workplace culture
19 articles
The Power of Being Present: Why Working 24/7 Reduces Your Productivity & Innovation
Why constant connectivity kills productivity and innovation, with research-backed strategies for mindfulness, boundary-setting, and being fully present at work
The Evolution of the 50/25 Meeting Format: Why Starting Late is the New On-Time
An updated take on the 50/25 meeting format: why starting meetings 5-10 minutes late creates buffer time that improves focus, reduces stress, and boosts product
An Executive’s Daily Routine for Productivity and Balance (Summer 2023)
A CPTO’s daily routine from 5am workouts to structured deep work and evening wind-down, designed to maximize executive productivity while maintaining balance.
Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas (Book Review)
A review of Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas, exploring how humor serves as a leadership skill and workplace strategy.
IT Culture vs. Product Culture
Most media and publishing companies think they have a product culture. They have an IT culture with product titles. Here is how to tell the difference.
Why I Joined Thrive Global
Rajiv Pant explains his path from The New York Times CTO to joining Thrive Global as CTO, drawn by Arianna Huffington's science-based well-being mission.
How to be an effective CTO
How to be effective as a CTO by mastering culture, technology, and operations, with five lessons on building stakeholder relationships and organizational influe
Dear Makers, On Fridays My Office is Yours — An Experiment
A CTO's experiment sharing his private office with software engineers on Fridays to support maker's schedule productivity and workplace culture.
When to have and when not to schedule meetings
Why companies should avoid scheduling meetings before 10am or after 5pm, and why makers need a four-hour uninterrupted block each day.
50/25 Meeting Format
The 50/25 meeting format shortens hour-long meetings to 50 minutes and half-hour meetings to 25 minutes, giving teams time to recharge between sessions.
Using Laptops or Smartphones in Meetings
Why using your phone under the table is like picking your nose, and what to do about device culture in meetings.
Ray Dalio, Randall Munroe and I Think Alike – Culture of Courage & Candor
Why badmouthing colleagues behind their backs is toxic to organizations, and how senior executives can build a culture of courage, candor, and open courts.
Case for a Consistent, Comprehensible & Cost-Effective Vacation Policy
A case for giving every full-time employee 25 days of paid time off per year, with analysis of unlimited vacation drawbacks and fair accrual policies.
Productive Business Meetings
A comprehensive guide to productive business meetings with links to formats, templates, scheduling guidelines, and device etiquette.
It is all about Balance
A reflection on why balance is essential across leadership, technology, and personal life, with topics like centralization vs. decentralization.
Ars Technica Interview: IT consumerization in the enterprise
An Ars Technica interview covering IT consumerization and the shifting boundary between professional and personal technology profiles.
7 Tips for Effective Email
Seven practical tips for effective email communication at work, covering highlighting recipients, avoiding sneaky BCCs, and reply-all etiquette.
Respect and the American Way
Respect must be earned and maintained, not expected or demanded. A reflection on merit-based respect and why age, title, and wealth should not command it.
An All-Nighter at Work Followed by a Terrorism Threat Scare
An all-nighter at Knight Ridder Digital turned dramatic when a terrorism threat at the office led to a downtown San Jose police chase.