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

problem children

"Problem Children:" We All Have Them (Or ARE Them!)

"Problem Children:" We All Have Them (Or ARE Them!)

Who pops to mind? We can all relate to this characterization of personalities at work otherwise the phrase wouldn’t be relatable. Right?

To begin with, please know we use this term with sincerest and genuine affection - to torture an oft-repeated theme in these offerings - there are reasons for everything: even problem children.

We ALL can be problem children - we all are in some circles.

What does it mean? Taking the time to understand each others’ sometimes differing beliefs, divergences in approaches, viewpoints, world views, intentional or unintentional biases, how we “do things,” and are we introverts or extroverts? We all bring preconceptions with us to work. But, what if our office neighbor doesn’t share them and has a completely different set of standards, work ethics and values? What if their method of communication is contrary to ours? What if their priorities contrast with ours and are peculiar to us? Do we simply label them as “problems” or do we seek to understand the nexus of the differing behavior and refocus on the task, project or directive at hand? Is it easier to put people with nutty, offbeat or painful standpoints (in our opinion!) in a simple box and label them as problem children? Easier, maybe - but does it accomplish the goals of a shared, mutually beneficial outcome (whatever that outcome may be)? Not to belabor the point: we’re human beings, folks! We don’t stop becoming humans when we become employees