Workplace Culture Impact On Career

Here are some interesting findings from a study on gender & creativity showing that stereotypes affect how we assess creativity and whom we deem as being creative. People tend to associate creativity with independence, risk-taking, and self-confidence (stereotypically masculine traits). The question is whether those traits truly lead to what it takes to find creative solutions at work. Researchers Joohyung (Jenny) Kim and team noted that in prior studies on creativity people tend to value novelty over usefulness, although both are needed for an idea to be creative. By over-emphasizing novelty, people tend to see creativity as needing risk taking. And by under-valuing usefulness, people tend to overlook the need for empathy. They also noted that in general, men are rated as more creative than women. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of studies on gender and creativity. They discovered that indeed, men who were deemed as creative tended to score higher in risk taking while creative women, in empathy. While both traits were associated with creativity, empathetic tendency had a higher explanatory factor. Thus, they concluded that “empathy can be a more powerful driver of creativity than risk-taking, especially when the usefulness of ideas is taken into account.” Thus, a stereotypical view of creativity may cause us to undervalue what it truly takes to lead to creative solutions and to inadvertently reinforce gender biases in who is seen as creative. What does this mean for teams? 💡 Rethink evaluations of creativity: When assessing whether a team or individual has contributed creatively, look at both novelty and usefulness. Not only will this lead to better evaluations, but it can also block gender biases that may favor risk-taking men and undervalue women using empathy. 💡 Value both risk-taking and empathy when curating teams tasked with projects requiring creativity. Over-indexing on risk taking may shortchange true creativity Study, “Looking Inside the Black Box of Gender Differences in Creativity: A Dual-Process Model and Meta-Analysis,” was authored by Joohyung (Jenny) Kim), Manuel Vaulont, Zhen Zhang, and Kris Byron and published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Link to the article covering the research in the comments. #creativity #genderbias (Image of four hands folding an origami crane from iStock, source: cienpies)

India just rolled out the biggest workforce reset since Independence. (READ the article for more ionformation in details)

1 in 3 team members admit they’ve stayed silent after spotting a problem. Because speaking up felt riskier. I said that it is a shame when my HR friend mentioned it as feedback from the exit round. And in our pursuit of perfection, we build systems that penalise risk. We teach people to hide. To protect their image, instead of sharing their ideas. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 - They leave places where mistakes are punished harder than silence. Perfection isn’t a standard. It’s a chokehold. It cages creativity. Kills innovation. And creates cultures of high anxiety, not high performance. 🎯 Mistakes aren’t the issue. 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒔. Every time you: ❌ Don’t speak up ❌ Don’t experiment ❌ Don’t admit we missed the mark You trade trust for performance theatre. And theatre doesn’t innovate. ✅ Mistakes are attempts in motion ✅ Owning them builds credibility ✅ Learning in public creates trust ✅ And great teams? They screw up. And talk about it. 🔄 So the real KPI: 💡 How fast can you recover, learn, and try again? 📣 Leaders—this starts with you: → Normalise “I got it wrong.” → Reward honesty over image. → Build cultures where mistakes are data, not drama. Because failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s the compost it grows in. The safest environments are the ones where it’s safe to mess up. What do you think? -------------- I’m Jayant — sharing actionable insights on mental health, growth, and well-being every Mon/Wed/Fri at 5 PM IST. Follow along and tap the 🔔 to stay updated.

Pay attention to how you're treated in the interview process. Because if it’s bad now, it won’t get better later. It might sound obvious, but it needs repeating: the interview process is a two-way street. And when a recruiter is involved? It’s a throuple. I still hear too many stories of hiring processes that are disorganised, disrespectful, or just plain lazy. Here’s the thing: applying for a role isn’t just the employer’s chance to assess you, it’s your chance to assess them. Their commitment to communication, preparation, and respect says a lot about how they treat people once they’re on the inside. And if a recruiter is involved, make sure your prospective employer knows (good or bad) the experience. (1) Communication sets the tone From the first email to the final outcome, how they engage tells you everything you need to know. Clear and timely? That’s a good sign. Ghosting, vague updates, and long delays? Big red flag. Abort. And it’s not just a rare misstep. It’s endemic. To such an extent that companies now exist to benchmark who consistently gets this wrong. (2) The interview is their culture in micro. How you’re treated during the interview often mirrors the company’s culture. Do interviewers show up on time? Are they engaged and prepared? Do they ask thoughtful questions and give you time to respond in kind? If it’s disorganised or impersonal now, it’s probably not going to change once you’re in the door. (3) It's not just courtesy, it's good business. Let’s be clear: returning calls and being respectful shouldn’t be revolutionary. It’s basic decency. But it’s also smart business. Why would someone want to join your team if you can’t be bothered to follow through? (4) It helps you decide. Paying attention to how you’re treated gives you confidence in accepting an offer or walking away. A strong interview experience fosters trust that the company can deliver on its promises. So what should you watch out for? -- Punctuality: Are they prepared and respectful of your time? -- Engagement: Are the questions meaningful or just box-ticking? -- Communication: Are timelines and expectations clear? -- Environment: Does the culture match what’s being sold? -- Feedback: Are you learning something, or just being assessed? An interview isn’t just about being chosen, it’s about choosing well. How they treat you during the process reveals a great deal about how they lead, manage, and support their people. So ask questions. Take note. Trust your gut. Because your time and energy matter too.

Rebuilding Teaching – From Strain to Profession of Choice Australia’s teacher shortage which we have been talking about for decades, isn’t a future threat, it’s here, every school, every week. Great teachers are walking away. Future teachers are looking the other way. And too often, the system shrugs. At the heart of the issue, a profession burdened by overwork, poor support, and a fading reputation. And classroom behaviour that, in too many schools, goes unchecked. Ask a high-performing graduate why they won’t choose teaching, and they’ll tell you plainly - “Why would I sign up for that?” Meanwhile, Finland, a global benchmark in education, shows us a different path. We send experts there to learn, but we rarely listen. ✅ Only the top 10% are admitted into teacher education ✅ All teachers hold a Master’s degree ✅ No standardised testing in basic education ✅ Teachers enjoy trust, autonomy, and public respect ✅ Collaboration, not compliance, drives improvement What can we learn? We won’t fix the shortage with scholarships alone. We need systemic backbone. Here’s where to start - 🔹 Back teachers with consistent behaviour support 🔹 Strip away low-impact admin and busywork 🔹 Mandate proper mentoring and time to collaborate 🔹 Reposition teaching as a career of leadership, not burnout Australia can build a world-class profession. But first, we must stop treating teachers as the last line of defence in a broken system. If you’re a school leader, policymaker, parent, or someone who simply cares, now is the time to speak boldly, not cautiously. Let’s make teaching a profession worth choosing. And one worth staying in. #EducationReform #TeacherShortage #SchoolLeadership #TeacherWellbeing #EducationMatters #PolicyChange #FutureOfEducation #SystemicChange #RebuildingTeaching #LeadershipInEducation

How Music Shapes Business Success Ever walked into a place and instantly felt at ease—or, conversely, wanted to walk right out? Chances are, the music (or lack of it) played a big role. Some days back during a casual conversation with a colleague she mentioned that she didn’t choose a gym because she didn’t like the type of music that they played. That got me thinking on the importance of music in customer experience. One of the best examples of music shaping a brand is Buddha-Bar. In the 90s, this Parisian lounge created an entire experience through sound—a curated mix of chill-out, lounge, and world music. The ambiance was so immersive that Buddha-Bar turned into a global chain, and its music became a standalone product, selling millions of albums. Customers didn’t just visit Buddha-Bar—they lived the brand. Now, let’s look at how other businesses have used music as a strategy: ✅ Retail: Research in U.S. supermarkets in the early 80s found that playing slow music led to a 38% increase in shopping time and a 32% jump in sales. Luxury brands like Burberry use soft jazz and classical music to subtly reinforce their premium positioning. ✅ Gyms: Gold’s Gym optimized playlists based on BPM (beats per minute), leading to a 15% rise in member retention. Music isn’t just entertainment—it’s fuel for performance. ✅ Salons & Spas: A luxury spa chain switched to customized ambient music (nature sounds, soft instrumentals) and saw a 22% rise in customer satisfaction and 10% more repeat visits. The right sound can make relaxation feel even more premium. ✅ Restaurants: Ever noticed how fast-food chains play upbeat music? It’s intentional—it increases table turnover. In contrast, fine-dining spaces slow things down to encourage longer stays and higher spending. Music isn’t just background noise—it’s a tool that influences how long customers stay, how much they spend, and how they feel about your brand. Whether you’re in retail, hospitality, or fitness, the right soundtrack can be a competitive advantage. What’s a place where the music really stood out to you—good or bad? PS: Buddha-Bar, Gold’s Gym and even McDonald’s have their own playlists on Spotify, if you’d like to sample them. #brandstrategy #branding #sensorybranding

Very interesting inputs to understand how music plays a great role in relaxing the stress level : Music serves as a powerful tool for stress relief through various mechanisms that affect both the mind and body. Physiological Effects Cortisol Reduction: Listening to music has been shown to lower cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress. Research indicates that music can reduce cortisol by up to 61%. Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Music can lead to decreased heart rates and lower blood pressure, contributing to a more relaxed state . 2. Emotional Regulation Dopamine Release: Engaging with music stimulates the release of dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, which enhances feelings of happiness and relaxation. Mood Enhancement: Upbeat and positive music can elevate mood and foster optimism, while slower tempos help calm the mind and relax muscles. 3. Cognitive Engagement Distraction from Stressors: Music provides a mental escape from stress-inducing thoughts, allowing individuals to focus on something enjoyable instead  Alpha Brainwave Synchronization: Listening to music at around 60 beats per minute can synchronize brain activity with alpha waves, which are associated with relaxation and a calm state of consciousness. 4. Social Connection Group Music Activities: Participating in group music activities can foster feelings of togetherness and bonding, which are beneficial for emotional support and stress relief. The release of endorphins and oxytocin during these activities enhances feelings of connection. 5. Therapeutic Applications Music Therapy: Structured music therapy sessions have been shown to provide additional benefits in managing stress, anxiety, and depression compared to standard therapeutic approaches alone. Activities such as playing instruments or singing can further enhance these effects. 6. Accessibility Music is easily accessible and can be incorporated into daily routines without significant cost or effort. Creating personalized playlists with calming or uplifting songs allows individuals to tailor their listening experience to their specific needs for stress relief.

In 1974, Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M, created an adhesive that didn’t really stick. It was weak. Temporary. Basically useless for what he was trying to build. Some inventions come from genius, others… from failure, shared openly in the right culture. Take the humble Post-it Note. It started with a failed experiment. But here’s where it gets interesting: 3M didn’t toss it. They didn’t say, “Come back when it’s successful.” They encouraged Spencer to share it. To talk about his “failed” glue at internal seminars. To put it out there, without judgment, without agenda.  Because at 3M, ideas are shared. Failures are not buried. They’re explored. Years later, a colleague, Art Fry, frustrated that his paper bookmarks kept falling out of his choir hymnal, remembered Spencer’s odd little adhesive. He tried applying it to scraps of paper. That “failed” glue became the Post-it Note. The Post-it was a product of cultural design. A culture that: ✔️ Encouraged curiosity over control ✔️ Treated failure as information, not incompetence ✔️ Valued people enough to let them think beyond their job description Most companies say “we value innovation.” But innovation isn’t something you say. It’s something your culture either allows or suffocates. As a coach, I tell leaders this all the time: You don’t need more ideas, you need a place where people feel safe to share the ones they already have. Because what if your next breakthrough is sitting silently in someone’s “failed” folder?

📢 The Global Status of Teachers 2024 is out! This latest research by Education International provides a deep dive into the realities of the teaching profession worldwide. It highlights critical challenges and opportunities for education systems, workforce sustainability, and teacher well-being. 🎯 Here are the key takeaways: 📉 Global Teacher Shortages 🔹 Severe shortages, especially in STEM, IT, and special education. 🔹 Low salaries, heavy workloads, and poor career prospects fuel attrition. 🔹 Governments must act on retention strategies, not just recruitment. 💼 Vocational Education & Skills Development 🔹 TVET and technical fields face acute teacher shortages, despite growing demand. 🔹 Urgent need for targeted recruitment and upskilling of VET educators. 🔹 Aligning VET with AI and digital skills is crucial for future workforce readiness. ⚖️ Teacher Rights & Social Dialogue 🔹 Political, legal, and workplace discrimination hinder teachers' autonomy. 🔹 Social dialogue and union engagement improve teacher retention and student outcomes. 📢 Professional Status & Working Conditions 🔹 Teaching remains undervalued in many countries, affecting recruitment and morale. 🔹 High-status professions retain talent—education must follow suit. 🔹 More investment in teacher training, fair pay, and leadership development is essential. 🌍 Education for Equity & the Public Good 🔹 Underfunded education systems and privatization threaten equal access. 🔹 Governments must prioritize equitable resource distribution. 📌 The report is clear: Sustainable, high-quality education depends on empowered, well-supported teachers. Investing in the teaching profession is an investment in our collective future. Let’s act! #TeachersMatter #EducationForAll #VET #SkillsForTheFuture #EdPolicy EfVET European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) European Vocational Training Association - EVTA eucen EURASHE EU Employment & Skills Cedefop European Training Foundation CES - ETUC Agnes Roman Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação SEPIE - Servicio Español para la Internacionalización de la Educación WorldSkills International World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) ANESPO - Associação Nacional de Escolas Profissionais ENAIP Veneto Euro App Mobility IVETA Global - International Vocational Education and Training Association

Is teaching a profession of purpose — or the last stop when everything else fails? That’s the uncomfortable question I’ve been sitting with. A principal told me this on a recent call: “We’re getting applications from people who’ve never dreamt of being teachers — just jobseekers who’ve run out of options.” And it shows. Yes — there are still extraordinary teachers out there. The kind who show up with full hearts. Who treat every lesson like it could change a life. Who are, without exaggeration, keeping the system from collapse. But increasingly, there’s a different kind of entry into the profession: One driven not by passion — but by convenience. Less competition. Shorter hours. Stability. And often… no other options. And that has consequences. Not just for students. But for the teachers who do care. They’re the ones who burn out faster, who end up doing double the emotional labor, who quietly leave when they no longer feel surrounded by purpose. Globally, data shows us two parallel tracks: ✅ In higher-income countries: teaching is still seen as a calling. ⚠️ In many underserved contexts: it’s a fallback plan — a career people “settle” into. And here’s the cost of that duality: We start treating teaching as a job anyone can do — and not the high-skill, high-impact, emotionally complex profession it actually is. That creates a false economy. Because when schools hire the cheapest, most available, least committed candidates — the good teachers either leave… or lose hope. The system doesn’t collapse overnight. It erodes, silently. No, we don’t need perfection. But we do need intention. Because a student can always tell the difference between someone who’s teaching to live — and someone who’s living to teach. And right now, that difference is growing. 🔁 Have you seen this silent shift in your school or system? 📩 If you care about reimagining education from the inside out, subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ervfPNRX #Education #Teachers #HiringCrisis #EdReform #Schools #Leadership #EdEquity