Train your brain to focus on something boring

We all have a few subjects that we find boring or dull. Fortunately, it’s possible to learn to like — maybe even love — topics that make your eyes glaze over. First, you have to overcome the pain. When we think about something we don’t like or want, it can activate a portion of the brain that’s connected to our experience of pain. As a result, you brain may divert your attention away from whatever sparked the pain — in other words, you procrastinate. So the next time you need to study statistics, force yourself to focus.

— Turn off all distractions.

— Set a timer for 25 minutes.

— Focus intently for those 25 minutes.

— And then reward yourself for at least five minutes by listening to your favourite song, talking with a friend, or getting coffee.

Taking little breaks helps the brain consolidate what you’re learning, which builds understanding while minimising frustration.

(Adapted from “How to Get Excited About Topics That Bore You,” by Barbara Oakley.)

Always negotiate your salary

When you get your first job offer, you might think you shouldn’t negotiate. After all, you don’t want to ruffle any feathers, right? Wrong. Negotiating your salary is extremely important, especially early in your career. Your starting salary is a kind of anchor — your future raises, bonuses, and even retirement savings will be influenced by that initial amount. Prepare for the negotiation by doing some legwork using your educational and professional networks. Collect information about salaries from your educational institution and from friends and colleagues. Find people whose jobs are similar to the one you’re applying for and ask them what a reasonable salary range is. Then practice the negotiation with a friend. If all goes well, you’ll get a higher number than what you were offered. But if you don’t, that doesn’t mean it was a mistake to try. You’ve shown your employer that you are willing to be assertive and that you know how to negotiate — a valuable skill.

(Adapted from “10 Myths About Negotiating Your First Salary,” by Linda Babcock and Julia Bear.)

Start a difficult conversation by focusing on the common

When you’re broaching a tricky topic with a colleague, your first few sentences can make or break the discussion. It’s normal to be defensive, and even to put blame on the other person, but implying that your counterpart is wrong will make the tough conversation even worse. Set yourself up for success by establishing common ground between you and the other person. State what you already agree on — where your goals overlap. You might say “We both want to make sure our patients get the best care possible” or “We agree that the new email system should integrate with our existing IT systems.” If you aren’t able to pinpoint common ground, or you’re not sure what your counterpart’s goal is, the easiest way to move forward is to ask questions.

Explain what’s important to you and then ask, “Is there any overlap with what you care about? Or do you have another goal?” Questions like these set a collaborative tone.

(Adapted from the HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, by Amy Gallo.)

Help your employees feel less lonely at work

More and more people are feeling tired and lonely at work. No manager should want their team members to be disconnected and disengaged. You can help counter these feelings by encouraging your team to forge bonds with their colleagues. Tell them how important it is to have a developmental network — a small group of co-workers they routinely turn to for advice or emotional support. Connect employees with coaches and peers, and assign new employees a mentor. Offer to introduce employees who you think have things in common, including hobbies and interests outside work. Make sure everyone knows that you believe friendly relationships are a worthwhile use of time so that they don’t hesitate to go out for coffee with a colleague or block out time on their calendars to chat and catch up.

(Adapted from “Burnout at Work Isn’t Just About Exhaustion. It’s Also About Loneliness,” by Emma Seppala and Marissa King.)

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, September 17th, 2018