We often hear people say that asking questions and being curious leads to professional growth. But what does that mean exactly? More importantly, what does asking good questions and being curious really look like or sound like in practice? In this episode, we dig into the art of asking questions – from discussing different types of questions you can ask, to understanding how asking questions not only increases your knowledge, but also increases your leadership skills and influence.

EXAMPLE QUESTIONS:

• Open-ended: What do you think about this product?
• Follow-up: Can you tell me more about the product?
• Leading: How satisfied are you with our product? 
• Closed-ended: Do you like this product?

FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

• Harvard Business Review: The Surprising Power of Questions
• Forbes: Why Asking Good Questions is Good for Your Brand and Your Career
• Harvard Business Review: Relearning the Art of Asking Questions

In this episode of Meet a Houzzer we get to know Amanda Rosen, Manager of the US Employee Experience (EX) team. She takes us through her professional journey with Houzz, and we discuss what it was like when she first started, as well as how her team has adapted and changed the way it supports employee connection and experience, moving from an in-office to remote work model.

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
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Music by, Purple Planet

Influence is an essential skill in the workplace, regardless of title or role. We influence in an upwards direction when we manage up with our leaders, and we influence in a downwards direction as a manager with direct reports. But what about across? How do you develop authentic influence with your colleagues and co-workers?

In this episode we’ll discuss tangible ways to build this skill – enabling you to better collaborate, get support for your ideas, and be seen as a value add amongst your teammates or fellow leadership team.

Follow-Up Resources:

• Book: The 350 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell
• Article: Building Influence at Work - Be the Best Leader You Can Be

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

"It could be worse!" -- Yes, we all know it could be worse but we really don't want to hear it when things are tough. In this episode, we will dig into toxic positivity -- specifically, understanding the negative side effects of toxic positivity, ways to avoid being "that person" in conversations, and simple statements to use when dealing with human emotion.

For more tips on using non-toxic statements, check this tool out!

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

At one point or another, many of us have been in situations at work or in our personal lives that are out of our control.  These situations can often leave us thinking, "This just isn't fair," and can leave us with feelings of frustration, stress and anxiety.  Well, radical acceptance is an intentional practice that can help us to objectively accept those situations that are outside of our control  and reduce the suffering that is caused by them. 

To help us dig into this topic, we interviewed a Client Success Manager here at Houzz, Huong Mai.  Huong has overcome a lot of these situations in her day-to-day role managing professional accounts as well as in her personal life; in this episode, she shares some tips and best practices that have helped her practice radical acceptance over the years.

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

In our second installment of our Meet a Houzzer series we speak with Senior Director of Engineering, Deepa Ramachandran. Deepa talks about what led her from being a passionate member of the Houzz Community, to a team member working to further develop the product she found so valuable when she went though her own home renovation journey!

She also shares what about Houzz keeps her feeling connected and excited, and what she looks forward to regarding the future of Houzz. 

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

Communication is one of the most vital skills to building strong relationships. Yet, one of the biggest pitfalls we make is communicating with others based upon our preferences, and not theirs. In this episode we’ll teach you how to not only identify someone’s preferences, but also discuss simple tweaks you can make to ensure you’re communicating effectively, thus increasing your impact and ability to be influential in the workplace.

Follow-Up Resource:

Click here for a graphic outlining what the four types are, and the communication tips for each!

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

This week’s episode is dedicated to celebrating diversity. Admittedly, the term “diversity” has become a somewhat buzz-worthy topic over the last couple of years, but diversity is so much more than a buzzword. It’s a very complex and layered topic, and in order for us to really value and celebrate all that diversity brings to an organization, we have to understand what diversity means and how its presence can really allow us to achieve our best work and become the best version of ourselves.

Follow-Up Resources:

• Article: 13 Opportunities to Address Unconscious Bias at Work
• Podcast: Unconscious Bias - Scroll to episode library, hover over the grey box, then keep scrolling until you see our S1E13 on Unconscious Bias
• Want to learn more about allyship at Houzz? Email [email protected] 

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

We are two years into what we thought would be a few weeks at home and there have been a lot of lessons learned. Have you felt disconnected or isolated in the WFH world? I know I have! Join me as we dive into 3 simple ways to bring human connection back to the workplace.

Check out Club Houzz to learn about ways to connect at Houzz

Have feedback on this episode or any others? CLICK HERE or email us at
[email protected]

Music by, Purple Planet

It’s common knowledge that stress can be unhealthy, but did you know that some stress can actually be…good? In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we reframe the stress narrative and dive into why it can be beneficial, what the optimal zone of stress looks like, and then discuss strategies to effectively manage it. If you’re someone who struggles with feeling underwater, often feels overwhelmed, and has seen stress impact your quality of life..then this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

Follow-Up Resources:

• Houzz Employee Resource Groups (ERG's): Here you'll find every employee resource group that we currently have, which can help build social support at work 
• Balance@Houzz ERG: Check out their site if you'd like more resources on managing stress & preventing burnout, or if you'd like to join the group!