The Science of Serendipity in the Workplace To Encourage Interaction and Innovation, Companies Try Smaller Spaces, Games; Trivia Helps Break Awkward Silences By RACHEL EMMA SILVERMAN Companies aren’t leaving serendipity to chance. Firms are thinking up new ways to encourage interactions among employees who normally don’t work with each other. The hope is that these casual face-to-face chats among people with different skills might spark new ideas, lead to new solutions or at the least, increase workplace camaraderie. To make those connections happen, some firms are taking a scientific approach—collecting and analyzing data about their teams and mathematically computing the Read the rest of this entry »

I talk to clients about how they’re saying what they’re saying all the time. Our tone and style of speaking communicates more than we may be aware of.  Are you sure you’re saying what you want to be saying? Is This How You Really Talk? Your Voice Affects Others’ Perceptions; Silencing the Screech in the Next Cubicle By SUE SHELLENBARGER It is hard to hear the sound of your own voice. But that sound may affect other people’s impressions of you even more than what you say. A strong, smooth voice can enhance your chances of rising to CEO. And Read the rest of this entry »

Workers Share Their Salary Secrets Office Taboo Fades as Younger Staffers Openly Compare Pay; Wanting to Know ‘Have I Settled?’ By LAUREN WEBER and RACHEL EMMA SILVERMAN At Brian Bader’s orientation for a tech-support job with Apple Inc. three years ago, he says, human-resources managers ran down the list of guidelines workers were expected to follow. Don’t use explicit language on calls with customers. Treat other employees with respect. And, he says, they told the assembled recruits, don’t discuss your pay with co-workers. That last requirement backfired. “It just made me more curious,” said Mr. Bader, 25 years old, who Read the rest of this entry »