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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
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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

Communication

Unraveling a Complaining Society

Unraveling a Complaining Society

At the risk of sounding bossy…..

We don’t get to complain about something we’re not willing to do something about.

Admittedly a bold call to action, but one we’d like to explore…..

Complaints are actually very useful tools in our daily lives. They can be valuable clues in identifying troublesome issues and they alert us to situations, interactions, circumstances and events that don’t sit well with us. They fall into two categories (I’m sure there are more but in the interest of brevity….): daily annoying irritations - like running out of milk for your coffee in the morning, traffic patterns and other drivers, daily interruptions in our otherwise well-scheduled days, social media interactions etc.. - and the larger, more existential varieties like “am I happy?” At work? With our professional or personal partners? Are we exploring our professional callings, enjoying the journeys and moving in a direction that will lead us to professional and personal self actualization? Big questions indeed…..Complaints are also useful in identifying patterns; if we’re repeating the same grievances ad nauseum, there’s probably an issue that ought to be addressed, which is hard; Things should go the way we want without any effort or thought - right?

Ahhhh, 2020

Ahhhh, 2020

One of the fundamental principles of our work at FIG is that every experience - every single one - is illuminating, instructive and valuable. Every interaction, every situation, every exchange, every person who enters our lives, every economic, social or business challenge, every hurdle or success: they’re ALL teachers. Even a pandemic.

Why Do We Think We Know Everything?

Why Do We Think We Know Everything?

There’s an interesting and slightly alarming sociological trend, which has slowly and not very quietly begun to emerge in the past 10 years: we think we know everything. We argue, and sometimes rail, against scientists, doctors, professors, political officials (no, I’m not going THAT particular rabbit hole!), clergy, journalists etc. People who have toiled, often for decades to become experts in their chosen fields, and who have years of study, research, institutional knowledge, historical knowledge and involvement in their area of expertise. However, if they aren’t saying something that comports with each of our own world views, they are suddenly stupid, whackjobs, and idiots. SO, why do we think we know more than they do?

There's a Reason for Everything....

There's a Reason for Everything....

There’s a Reason for Everything...

Bold statement but true - especially regarding human employee interactions at work. However, most issues, struggles, and conflicts in the workplace are human in nature. So where is the overlap between human beings and employees?

Professional protocol is a necessary component in any organization and needs to be universally adopted by employees in order to have a cohesive expectation of performance and business. Agreed-upon standards like work product, conduct, wardrobing (dress codes) and mission statements provide an overall unified expectation of “professionalism.”

However, having these protocols does not mean we stop being human beings when we become employees.

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Just Pick Up the Phone!

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Just Pick Up the Phone!

The irony is clear: the most smartphone-dependent generations - Millennials and Gen Z - are also the least likely to pick up the phone instead of texting or emailing. It is generally recognized, with some exceptions, that young professionals have been conditioned to defer to non-verbal communication like text or email. These are the first generations never to have known life without them. Picking up the phone to have an actual conversation is anathema and counterintuitive to these 180 million young professionals; why talk when you can text or email?

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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.

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Top 8 Office Faux-Pas

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Top 8 Office Faux-Pas

When working in an office environment, it’s easy to take the passive approach, especially when it comes to building professional relationships. Technology has made it effortless to avoid any human interaction at all in the workplace - a fact that can be crippling for office workflow, happiness, and employee longevity. Here are 8 office faux-pas that can be fixed quickly to improve office communication and make a big difference in how employees construct and maintain both personal and professional relationships.

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Let’s Talk About Self-Love: Self-Care to Make Yourself a Better Professional

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Let’s Talk About Self-Love: Self-Care to Make Yourself a Better Professional

Around Valentine’s Day every year, we like to take the time to think about love in a different frame. Love of others isn’t the only important thing. Love of self and an understanding of how to weave love into personal and professional relationships is a foundational part of having a healthy social life. This year, we want to talk about using self-care to make yourself a better professional.

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5 Ways to Differentiate Yourself at a Job Interview

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5 Ways to Differentiate Yourself at a Job Interview

In today’s labor market, competition is stiff. Nearly everyone has a college degree; every candidate has ample experience; individuals are all, for the most part, highly motivated and driven. Even if you’re qualified (or over-qualified) for the job, there’s no guarantee you’ll get it. Here are 5 ways you can differentiate yourself at your next job interview.