Lessons from the Sony E-mail Hack
The debacle of the Sony e-mail hack offers valuable lessons to just about anyone sending e-mail in the workplace. First is that privacy is as extinct as the dodo. We should all operate under the assumption that everything we write may be seen by the entire world. Second, professionalism should always be paramount. Even if you write a message to a long-time friend, keep it classy.
Open Office Damages Productivity
Can it be that the open office model is destroying the workplace? The benefits of the new floor plans are clear; they maximize space, minimize costs, and allow bosses to keep an eye on employees. However, a recent study found that the open-floor plan is causing productivity to suffer. Workers complain about distractions and a lack of sound and visual privacy. The benefits of building camaraderie by breaking down walls actually ends up damaging workers’ attention spans, productivity, creativity, and well-being.
Overcome Public Speaking Jitters
Even the pros get a case of nerves when giving a presentation or delivering a speech. To help overcome the jitters, take advice from some experts.
- Imagine yourself in a comfortable spot. Your den? A cozy coffee bar? Put yourself there in your mind when you speak.
- Practice! Repeat the talk enough so that you can deliver it naturally, without hemming and hawing.
- Keep it short. Take Winston Churchill’s advice: “A good speech should be like a woman’s skirt: long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.”
If that doesn’t work, remember what Mark Twain said. “There are only two types of speakers in the world: 1. The nervous. 2. Liars.”
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