Sacred Perception of the human element at work

A colleague lost her job recently. She was told that she didn’t play well with others at work and that her attitude was a bit curt. I was her first phone call. After a long deep discussion, she admitted that she wore her dissatisfaction with her job on her sleeve. In fact, the perception of her superiors was that she was unhappy and didn’t appreciate her job or fellow workers.

Are You a People Person?

This scenario had been coming for a while due to frustration. Not just the job switch, but the attitude check. She’s not really a “people person” per se. And in today’s job climate, that’s a problem, because more and more companies are seeking that type of sensitivity in their so-called “human capital.”  The “human component;”  engaging and embracing creative employees, might just be driving innovation. For more on this, head to today’s Wall Street Journal for  JC Spender and Bruce Strongs article: Who has Innovative Ideas? Employees.

Considering our work life balance as we master the art of living

Well over 20 years ago I met an intuitive named Jeffrey Wands. He opened up a new world to me in many ways. I was certainly on a path of self exploration, but he challenged me to go deeper into my intuition. To trust, have more faith in myself and believe in the power of hope. We’ve been friends ever since.

So when he asked me to contribute a chapter to his latest book published by Simon and Schuster’s Atria division, Knock and the Door Will Open: 6 Keys to Mastering the Art of Living, I was more than happy to participate.

Fashion industry’s work life merge can get complicated with diversity, competition and workplace atmosphere

We’ve all heard the stories of the model elite who might have only gulped a Pepsi and a carrot in between shoots for days at a time and the resulting burnout, but what we don’t hear about is the work life balance, or lack there of for those working behind the runway. I’m sure this story is not the norm, but it makes you wonder about how much time we spend working in situations that shun exalting the human experience in the workplace.

I recently spoke with an executive assistant who works for an iconic global fashion company which will go unnamed as my source wants to hang onto the job situation for now despite a tough working environment.

The work life balance policy debate: Revolution, Evolution or Movement?

While my work life cohorts were dishing out some pretty intense discussion at BlogHer this past weekend at the Screw Work/Life Balance, We Need Work/Life Policy session, I followed the conversation on twitter, poolside. Frustrated that I was unable to attend, I was still moved by the passionate debate provided by my twitter-stream view thanks to Stephanie Wilchfort @TheMamaBee, Morra Aarons-Mele @Morraam and hashtag #goodwork. (check out their blogs for more on the session) It got me thinking. I am not one for regrets, but missing this event got me agitated and sent me into a mode of contemplation.

Work Life Policy: Pipedream or Practical?

In a tony Connecticut suburb, at the home of work life expert Chrysula Winegar of WLBConsultants.com, the mom of four wrangles with a kitchen full of her tiny tots all under the age of six years old. Enter, Judy Martin with a rolling camera from WorkLife Nation, and you’ve got a hysterical scene of joy and colliding interests as Ms. Winegar lovingly holds a toddler, feeds an infant and helps her eldest with her homework.

What you don’t see is what happens after the little ones are put to bed when this supermom, who works from home,  hits her blog, posts on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and delivers her views on work life policy in America. This scene is not unusual. It’s played every day throughout America and the world. But the way working moms are treated in the workplace and in business differ greatly from country to country.

5 Tips for when the rubber hits the road in our work life balance

A series of events have kept me somewhat off the grid in the last two weeks. There was the completion of an NPR story, double duty at the TV station, the release of a book in which I wrote a chapter and the negotiation of a business deal which is changing my life. But everything was somehow put on the side burner (notice how I didn’t say back burner) with a new arrival. Skylar Blake.

What really took me off the grid is this little girl. I’m officially a new auntie.  You can read about this beautiful child’s unusual trip from the heavens into the arms of my sister in her post: On Nonhuman Animals and Human Babies.