Karen’s Articles
What’s Going Right May Disappear
In organizations, we tend to focus on what is going wrong instead of what is going right. When we fail to pay attention to what's going well, it can evaporate quickly. -- Karen Snyder For more of Karen's workplace wisdom, check out her book Eating Worms:...
She Gave Me More Than My Wallet
On April 28, 2018, I was driving home from a speaking engagement with the Training Officers Consortium. I spoke on how to resolve conflict in the workplace and then I packed up my bags and started driving. It was pouring; not one of those gentle spring rains, but a...
Commit to a Complaint-Free Day
"Complaining about a problem without posing a solution is called whining." -- Theodore Roosevelt Research shows that habitual complaining affects us mentally, emotionally, and physically. Complaints are negative by nature and expressing that negativity generally...
Do You Know What Eudaimonia Means?
Returning to the office is good for you! In the fall of 2021, I was invited to attend and present at a meeting with a client. I had been working with the employees of this organization for 8 years. We had been through the pandemic together for the preceding 18...
Policies Will Never Hide True Philosophies
I have respected my colleague Joe Mull ever since I met him. I follow his blog and this weekend he alerted his readers to this article from Inc. magazine. It discusses an executive’s email that garnered a wider than expected distribution, and the resulting fallout...
How Do You Handle Hillbillies in the Workplace?
In order to create a respectful and inclusive culture, organizations need to provide regular diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. But once you have had that basic training, how can you mix it up and make it relevant year after year? At Concordia...
Should I Brush My Teeth?
This morning I was thinking, “How can I stand here in this warm and lovely bathroom brushing my teeth while bombs are exploding on the the other side of the Atlantic?” I often watch TV news at night. In the morning, I read the top stories online. At midday I...
Just Give Me a Smirk
Occasionally, someone I work with tells me that I am funny. That’s music to my ears, but truly, I know I am not a comedic genius. I just try for the “give me a smirk,” or if you are under the age of 30, perhaps an eye roll in disbelief of how corny my joke was. My...
Should Your Business Be Named Meraki?
On a recent business trip to Las Vegas, our group decided to go off the beaten path and try a well-reviewed Greek restaurant. Since we were over-ordering, rather than allowing us to make a mistake, the waitress asked us how hungry we were. We adjusted our order....
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