Coaches Corner

Let’s face it: stress sucks. It’s something we all deal with at certain times, and if unaddressed, can have a major impact on our personal and professional lives. In today’s episode, we open with a discussion around general stress and why it occurs before shifting into the four types of stresses you will encounter at work. We’ll also talk about how you can manage those stressors to prevent them from taking over other parts of your life.

Resources

• https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/albrecht-stress.htm

• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm

• https://www.emich.edu/campuslife/student-orgs/fourtypesofstress.pdf

Summer Huggins, HR Manager for the Consulting group, stops by the Coaches Corner this week to chat about mental health. We talk about why mental health is so important, how to take care of your mental health when it is challenged, what leaders can do to support their colleagues' mental health, and the available resources UHY offers to address our mental health.

Description

On Tuesday July 21, 2021, Simone Biles of the USA Women’s Gymnastics team pulled out of team competition during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics citing concerns about her mental health. In later interviews, Biles admitted that she had struggled with the demands of being one of the most famous athletes in the world, the unique pressure of the Tokyo games, and the added challenge of being stuck in a Covid bubble (Ingle, 2021).

While we may never face the same stressors as Biles and other athletes, we do face certain stressors in our personal and professional lives that may challenge our mental health. It’s important as an organization that we start to or better understand mental health, including possible warning signs of mental illness, myths around mental health, and how we as employees – and managers – can create an environment where discussion around mental health is welcomed, instead of ignored.

Resources

• https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

• https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts

• https://hbr.org/2018/11/we-need-to-talk-more-about-mental-health-at-work

• https://hbr.org/2020/09/make-mental-health-your-1-priority

• https://hbr.org/2020/08/8-ways-managers-can-support-employees-mental-health

Stopping by the Coaches Corner this episode is Betina Dufault, Director of UHY LLP's National Office in New York. We have a great discussion around the importance of the growth mindset in Betina's personal and professional life, the misconceptions of a growth mindset, and some parting advice for anyone looking to adopt a growth mindset.

Description

In this episode, we focus on mindset; specifically, the concepts of a “fixed” versus “growth” mindset. Originally coined by Dr. Carol Dweck from Stanford University in her book “Mindset”, fixed and growth mindsets help explain how, in challenging situations, certain individuals relish the chance to grow and develop, while others avoid the challenge in fear of failure.

We’ll talk about the origins of the fixed and growth mindset and the definition of each mindset, then we’ll shift to how you can better demonstrate a growth versus fixed mindset at work, at home, at school, and in life.

Resources

• What Is A Growth Mindset? 8 Steps To Develop One. (wgu.edu)

• Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: How what you think affects what you achieve (mindsethealth.com)

• What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means (hbr.org)

• 15 Ways to Build a Growth Mindset | Psychology Today

• What is the Definition of a Growth Mindset? (linkedin.com)

• Carol Dweck: The power of believing that you can improve | TED Talk

• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Dweck, Carol S.: 9780345472328: Amazon.com: Books

Description

As we start to return to normal, what will our offices look like? Most likely a combination of office and remote work. This episode focuses on the concept of remote work, including the benefits, myths, challenges, trends, and strategies.

Resources

• 10 Remote Workplace Trends To Look Out For In 2021 (forbes.com)

• 17 Remote Work Trends for 2021/2022: Current Forecasts You Should Know - Financesonline.com

• 19 Big Myths About Remote Work | Aha!

• 20 Benefits of Remote Working for Employees & Employers (lumapps.com)

• 5 Remote Work Myths to Leave Behind in 2020 (hubspot.com)

• 5 Steps to implement a successful remote work strategy (kenjo.io)

• 9 of the Most Challenging Things About Working Remotely (businessinsider.com)

• Companies See Unexpected Benefits As Working From Home Increases (businessinsider.com)

• Data shows remote work to become the norm for most companies - YouTube

• How to Do Hybrid Right (hbr.org)

• How to Engage Remote Employees (6 Strategies That Work) (goskills.com)

• How Will Work From Home Work After Covid? - YouTube

• Kevin O'Leary: Remote work will become the norm and it will save companies money - YouTube

• Microsoft releases findings and considerations from one year of remote work in Work Trend Index - Stories

Description

In this episode, Stephen Wolf, Managing Director in Columbia, MD, stops by the coaches corner to discuss what first attracted him to the concept, how he is working to minimize its impact in his life, and what you can do to minimize its impact in yours.

References

• Cal Newport, "A World Without Email"

• Cal Newport, "Deep Work"

• Lex Friedman Podcast #166 - Cal Newport: Deep Work, Focus, Productivity, Email, and Social Media

• Finding Mastery: Conversations with Michael Gervais - Cal Newport on a World Without Email

Description

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of email or instant messages you receive and the perceived need to respond quickly? If so, then you are experiencing the Hyperactive Hive Mind.

This episode focuses on what exactly is the Hyperactive Hive Mind, the effects it has on you and your workplace, and how we can minimize its impact.

Resources

• How to escape the ‘hyperactive hivemind’ of modern work (bbc.com)

• Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows

• Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Cal Newport - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

• Real Productivity Isn’t What You Think It Is | Next Big Idea Club

Description

Now that busy season is over, it's time to do some much-needed spring cleaning! This episode covers the benefits of spring cleaning your workspace and how exactly to do it.

References

https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2019/03/7-office-spring-cleaning-tips-to-boost-productivity-happiness-at-work

https://www.advisorpedia.com/growth/why-its-important-to-spring-clean-your-office/

https://www.themuse.com/advice/spring-clean-your-cubicle>

https://www.zebrapen.com/office-spring-cleaning-tips/>

https://www.advisorpedia.com/growth/why-its-important-to-spring-clean-your-office/>

https://money.usnews.com/careers/articles/2016-03-23/6-steps-to-spring-clean-your-workspace-and-boost-productivity>

We're joined by Jim Skrobosinski, Associate Director of Quality Control & Financial Reporting, to discuss how you can properly rest and recover after an incredibly taxing (pun intended) busy season.