Today, more than ever, students, employees, and organizational leaders need well-developed critical thinking skills. There are several reasons for this. The rate of change and degree of complexity increase every year thanks to rapid technological developments and the information explosion. The world’s information is doubling every two years, according to the 2011 Digital Universe Study. […]
Tag: education
Consider the Opposing Choice
As an academic and career coach, I help people develop the skills to succeed. Successful students usually become effective employees; most of the skills are transferrable. In keeping with this week’s theme, let’s look at some of the things a student or employee (or manager) might do if they did not want to be successful. […]
Is It Time to Intervene?
There are similarities between academic and career issues, as I’ve found being a parent, an educator, and a manager. One common issue is knowing when to intervene with a student or a subordinate. It’s important to recognize the possible early warning signs that we can observe: Difficulty focusing or concentrating or showing signs of sleepiness […]
Word Tippers
Whether you’re a business professional or a student, it’s essential that you learn to convey your message accurately. Many of us feel underprepared for the challenge of writing effectively. Fear not! An expert I love to refer my clients to is Barbara McNichol, editor, speaker, and author of Word Tippers. Her practical guidance on the […]
Learning Made Easy (or at least Easier)
Whether you’re a college student or working professional, it’s likely that you’ll be faced with learning new material. More mature learners often comment that it’s been such a long time since they were in college that they forgotten how to learn. (This is not true, of course, but it can feel that way.) College students […]
“I’m Too Old to Learn”
This misstatement comes in other forms, too, such as “I’m not smart enough” or “School was never my thing.” The fact is your brain was designed to learn, loves to learn, and knows how to learn, according to Rita Smilkstein, Ph. D. It learns with practice as over time it literally constructs a new neural […]
Advice from a Master
Our men’s speed skating team had a tough 2014 Winter Olympics. In reflecting on this, master skater Apolo Anton Ohno, winner of eight medals, a record for a U.S. Winter Olympian, offered the following advice when things don’t go well: 1) look at the positives, and 2) ask – what can I learn from this? […]
Lifelong Learning Makes Change Easier
Everyone knows change is hard for most people. Even when faced with ultimatums from their doctor, most people fail to make lasting changes. Life coach Jack Bennett says engaging in lifelong learning can help make change easier for us. When we’re accustomed to learning new things, our brains are used to creating new neural networks […]
New Employee Culture Shock
Last week I talked about the four stages of culture shock that anyone can go through, especially new college students, employees changing fields or industries, and people relocating. Years ago I accepted an HR position at a unionized pharmaceutical plant where I had my own bout of culture shock. Little did I know at the […]
Have You Experienced Culture Shock?
Years ago I was hired as an HR Administrator working at a unionized plant, an environment I had never experienced before. To make matters worse, I was the first person to be hired in three years; there was virtually no turnover or growth at that location. It took me several months to acclimate, and I […]