If These Heels Could Talk

Good afternoon, good evening, and good night.  Thank you for listening and watch for what's next!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPAgxg6NQWk

Michelle and JoyGenea talk with JoDee Schumer spirit guide and artist about her newest business venture. JoDee shares what she has learned about the importance of art in the healing process and how she now helps people and mentors people to find their own path and expression and include their connection to spirit in the process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmG22bO45A

Michelle and JoyGenea talk with LeAnn Riley, a National Coach/trainer of Real Estate Investing Made SIMPLE. LeAnn shares her insights on how people's financial baggage can get in the way of getting into real estate investing. She also highlights the importance of using trusted experts when it comes to real estate. The market is changing more than ever and having access to the right people at the right time can make all the difference in success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54hMfP5NWl4

“Something wicked this way comes…” Well, not really wicked, but maybe a bit. Northern Wisconsin is getting a new quilt shop! Seams Like Quilting opens in early June, 2023. A joint venture between Michelle and her mom, Vicki Lyons, Seams Like Quilting will be a curated collection of designer fabrics from a variety of lesser known manufacturers, offering customers some options that are unique to the area. Visit us at seamslikequilting.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us42TdyrPqY

Lately, customers have been responding to frustration with businesses by lashing out at the employees they are face to face with, while many businesses have been falling short of their promises to customers. A great example of this cycle is the Southwest Airlines fiasco of this past winter, which left customers without the support they were owed. Many customers wanted to retaliate and took it out on the service workers in the airports who had no control over the systemic failures of Southwest. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea look at the many sides of this issue. What do customers owe service workers and what do companies owe their customers? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8xNWlsEE6o  

Commitment isn't anything to fear. In fact, it's essential to gain fulfillment from any activity. And if you're not really committed, it might be time to think to yourself: “If I'm not really ‘in,' maybe I should be out.” Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about clearing their calendars of those things that no longer serve the original or even a new purpose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_1Vo3pz-V4

A dangerous hoax from China? Or an innocuous way to spend an hour a day? That's the question the United States Congress is attempting to answer about TikTok. What they will discover is that neither scenario is true. Like all other private companies who run social media platforms, TikTok requires personal data collection to operate. And, like all other privately-owned social media platforms, TikTok saves some of that data without transparency or public reporting.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss the ins and outs of the TikTok debate.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJtco7CwkTY

What happens when partners are at a different stage? Life partners, business partners - when two people are facing circumstances that require they move at different paces, it puts stress on their living or working relationship.  JoyGenea opens up about personal changes that require partners accommodate - and the challenges that come with accommodation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6z86AcJTWY

Tractor Wars by Neil Dahlstrom is a book about the disruption of an industry and the start (and end) of hundreds of American companies. The birth of mechanized farming was not a fast, easy, or simple one and had huge numbers of heavy hitters at the heart of the change. Working from John Deere company archives, the author describes an industry struggling to get a toehold with their target audience in farmers. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss the business lessons they learned from Tractor Wars.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjbSdjFOp78

It can feel like recycling. It can feel like you're repeating your message over and over and over again. And you are. Content Marketing is about getting your message to different audiences through different channels. And your message needs to stay cohesive, strategic, and highlight your unique selling propositions.  In essence, taking a large-form content piece, like a case study or whitepaper, breaking it into smaller concepts and adjusting the format of those ideas for digital channels is content marketing. But something is easier defined than done. How can you building content marketing into your everyday processes? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhU3hthMwqA

Some people prefer the roller coaster - dramatic ups and downs, twists and turns, high speed change. Some people prefer the merry go round - stable, predictable, measured regularity. Nothing inherently right or wrong with either. But some people love one and are terrified with the other. For those who love the roller coaster, there's nothing more boring than the merry go round. For those who love the merry go round, there's nothing more anxious than the roller coaster. So how can you get these two people on the same page at work? On a team, working together? Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss tactics and techniques to help people honor each other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70goMkN6efU

Coming soon to a Meta near you: paid identity verification. There are not many details available yet, but how the rollout works in Australia and New Zealand might determine quite a few open questions, like whether or not verification will be required to run a business or organization page. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about Meta's latest announcement for verified accounts. https://youtube.com/live/BeCdPaSaKfI

How can you possibly work while you're on vacation? From your family or friends pressuring you to ‘relax' and ‘let go,' to all the unexpected challenges of travel to the basic desire to do fun things while you're out of town, working remotely on the go is certainly challenging.  JoyGenea's current trip isn't a vacation. Resetting her mind to working on the road is helping her to keep her business running while visiting other locations. And, helps to ensure her time off is really time off.  It's incredibly difficult for small business owners to ‘get away.' If only because our businesses need our daily or weekly attention to run smoothly. And the workload just waits for us when we get home. Listen in today to hear about another way to think about traveling while owning a small business. You really can work, live, and play mindfully and thoughtfully by thinking about your time and location a little differently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf41dElZ6uQ

How can a business leader work toward consensus? Is it the same as compromise? Can everyone walk away reasonably happy from a consensus-building conversation? And what does that series of conversations look like? It starts with trust and continues with listening. Those who feel entitled to loyalty struggle to build consensus, largely because they don't try. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about the consequences of not building consensus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW1lbjPWwts

You had literally one job. We all love these memes online that show something simple going wrong, like a manhole cover with pain misaligned from the road or a fast food counter covered in chocolate milkshake from a spill. It should have been easy - it's just one job. Is messing it up incompetence?  What if it's not so benign - like the mechanic who thinks that knocking sound might be the super expensive thing when it turns out there's an acorn in the engine. Or something. Is the mechanic taking advantage of the consumer to suggest investigating both? Truth is, when we're on the receiving end of somebody's work not going correctly, it doesn't really matter. What matters is our response. Because in most situations, there's only so much we can control. And our response, as a consumer or coworker, is what turns a simple mistake into something that impacts our day and our relationships.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea ask the question. And discuss whether or not the answer even matters.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoxRAQH2sFY

Resolutions aren't for everyone. In fact, they're a huge boon to JoyGenea and absolutely crippling for Michelle. But that doesn't mean Michelle doesn't set goals or intentions for the coming new year.  Having a theme for the next year is a way to clarify your thinking, articulate your priorities, and help you make decisions that align with your overall goals in an ever-changing, dynamic environment. Listen in for JoyGenea and Michelle's themes for 2023.  https://youtube.com/live/Hcj8Jpkk9As

Elizabeth Holmes, former CEO and founder of Theranos, was convicted and sentenced for fraud in late 2022. Bad Blood is a story of innovation, narcissism, denial, leadership, self-delusion, and a quest for truth.  In 2023, JoyGenea and Michelle will be reading more and sharing their conversations and thoughts on If These Heels. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Start-Up by John Carreyrou is our first installation. https://youtu.be/seGGVu5wvf0

Fear and perfectionism seem to stop quite a few essential conversations. One of them is a routine callout of implicit bias in a professional and non-emotionally charged way. A simple, “hey, that's not cool” can elicit defensiveness, fear, and even aggression. So much so that many avoid the callout in the first place. Which, of course, breeds mistrust. So how do we break this cycle and start to find safe and effective ways to callout biases, react professionally, and move forward together in clarity and with accountability? By doing just that. With the help of a purple flag. Or something like it. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss an idea brought forward in a TED talk and how it might apply to all our workspaces. Purple Flag Video https://youtu.be/VEP7_BeXH64 https://youtu.be/-mgupnPA6g4

Whenever plans go sideways, it can cause all kinds of problems, both practical and not-so-practical. A plumbing disaster in the work bathroom is all kinds of disruptive. And maddening - because now your day is about toilets instead of work. Listen is as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about just how to adjust when best laid plans go awry - in real time.

Special Guest Interview with Tammy Stafford from JKA Law Firm. Michelle and JoyGenea talk with her about how she became a lawyer, what keeps her loving being an attorney and what she sees in the future of family law.  Tammy is an advocate for domestically abused individuals and adoptions. She shares with us about shifting from starting and owning her own firm to joining JKA Law Firm, an all-woman attorney firm. Don't miss out on this chance to learn more about the legal system and a little really good advice. There is also a surprise about what shoe she loves. Company websiteLinked In

How do you measure success? In a super-driven environment, measurable results are often discussed as if every initiative needs to ‘pay off' individually. Otherwise they're not worth doing. But the totality of many efforts combines to deliver measurable results in the end.  When we sub-divide a process so much, we can lose meaning and measurability along the way. In marketing, we talk about an omnichannel approach, where multiple brand touch points add up across platforms to create awareness, sales, and, ultimately, brand loyalty. But when we start to try to measure each brand touch point against each other, we can lose sight of the importance of each.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about initiatives that are more than the sum of their parts.  https://youtu.be/3WMJNpf3inQ

Ah, the dreaded holiday interaction with a long-distance, sometimes well-meaning, relation who doesn't understand boundaries. Which aunt or uncle or great-grand-something will comment on your holiday sweater being a little tighter this year? Or ask if you've finally started dating again? Or how that embarrassing surgery went? Who will ask the most awkward and inappropriate question?  Nice, Spice, and Ice could be your answer. You can't control others asking odd questions or commenting on your food choices. But you can control your response. You can choose to be nice (We don't use that word anymore, Aunt Sharon), be spice (Thanks for telling me my sweater's too tight. Did you know that Frank isn't your real father?), or be ice (Rude.) Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle talk about these options and a real sense of taking back the power at large social gatherings.  https://youtu.be/FFuKNIh3Hn0

When we feel the pressure to say yes, where does it come from? Social pressures, business pressures, family pressures - how much are we adding the pressures for ourselves and how much is coming from external sources? A complicated question but even more complicated answers from Michelle and JoyGenea. Listen in as they discuss the pressures they feel to say yes and the inevitable fallout from following the same social scripts over and over again. https://youtu.be/1aLctI_XoO4

The sunk cost fallacy is a common belief that we should continue on the same course of action because it has already cost us so much. The faulty logic seems to make sense - we've already bet so much on this poker hand that we may as well see it through.  But the fallacy is that we cannot win our way out of a mistake. Once it becomes obvious that it's the wrong thing to do, whatever IT is, the only way to win is to stop playing. In business, this is especially true. There comes a point when your previous decisions or your current course of action is no longer the best way forward. Sometimes it's early in a process. And sometimes it's not. And it's way better to recognize you're on a losing course and step out early. Sunk cost isn't just about money. It's about time, emotional energy, physical space - JoyGenea and Michelle discuss all the ways our decisions can continue to cost us over time. https://youtu.be/lZQAkOuRWaU

“Congratulations!” “Thanks, it's really not that big of a deal.” If you have ever found yourself in this conversation, it can be a difficult one to navigate. Where's the line between proud and bragging? Between humble and self-effacing? Does it really depend on who we're talking to or more on who we are? When do we get to feel proud of ourselves without complication, regret, guilt, or shame? JoyGenea and Michelle talk about standing in our accomplishments kindly, while also acknowledging the accomplishments of others proudly. We can support and celebrate each other and ourselves. https://youtu.be/2oe-gIRE2rw

It's late and you're tired. You're doom scrolling through social media, a newsfeed, or YouTube and see it: the clickbait to end all clickbait. Maybe it's 16 tips to shrink your thighs or 42 reasons a celebrity sucks or 15 ways to save money on car insurance. But it's bait. And you fall for it, hook, line and sinker.  And then you wait for what feels like 15 minutes for all the ads to load and you know you've made a grave mistake.  So much of the internet is what we make it now with our behavior. And it isn't our thoughtful, frontal cortex behavior, it's our lizard brain behavior. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about the challenges presented by clickbait and the self-fulfilling prophecy that is the internet. https://youtu.be/dTGiLo5Z4xA

What is a Cat Nap day? It's a day of concentration, a day of focus, and a planned day of rest for those who want or need one.  To maintain high expectations but also help those who have high expectations of themselves, planned release valves are important. And it means that leadership is showing everyone the importance of rest. Once a month, for the last 4 months, a Cat Nap day is scheduled. As we get into 2023, we're thinking about naming 2 a month, they're that popular.  Culture is what we make it. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about this very specific move that is helping to create the culture Michelle wants to work in every day. https://youtu.be/13-_ETFStR4

Wouldn't life be so much better if we could just say what we meant? Especially when a well-meaning, lovely person in our lives offers us ideas that would be solutions to them but create more issues for us.  We get to say no thank you. We get to state preferences. AND we all get to have different preferences and experiences. JoyGenea finds inspiration and centeredness in her outdoor adventures and seeks time outside. Michelle finds mosquito bites and sunburn in her outdoor adventures and avoids time outside. Michelle enjoys coffee and the occasional adult beverage and JoyGenea avoids caffeine and alcohol of all kinds.  And there's nothing wrong with either. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about the scripts that keep us from getting closer, the reasons we feel like we can't be honest with acquaintances, and how horrible camping can be (can you tell Michelle wrote this?). https://youtu.be/k-eBeEWOP58

Business partnership is like any other partnership and can be betrayed. The human response to betrayal is hurt, anger, pain - so why do we pretend otherwise? Why do we pretend, ‘it's just business?'  So what happens when company leadership lets their humanity show? Check out the Try Guys' recent PR master class in brand apologies and how to respond to betrayal. There have been all kinds of reactions and opinions about the entire story of one of the original Try Guys being, in essence, fired for having a consensual relationship with an employee outside of his marriage.  In contrast to more corporate, cold, non-apology ‘apologies,' the way this incident has been handled was forthcoming, transparent, and authentic to the influencer brand. Instead of assuming that it wouldn't be part of the brand moving forward, the Try Guys are openly acknowledging that their brand is changed by it. As are they as individuals.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss business betrayal and the aftermath. Try Guy Video https://youtu.be/t6fIp7mMJ90 https://youtu.be/0iuIMVrSnqE

Nobody wants to think about the end of something at the beginning. That beginning excited feeling can be a little lessened by a single, fundamental truth: Everything that starts also ends.  It's rare for entrepreneurs to think about the end of their business at the beginning. We're so consumed with growing and next steps that it is hard to remember what we're growing toward. Maybe you want to pass your business to your kids. Maybe you want to sell after 10 years. Maybe you want to grow a successor from your team. But you might not have given any of those paths serious thoughts because they are all ‘someday.'   If you're lucky enough to choose your business's end (or your end in your business), there are a few elements to keep in mind along the way that can make your business significantly more valuable. And they're not easy to create once you've decided to end the journey - they're much more powerful along the way.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss three key ways to make your business more valuable: Audited financials, Diversified revenue, and written standard operating procedures.  https://youtu.be/QEcgO9uUkJU

Welcome Brenda Eisenschenk! With a long history of client services and a specialty in telecommunications, Brenda and her team at InteleCONNECT have cultivated a huge local presence. Even more impressive when you consider the team's small size. Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle talk business, family, and stature with Brenda. And learn why Brenda's top strength is Woo! https://youtu.be/i18TF0Z_QK0

You decided to make a change. And you're happy with the direction you're headed. But there's this time in between, when you're actively moving toward something else but have to hang on to what was in transition.  Don't believe us? Just think about what happens when someone decides to grow out their bangs. There are 2-3 awkward hair months in between bangs and no bangs. And we do the best we can during that time, but there's no rushing the process. Hair just needs time to grow.  And so do changes and transitions in your business. We're all anxious for sweeping change to just happen, but the path toward a new structure, process, or vision is rarely smooth and rarely comfortable for everyone. Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle discuss awkward transitions. https://youtu.be/VB4QENIGKCk

How many times do you have to get blocked on Bumble before you realize it's a you problem? That's the question the ‘single, lonely men' need to be asking themselves these days. Not, why do women have such high expectations, but why can't I do more than the bare minimum of not actively harassing women.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss the Psychology Today article taking TikTok by storm. And taking an entire generation of men to YouTube to search ‘emotional availability.' https://youtu.be/22hTp_9PVFU

For some people, getting permission from others feels necessary in order to take action. Sometimes the most important person we need to get permission from is ourselves. In this podcast, Michelle and JoyGenea explore all of the different ways that we grant ourselves permission or hold ourselves back by not granting permission. They also explore ways that micromanaging and waiting for permission can limit people from being great employees.

Quiet quitting is on everyone's minds at the moment. But not only is it not a new concept, there have been many names over the years - work to rule, blue flu, even malicious compliance.  There are some assumptions in such an emotionally charged phrase. Namely, that there is no resolution to an inherent conflict between an employer and employees. Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss this conflict, how to avoid it, how to see it early, and how to solve it. Out loud. https://youtu.be/-JGDl6zM4AM

Old hat? New ideas? When does experience become stagnation? When does comfort stop progress? These are the questions JoyGenea and Michelle are asking in this episode of If These Heels Could Talk. In business, often we get comfortable with the status quo. Even if the status quo has pain points. Our change threshold is often higher than minor annoyances. But minor annoyances add up. And they're felt differently by different people. Something that may be a minor annoyance to a leader could be a reason for an excellent employee to leave. Checking the leadership privilege and questioning the status quo is about inviting challenge - and seeing if current solutions stand up to that challenge.

Does your to do list leave you feeling accomplished or anxious? For JoyGenea, a to do list is a must. Her rolling to do lists are detailed and break large tasks down into smaller tasks that feel more immediate and manageable. For Michelle, a to do list is simply another way to fail and creates immense anxiety. Which one is better? Neither - organization systems are only as good as a person's ability and willingness to use them. And our abilities and willingness changes over time. The quest for a ‘perfect' organization system that works for every one in every situation is a waste of time. And so is helpful organization advice between Michelle and JoyGenea. As they discover in this episode. https://youtu.be/XGs2qb4BJ9o

You've heard of fight, flight, or freeze. You also may have realized that you have a harder time problem solving in those states. But recent research has shown just how much cognitive ability, in terms of function IQ, is lost during those states.  Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about how problem solving and critical thinking skills can be impacted at work by what people bring to the office with themselves. https://youtu.be/oLWeM-JjjCo

Michelle really took JoyGenea by surprise with this topic! After a brief chat with her coach, Michelle's brain started working on this question: What Haven't You Learned Yet? Thinking ahead to life and business experiences that have provided valuable insight to others but haven't been personally experienced yet - have you already learned along the way? What more will there be to learn if, or when, these happen in your life or business? Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle ponder the life lessons they've already had and the ones that are sure to come in the future! https://youtu.be/iGVt9b9kO_U

It's so hard to create a culture with intention. Because a real culture is an organic combination of the individuals that make it up. A true company culture shifts slightly with every person that is added or removed.  Large companies, especially franchised companies, have a hard time with culture and try to identify behaviors that indicate attitudes they find desirable. Flare is one example of this - some people love their flare and some people barely put up with their flare. But does someone's engagement with a policy intended to drive culture really show their attitude? Or is culture more a reflection of hiring, mentoring, training, leadership, and everyday actions? Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk about flare, unconscious bias, and the difference between the culture you want and the culture you have. https://youtu.be/UJeSlqsfvPM

Jules' Bistro is a mainstay of downtown St. Cloud, MN and has been growing immensely since their second owner, Donella Westphal, took over. Perhaps it's something in the water, or perhaps it has something to do with Donella's philosophies around leadership, business, and the role a restaurant can play in the community.   Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk with Donella, owner of Jules' Bistro, about women in business, overcoming demons, and why she wears the same pair of shoes every single day.   https://youtu.be/47xBJkM1sz8

In an episode of The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin wrote, “Decisions are made by those who show up..” And voting in the primaries is just that! A way you can show up to help decide who will be on the ballot in November. And If These Heels Could Talk, These Heels Can Vote!   The brilliance of democracy is that it actually works better when more individuals participate. The more engaged we are, the more represented we are. JoyGenea and Michelle discuss primary voting in this short, special episode of If These Heels Could Talk.    https://youtu.be/toMpSoSfV2Q

Ever catch yourself driving down the road and suddenly wondering how you got where you are? Likely you were thinking deeply about something else while driving. Your short-term memory of the time driving would then be focused on what your brain was focusing on - errands, conflict with a friend, philosophical musings about cats - instead of focusing on driving.    Focus is like a flashlight for our memory, lighting specifics and keeping all else in the dark. This begs the question - what is multitasking? Is it even possible? Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss focus. And rarely get distracted along the way. https://youtu.be/-aoi1RQxTMY

Sandy Voigt with the Women's Business Alliance has decades of experience in business and helping others plan their small businesses. She has seen it all. And the rate of change in the last few years has truly surprised Sandy as much as any of us.  Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle interview Sandy about the Women's Business Alliance, the Entrepreneur Fund, and the central Minnesota business community. Women's Business Alliance Women's Business Alliance – Entrepreneur Fund   https://youtu.be/RbBPKKpPDO8

Michelle and JoyGenea talked about collaboration, how the recent changes in work environments have affected the way teams collaborate, and how important unplanned collaboration can be to business profits.   It is easy to get thinking about office space as numbers on a piece of paper. But there is more to it than that.  Knowing your people, company, culture, and clients means you have to consider the factors not measured by dollar signs. Unplanned collaboration is one of those things as a business owner you can't put a dollar amount on easily and yet is have value for problem-solving and more.   https://youtu.be/gPHw9h0oQnY

Gail Ivers is the Vice President of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. Correction: WAS the Vice President. JoyGenea and Michelle had the pleasure of interviewing Gail in her last week before retiring off to enjoy her flower gardens and world travels.    But what does Gail see coming for the business community AFTER she goes? And what did she love (and not love) about her time at the chamber? (Hint: It's the same thing!!) Tune in to hear from Gail, our second winner of the Brilliant Leader Sole award, as she looks forward to the next chapter!   https://youtu.be/FdMG86DbaGc

Feeling like we don't ‘fit in' is such a shared experience that there's a whole genre of teen movies about trying to fit in. Our human yearning for community, for belonging, is incredibly strong. So many of us try to get the outward behaviors right. When we're young (and sometimes not so young), it's about the right hair or the right jeans or the right sneakers. As we get older, it might be living in the right neighborhood or driving the right car or even cleaning our house the right way.    But belonging, true belonging, is about being accepted as we are. So why do we mistake that for ‘fitting in?' Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss the similarities and differences. And their own journeys to belonging.   https://youtu.be/FXfOpWmHOpo

Anna Marie's Alliance is working to end relationship violence and Lori Eich is the phenomenal person in charge of raising money to do just that.    Non-profit development is about helping develop community resources to support an organization, including money but also volunteers, staffing, awareness, and overall support. Lori has worked in development in Central MN at several organizations, most recently at Anna Marie's.   Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea talk with Lori and learn more about the unique mission of Anna Marie's Alliance as well as all the ways that you can help support anti-violence work in your community.   https://youtu.be/qZq201K2YiM

Most of us try to skip right to the end. Or never get past the beginning. But healing from trauma is now thought to require a neurosequential approach - that is, be more effective when treated in order, starting with the connection to others and the world around us.  Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle talk about how these steps can play out in real time and where work leaders can stumble into boundaries with the way people interact at the office.  https://youtu.be/_6A8sjhGdN0

Surely someone called 911. That person has been screaming for a few minutes now. Wish emergency responders would get here. That person really needs help. Surely someone else will help.   Bystander Effect is a psychological theory that we keep seeing, over and over, in a variety of ways. If a single individual is asked to complete a task or feels compelled by circumstance to complete a task, the sense of responsibility is strong and they will most likely complete it. If a group is faced with the same circumstances, each person's sense of responsibility is weakened and each feels sure that another will take on the task, often leaving the task undone.   Anyone who has ever served on a large volunteer committee or even just done a group project in the third grade would be familiar with the Bystander Effect. In non-emergent situations, the Bystander Effect looks like apathy or an unwillingness to volunteer. More recent studies show that, when applied to workplace settings, subordinates will refrain from informing managers of their ideas or concerns out of the assumption that their idea or opinion has already been thought of, considered, and dismissed.   Listen in as Michelle and JoyGenea discuss the Bystander Effect and how it might show up in your workplace.

The inability to sense the passing of time is just that - an inability. For those with true time blindness due to ADHD or another sensory issue, time blindness can negatively impact almost every aspect of life. And not the least because the neurotypical world doesn't understand the inability to sense time passing. They just see the behavior - consistently late for meetings or with assignments, vastly underestimating the amount of time a task will take, getting ‘lost' in a task to the detriment of all other responsibilities.    The solution isn't a to do list. Or, heaven forbid, another planner. It's not an organizational issue. Time blindness is a sensory issue. There isn't one solution for all those with time blindness just like there isn't one solution for all those with misophonia (selective sound sensitivity) and a partner who chews loudly. Coping mechanisms help, but an understanding from the neurotypical world is going to be important in reducing the shame and guilt some people experience.   Listen in as JoyGenea and Michelle discuss their own experiences. One from the time blind point of view and the other from the hyper-time aware point of view.  YouTube: https://youtu.be/R3RCMBZqRrQ