Helping others makes you happy. A number of studies have shown the positive impact of supporting others - not only on those who received the support but more markedly on those who offered help. Shouldn't that mean that people in support have a happiness advantage? Helping other people is part of the job description, after … Continue reading If your support staff isn’t happy, you are doing something wrong
Category: quality
How to reduce stress in the long run
Very often we get trapped between urgent tasks and looming dead lines, without being able to concentrate duly on one task only. And with so much stress, creativity and motivation are the first to die. However, there is a simple trick how you can get out of this daily rat race, by remembering Parkinson's Law, … Continue reading How to reduce stress in the long run
Going minimalist
I am not particularly religious even though I have been raised by highly religious parents. However, this year I am doing my own version of "7 weeks without xxx" which many Christians do between carnival and Easter Sunday. Basically you pick one thing you think you can't live without and stop it during this time … Continue reading Going minimalist
Put it into perspective
Sometimes, a little more perspective helps to do the right thing. A little more knowledge about how things are interconnected. They should teach it in school, to see the big picture. For example: People in my neighborhood are upset about the amount of dog excrements on the sidewalk. They have dogs themselves and do not … Continue reading Put it into perspective
How much education is too much?
I am absolutely addicted to absorbing new knowledge. I love studying. I love learning about new ideas from other to include them into my own musings (with or without footnotes. I already have a M.Sc. in European Studies and just finished a Master in Quality Management. Which means I am currently not studying (officially) at … Continue reading How much education is too much?
Cultural stereotypes as assets: structure
[This post is part of the series on navigating stereotypes that are ascribed to me because of my nationality.] In Spain they call German people “cabezas cuadradas” which means approximately “square head”. We are seen as taking everything serious and being very structured both in our way of thinking and in organizing stuff. Maybe, maybe … Continue reading Cultural stereotypes as assets: structure
The beauty of clear and plain language
I have said before, that for me language is merely a tool for communication. Switching between many languages daily, I have accepted that they are a means to get my thoughts across without worrying excessively about minor grammar mistakes. As with most of my colleagues I am speaking in a language not our own, I … Continue reading The beauty of clear and plain language
