AI could help your boss track your performance, for better or for worse
It’s likely you have multiple interactions with AI that you aren’t even aware of on a daily basis. Artificial intelligence has embedded itself in some of the most widely used consumer technologies on the planet without many [...]
DIY Biohacking: Miracle or Menace?
Advances in biological science are happening every day. This being the 21st century, that fact may not come as too much of a surprise to anyone. However, the next big breakthrough in biotech might not [...]
5 Side Hustles to Help with the Christmas Crunch
Maybe your family’s gotten larger, or that Christmas bonus isn’t what you had hoped for. No matter the reason, Christmastime brings about a financial crunch for many of us. Not to worry, there are a [...]
From Small Things, Big Things Will Come: Our Brains and Nanotech
The term nanotechnology refers to engineering on a molecular scale, measured with units like nanometers, which consist of 1 billionth of a meter (a sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick). These microscopic dimensions [...]
Is videoconferencing as productive as in-person meetings?
According to the results of a 2016 Gallup survey, 43 percent of employed Americans said they spent some of their working hours working remotely. Working remotely has its benefits and many companies have adopted a [...]
Plans are Worthless, Planning is Everything
When it came to discussing plans, President Dwight Eisenhower liked to tell a story that he’d heard while a student at Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. As it goes, the maps available [...]
Do Tech Gadgets Benefit Work Collaboration?
They have become ubiquitous in every sphere both public and private, so it’s no exaggeration to say that tech gadgets in general have completely transformed our way of life. Whether at work or at home, [...]
Nurturing Creativity in the Workplace
Creativity is an essential trait of a productive and innovative work environment. The success of a business often depends on the effectiveness of the development team’s ideas. In today’s economy, creativity in the workforce is [...]
How Virtual Reality is Changing Healthcare
Technologies are vastly changing the landscape in which we operate. Innovations in virtual reality are revolutionizing how we interact and perceive our worlds from entertainment to banking to education. VR technologies are making our lives [...]
The Principles of Sustainable Leadership
As globalization and the demographics of our workforce change and evolve our economy, principles of sustainable leadership become increasingly necessary. Sustainable ideals and business practices are refocusing our gaze towards consciously improving institutionalized models of [...]
How Animal Therapy is Aiding Veteran Care
Animals have a healing ability that often goes unmatched in the minds and hearts of many people. For centuries, animals--like dogs--have been known to Due to their therapeutic abilities, animal-assisted therapy has become a popular [...]
Affordable Alternative Healthcare Options for ACA/AHCA
Earlier in March, the GOP honored its word by releasing its plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, also referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A statement from the party said, “We’re delivering on [...]
Let’s Get Siri-us About A.I. in the Workplace
Having an executive assistant was once reserved for hotshot CEOs and bigwig executives. Not anymore. Today, any average Joe can have access to Siri or Alexa, thanks to a growing cohort of A.I.-enabled digital assistants [...]
Tax Season Tips: Filing Early Can Reduce Stress, Maximize Your Return
Tax season is here. Although you have until April 18 to file their returns this year, getting your taxes finished early can help maximize your return and avoid potential stress that can arise from filing [...]
Your Boss’ Mood Could Affect Your Productivity
Research suggests that team members take cues from the emotional states of their leaders. Put simply, moods are contagious. Leaders who are mindful of this can use their emotions to keep motivation levels up. By the same token, chronically moody supervisors can [...]
Like A Boss: How Leaders Do Quick, Quality Work
In today’s professional world, there is often conflict between quantity and quality. Businesses want leaders and employees to keep up with today’s ever more rapid rate of change, but research suggests that keeping pace often [...]
Dave Rocker: Does Stress Increase Productivity? It Depends.
To perform better under pressure, consider embracing your anxiety. Research suggests that welcoming stress may be more helpful than trying to calm down. That’s right. Attempting to get rid of stress is counterproductive and can [...]
Dave Rocker: How Does Technology Affect Workplace Productivity?
Technological progress gave us automated machinery, assembly lines, and the ability to communicate in real-time with anyone in the world. But, it goes without saying that technology is also a huge source of distraction, a [...]
Dave Rocker: 3 Common Myths About American Manufacturing
Although the American economy has come a long way since The Great Recession, the need for economic renewal in the United States is still urgent. Years of mediocre job growth and stagnant incomes continue to wear [...]
Dave Rocker: Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity in the Workplace
As mobile devices become more sophisticated and everyday housewares turn “smart,” our personal data and information become more vulnerable. With commerce, government, and our personal lives moving online, the security of our data has never [...]
Dave Rocker: How Working Remotely Affects Productivity
Increasingly, companies are re-thinking the 9-5 office workday in favor of more flexible policies that give employees the freedom to work from wherever they want. Although allowing employees to work from home can complicate the [...]
Dave Rocker: Air Pollution Makes Office Workers Less Productive
My last post neglected to mention the effect of air quality and pollution on employee productivity. A study published in National Bureau of Economic Research back in June suggests that in cities with particularly high levels of air [...]
Dave Rocker: Top 5 Reasons Why You’re Unproductive At Work
Your professional success and that of your company depends on your being productive. Despite the positive payoff, many office workers struggle to maintain high productivity levels throughout the work day. Most employees wish they could get more [...]
Dave Rocker: Generational Diversity in the Workplace
When we talk about workplace diversity, we tend to talk about diversity as it relates to race or gender, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. Within the context of these discussions, age is rarely mentioned. With [...]
Dave Rocker: At Work, Positivity = Productivity
Some workplace cultures encourage productivity; many more do not. The latest research in organizational behavior shows that a company’s culture directly affects the motivation levels and performance of its employees. The bottom line? Employees are [...]
Dave Rocker: Veterans and Meaningful Post-Military Careers
Historically, the American military has produced some of our country’s most productive men and women. Considering that U.S. Armed Forces are the most capable military in the world, it’s not surprising that veterans [...]
Dave Rocker: Let’s Help Veterans Access Mental Health Care
VA facilities will provide same-day access to mental health care services by December of this year, VA Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald told veterans last week. Speaking on July 27 at the 177th Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) [...]
Dave Rocker: NEUROMYTHS: 4 Misconceptions About The Brain
"I'm 'brained.' Not right brained or left brained. I have a brain." --Neil deGrasse Tyson Neuromyth #1: People are “left-brained” or “right-brained.” Popular culture has taught us that logical, linear-thinking people are [...]
Dave Rocker: How Philanthropy Can Support Military Veterans
We owe a lot to the men and women who serve in the United States military. With thousands of veterans returning to civilian life, there are many challenges of reintegrating into civilian life. A big [...]
Dave Rocker: Multitasking vs. Monotasking: What’s More Effective for Productivity?
In a world of so-called multitask masters, technology is what we turn to in order to coordinate the sometimes divisive demands for our attention. Consider the particulars of what, exactly, divides our attention: We have [...]
Dave Rocker: 5 Reasons Business & Philanthropy Go Hand in Hand
Just as the weather changes rapidly, so does the business climate. Today we are in the midst of one of the most transitional periods in the history of global economics. Business tycoons like Bill Gates, [...]
Dave Rocker: 4 Ways to Kick Procrastination to the Curb
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” While this advice sounds simple and obvious in theory, every professional has experienced the crippling effects of procrastination at one point [...]
Dave Rocker: 5 Tips for Hiring & Retaining Top Talent
The success of your company has a lot to do with hiring great talent who will regularly go above and beyond the call of duty—because they believe in your company’s mission as much as you [...]
Dave Rocker: How the Science of Happiness Can Boost Your Productivity
We’ve all had weeks where our workload piles up, we feel overwhelmed, and we indulge in the need to vent. Is there anything wrong with a little complaining? After all, doesn’t it help us [...]
Dave Rocker: 6 Ways to Optimize Your Morning Routine
Just as breakfast is the most important meal of the day from a nutritional standpoint, a structured morning routine is the best way to ensure the rest of your work day goes smoothly. Studies have [...]
Dave Rocker: Five Simple Techniques to Build Trust with Your Employees
A manager has a tough job: motivate employees, lead by example, create an environment of teamwork and collaboration, all while keeping a finger on the pulse of the company and the pulse of all [...]
Dave Rocker: Boost Your Productivity with the Pomodoro Technique
Focusing on the task at hand is no small feat in an age where social media and other digital distractions are always around. Don’t throw in the towel just yet, though. Try out the Pomodoro [...]