How Backcountry’s Support Reps Go the Extra Mile — And Get Invited to Their Customers’ Weddings
Imagine an online shopping experience where you aren’t left to sift through thousands of products on your own, but rather are personally guided by an incredibly thoughtful customer service rep who anticipates your every need. She connects with you in an unbelievably authentic way, forging a real connection and leaving such a strong impression that years later, she’s on the invite list — for your wedding ...
Cold Showers Lead to Fewer Sick Days
Geert A. Buijze and his colleagues asked 3,000 volunteers in the Netherlands to finish their morning showers with a 30-, 60-, or 90-second blast of cold water, or to shower as they usually did, for 30 consecutive days. Then the researchers looked at the work attendance records of the same people over that period. On average, in all the groups that doused themselves with cold water, people were absent 29% fewer days than people in the control group. The researchers’ conclusion: Cold showers lead to fewer sick days.
Why Agile Goes Awry — and How to Fix It
In the spirit of becoming more adaptive, organizations have rushed to implement Agile software development. But many have done so in a way that actually makes them less agile. These companies have become agile in name only, as the process they’ve put in place often ends up hurting engineering motivation and productivity.
The 6 Fundamental Skills Every Leader Should Practice
There’s an old story about a tourist who asks a New Yorker how to get to the storied concert venue Carnegie Hall and is told, “Practice, practice, practice.” Obviously, this is good advice if you want to become a world-class performer — but it’s also good advice if you want to become a top-notch leader.