, Transform and Switch; To Become ...

: to make different in some particular : ALTER

: to make radically different : TRANSFORM

: to make a shift from one to another : SWITCH

: to become different

Ahh yes: “Alter, transform and switch, to become different’’.....these words resonate a lot in FIG’s evolution, we’re excited about a little bit of change (and a little apprehensive if we’re being honest!).

Change: Alter, Transform and Switch; To Become Different
Communication
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Technology Addiction: Yes, It's a Thing...

In her Wall Street Journal article: Digital Addictions Are Drowning Us in Dopamine, Dr, Lembke, a Stamford University professor and psychiatrist, talks about the scientific biological effects of addictions to our devices. It’s real folks. This is not FIG banging the drum of putting down our phones or any other technological apparatus and talking or connecting with our fellow human beings. No. This is concrete, physiological, measurable, science based fact that continuously interacting with our high-tech electronic leashes, gaming apparatuses and social media actually, physically, alters our brains to crave more of it, thereby de-incentivising us to engage with others on a human level.

Gasp, shock and awe!

Technology Addiction: Yes, It's a Thing...
Communication
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Mistakes: Perfectly Human

Mistakes. We all make them, we’re human beings and by definition 99.9% imperfect (with apologies to those of you who think otherwise), which results in, guess what? Mistakes (we make them hourly at FIG)! That gaffes, miscalculations and oversights are a part of our collective experience on this earth. Why (on earth!) is it so hard to admit to making mistakes, take responsibility for these human aberrations and move on after making a miscalculation or error? Hmmmm?

Mistakes: Perfectly Human
Communication
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Habits: The Good, The Bad, and the Intangible

We all have habits - some serve us well and some get in our way…...Google states: “A habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.” Establishing a habit usually takes about two weeks to become routine and is subsequently supported and reinforced by practicing it daily.

Habits: The Good, The Bad, and the Intangible
Communication
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Life Happens

Ever had a “Monday” on any day of the week? Ever had your day perfectly planned, scheduled and organized only to have all your intended “to-do’s”: meetings, calls, oh yeah, actual “work,” utterly blown up by an unexpected interruption, complication, interference? Ever had someone insert themselves into your day with their drama, troubles or lack of planning (real or self-inflicted), requiring you to shelve your carefully laid out day(s) and requiring you to stop whatever you’re doing for their fire drill?

Yeah, us too.

Life Happens

covid and work

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Coping with Social Anxiety in 2020

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Coping with Social Anxiety in 2020

2020 has been quite a year, and each and every one of us has a lot on our emotional plates. For those who already have social anxiety, these uncertain times can be almost unbearable. Between a global pandemic, the threat of murder hornets, political and racial unrest, and the variety of other crises the first half of the year has offered, it can be incredibly hard to cope for some. At times, the world seems like it has turned upside down. It's easy for apocalyptic fantasies to take hold of the psyche. However, there are still steps you can take to cope with and even overcome your social anxiety.

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We’ve Earned the Internet (Finally), but Will It Continue?

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We’ve Earned the Internet (Finally), but Will It Continue?

The Internet is an integral tool in our day to day lives that we have come to take for granted. For the younger generations, the Internet is omnipresent; they’ve never known life without it. My son, a GenY, came with me to my office many years ago, saw and was fascinated by an old typewriter I had on my shelf. He had trouble understanding that what was being typed wasn’t stored automatically or that he couldn’t edit, copy or paste the product!

Seldom do we take time to consider the vast brilliance, the scope and the reach of it, nor do we consider the ills afforded by the anonymity of being safely behind a screen. We are able to research anything, locate any place, watch videos, movies, listen to podcasts, search our ancestry, order food, find a date etc. and find immediate gratification for basically whatever we want nearly instantaneously. We are able to search the web from a device in the palm of our hand, we can communicate at any time with our family and friends across the entire world. The Internet has the astonishing capacity to educate us, connect us, and advance us.

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What We’re Missing: The 30 Second Walk-By Meeting

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What We’re Missing: The 30 Second Walk-By Meeting

With the Covid-19 Crisis in full swing, many offices and workplaces made the mass shift to remote work. Working from home has many benefits (including the remoteness from others in a time of contagious virus), but takes practice, and lacks many of the productive subtleties of the in-person workplace. Many didn’t realize they’d miss these small moments and perks of being in a formal office setting until they had to cope with no longer having them. One of those is the 30 second walk-by meeting.

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Behind the Mask: Replacing Essential Facial Body Language

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Behind the Mask: Replacing Essential Facial Body Language

During the COVID-19 Crisis, masks and mask-wearing have become one of the most talked about and sometimes-controversial topics in the news. Many businesses require you to wear a mask upon entry, and many people are making the choice to wear one any time they leave the house. Wearing a mask can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it also blocks one’s nose and mouth, a surprising handicap to communicating with facial expressions.