Our Corporate Life
July 24, 2012   •   Volume 3, Issue 15   •   ISSN: 2154-3240    
In This Issue
♦   Feature Article: Rethinking Brainstorming
Ask Amanda: How do I get over my fear of conflict and desire to be liked? I want to progress into management.
♦   Practical Tips: Stress Management
 
Rethinking Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a common, accepted corporate practice based on the premise that “more heads are better than one.” But is this actually true? Do brainstorms generate better ideas and drive more powerful results for businesses? The data suggest otherwise.

Research shows unequivocally that individuals almost always perform better than groups in both quality and quantity of ideas, and group performance gets worse as group size increases. The "evidence from science suggests that business people must be insane to use brainstorming groups," wrote the organizational psychologist Adrian Furnham.
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Thought to Ponder

Don’t borrow trouble.

  
Practical Tips:
Stress Management

Virtually everyone experiences stressful times at work. When we get overwhelmed we often forget basic self-management strategies. Next time you’re feeling under the gun, try these three tips:

Take regular breaks
It sounds counterintuitive but part of the reason you’re stressed is that you’re going from one task to another without stopping. Build in regular 10-minute breaks throughout the day. Walk around your floor. Go outside for a quick breather.
read more

    
 ask Amanda
Question:

I know it's bad to want to be liked but I can't help it. I really don't like conflict but I know I have to get over this in order to progress into management. Suggestions? H.W., Los Angeles, CA

Amanda Mitchell
Answer:

Well, you’re right. Those in management are hired to do what’s right for the business and that sometimes means doing things that make them unpopular. Keep in mind this is equally true for everyone; it’s just that some people choose the path of least resistance and end up likeable but ineffectual. Is that what you’ve been doing?
read more

    
     
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About Us: Our Corporate Life LLC (OCL) is a company that offers a new system for reducing unnecessary workplace suffering caused by the organizational, interpersonal, and ethical issues of our time. It is founded on the belief that adhering to core human values and achieving business success are always compatible. Working with both companies and individuals, OCL helps create solutions that enable corporate employees at every level to optimize profits while enabling them to thrive in the corporate environment. OCL was founded by Amanda Mitchell to help meet the needs of people working in corporate America during this transformative moment in our nation's history. The OCL system reflects her experience and insight gained from a 20–year corporate career working with Fortune 500 companies, and as an executive coach to senior–level corporate executives. Our Corporate Life
 
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