In the same way birth order stereotypes may be 100% on target for some individuals, while completely untrue for others, generational stereotypes possess a duality. While generalizations about every member of a generation should be avoided (ie. all millennials are technology-obsessed, and boomers are self-absorbed workaholics), sometimes behavioral trends can be helpful. They suggest ways… Read more »
How do you define company culture? Every company, no matter its size, number of employees, industry, or location, has a culture. As William Craig explains in an article for the Forbes blog, company culture isn’t something employees bring with them. Rather, it’s “something that is pre-existing in your company’s genetic code.” Yet, even with Craig’s… Read more »
Whether in the typical hands-on approach or in a virtual elearning scenario, role playing is one of the most popular training techniques. Roleplaying is a fantastic method to train employees in hands-on scenarios. The point of role playing is to put the participant into a scenario he or she isn’t completely familiar with and hopefully… Read more »
Whether you work at a small startup or large corporation, you’ll probably have to give a presentation at some point in your career. When I begin creating a new presentation, I’m often overwhelmed by the possible layouts, themes, fonts, etc. There are so many options, and it’s hard to know what design choice is better… Read more »
Conflict is almost inevitable. Just as conflict can manifest itself in varying degrees, there are many different reactions to conflict as well. Some will attempt to avoid conflict entirely while others are notorious for initiating it. At work, conflict can be extremely detrimental to morale, productivity, and employee relationships. It’s not always easy to address… Read more »
As part of Frank Lee’s ongoing leadership seminars here at OpenSesame, he hosted a session on emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is defined as “the ability to identify, assess, and influence one’s own feelings and those of others.” Emotional intelligence, or EQ, applies to everyone – it can help you strengthen relationships, understand others, and succeed… Read more »
We live in a world full of never-ending distraction. Our phones and tablets are constantly lighting up with information, and our various social media accounts do not cease to notify us throughout the day. These frequent instances of distraction often sidetrack us from the important tasks we must tackle, often leaving us unorganized. Organization is… Read more »
Have you ever felt as though your career training was insufficient, or that maybe you could work on training yourself to be a better employee or manager? Many feel the same way, and are constantly considering how to improve their career if given the opportunity, how to increase their skills, business sense, and overall career… Read more »
“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” – Isaac Asimov Although no formal education is typically required to land a culinary profession, it can be helpful to arrive as prepared as possible to stand out from the applicant pool. Employers prefer applicants who are proactive and show initiative. Additionally, the… Read more »
You may have the greatest elearning course of all time, but no one will know if it never gets taken. Whether a course is required for compliance or taken for fun, selling to HR or a single customer, your course needs to make a good first impression in order to make a sale. To help… Read more »
Although business schools throughout the country aim to educate students about technical skills ranging from financial analysis to market research, many times soft skills such as emotional intelligence go underrated. Most importantly, soft skills are oftentimes what keep employees happy at work. Gallup’s most recent 2015 study found that most adults who were surveyed quit… Read more »
Disagreeing with your boss can be an intimidating part of your work, but there is a way to approach the problem without your disagreement ending in you getting fired. Regardless of the issue at hand, follow these general rules to steer clear of the unemployment office and improve your working relationship with your boss. Approach… Read more »
At OpenSesame, we believe in supporting fellow tech startups, and today we have compiled a list of four online tools from these businesses. The only two pieces of criteria for selection were that the companies and their tool had to: a) belong to Gen Z (founded after 2004) and b) be used by the OpenSesame… Read more »
The concept of routine, and the discipline behind it is often overlooked. In a world of constant distraction and procrastination, routine is the savior we all should want. Each day, whether at the office, the kitchen, or the junkyard, brings a new set of challenges and successes. Think of these as mountains and valleys—naturally created… Read more »
Though Thomas Edison failed thousands of times, he cleverly noted: “I didn’t fail, I just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” Students today may not have the same mindset as Edison, since we are often taught that failure is bad from our earliest educational experiences. The grading system in K-12 education clearly reflects that we… Read more »
The days of families huddling around radios to listen to their favorite nightly programs may be long gone, but the market for engaging audio programs hasn’t entirely diminished. In place of old-fashioned radio sets are headphones, smartphones, and apps that allow users to plug in and listen to thousands of audio programs covering a range… Read more »
Meeting with clients, visiting headquarters, looking at property, and getting together with teams are oftentimes ubiquitous travel trips all too familiar in the business world. Whether you’re a bonafide jetsetter or just heading out on a business trip for the first time, here are a few helpful tips: 1. Sign up for TSA Precheck or… Read more »
It’s hard to believe that serious injuries can occur from working in office settings, but they are much more prevalent than we may think. Neck, back, and eye injuries are caused by daily habits and posture that many people don’t realize can cause injuries in the first place. The good news is that through some… Read more »
Emoji, once reserved for text messages between teenagers, are now seen globally — even in the workplace. In fact, 76% of US workers admit to using emoji in communication at work. Thanks to the growing population of Millennials in the workforce and changes in digital communication, it has now become more appropriate to use emoji… Read more »
What do tweets, Vines, superhero films, and lists all have in common? Answer: They are all deliberately designed for a generation with shorter attention spans. In this digital age, it feels impossible to work in a tech-dominated industry without coming to the conclusion that the world as a whole, especially the younger generations, have… Read more »
