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WorkTies
The science of relationships at work
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As it turns out, we miss small talk
It is critical that organizations integrate opportunities for casual interaction into their remote working ecosystem.
Jessica Methot
3 min read


High Quality Connections in an Anti-Racist Reckoning
guest post authored by Emily Heaphy I am a White person who has been learning about and working to be anti-racist for about 25 years. I...
Kevin Rockmann
7 min read


Finding a place where everyone knows your name
Often, we think of beloved places as geographical locations—a city we grew up in, a café we frequent, maybe even somewhere we work. But,...
Bess
4 min read
Owner / Player or King / Servant?
I was struck in listening to the new 30 for 30 podcast series on the horrible racism of Donald Sterling the contrast between his...
Kevin Rockmann
1 min read

I love Trader Joe's
A lot of what is so great about Trader Joe's comes from the fact that the company wants the creation of HQCs a central part of its...
Kevin Rockmann
1 min read


You Share Brainwaves with Your Best Friend
Recent research using fMRI to scan subjects’ brains while watching short videos show that the brains of close friends respond similarly.
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1 min read


Make Mattering Matter!
Chris Peterson , my wonderful former U of Michigan colleague was known for his phrase “other people matter.” Psychologists studying...
Jane Dutton
2 min read


High-Quality mentoring: A rough around the edges approach
If you were to ask me to describe a “good” mentor, or one that engages in high-quality mentoring relationships, the words “warm”,...
Bess
3 min read
I'm out of here...Turnover intentions and Work Friends
We often think when people are going leave an organization, they might burn their bridges and break all of their social ties. A recent...
Alexandra Gerbasi
1 min read


You Made My Day! Exchanges of Gratitude at Work
A few weeks back, upon picking up my first-grader son from his after school program, he shared a story with me: while playing outside, he...
Beth Humberd
2 min read
Keep those feelings to yourself?
I just came across this article about how to sound more emotionally intelligent. I was struck by the emphasis on suppressing most...
John Paul Stephens
1 min read


How will my relationships change in retirement?
As in any major life transition—taking your first job, getting married, making career changes—the decision to retire involves major...
Kathy E. Kram
3 min read


After the Fall
I was inspired after reading a climbing story - "After the Fall" - in the most recent Patagonia catalog (yes, an unexpected place for...
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2 min read


When and how should managers enable creative pairs at work?
“Jeff and Sanjay…seem to be two halves of a single mind.” In organizations, it is not uncommon to find two people who enjoy working...
Bess
2 min read


Do you want to "find" your calling?
During the dark winter mornings at this time of year, you might think that if only you could “find” your true calling, heading out to...
Shasa Dobrow Riza
2 min read

Experiencing Trauma Together
I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day about what drives high quality relationships in her workplace. She is a nurse and...
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2 min read


Creating a Culture of Companionate Love
What can individual contributors do to create a culture of companionate love —comprised of affection, caring, compassion, fondness, and...
Mandy O'Neill
3 min read

The Mixed Blessing of Work Friends
Our social networks are critical for success. We are embedded in webs of relationships that provide access to information, feedback,...
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3 min read


Shared Courage: When friends go off the cliff with you
Yesterday, I was skiing with friends, all parents of children in the same ski program, and I wanted to try a new trail. My daughter had...
Wendy Murphy
2 min read


What do we get from workplace relationships? The opportunity to give
Think about your best workplace relationship. What is this relationship like? What would life at work be like without this person? My...
Amy Colbert
2 min read
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