Under what conditions are we most creative?

While we might not love the idea of deadlines, they can be cause for some of our greatest creative work.

  • Creative individuals produce better work when there's a deadline involved, says media mogul Tina Brown.
  • To extract great work, you shouldn't have the option to escape it. Deadlines add a level of pressure that makes for better results.
  • In Brown's opinion, some of the best journalistic work was done in the period after 9/11. The combination of subject matter, content, and passion rallied creatives to put forth incredible coverage.
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Do these 3 things to be a stronger manager

Creating a healthy, cohesive work environment leads to better productivity.

  • One of the main responsibilities a manager has is to create an environment where employees can be more productive.
  • The quality of work increases when people feel like they are a part of a team working towards a goal bigger than themselves.
  • Three tips for creating that kind of work culture are learning to delegate, understanding the jobs of the people you manage, and connecting with as many employees on a one-on-one basis as possible.

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3 benefits of working remotely

The standard face-to-face team is inefficient for employees and employers alike.

  • A common misconception is that remote teams are not as productive. That is simply not true.
  • While there are pros to having everyone in a centralized location and on the same schedule, a major benefit of having employees work remotely is that it saves time and money.
  • Having a remote team also gives companies more freedom to hire employees based on skill, not proximity.

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Are you distracted at work? Don’t blame technology.

Distraction at work is a symptom of cultural dysfunction, not a symptom of technology, as many people claim.

  • After hearing so many people blame email and Slack as causes of distraction in the workplace, Nir Eyal went to the Slack offices and discovered it to be a focus-driven office with excellent work-life boundaries. Tech isn't the problem, he concluded. The root cause of workplace distraction is cultural dysfunction.
  • Companies that have a healthy workplace culture create psychological safety for their employees to voice concerns and complaints. When issues can be resolved—without fear of punishment—employees are able to return to work rather than sit and seethe.
  • Importantly, leaders must also model indistractibility by giving undivided attention to people in meetings and not working 24/7, which Eyal describes as a "terrible" cycle of reaction. Reacting to emails and meetings all day long doesn't give people the time to be reflective—to focus and do their best work.
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What Shark Tank investor Daymond John looks for in a business pitch

It takes more than a good idea to land a shark as a business partner.

  • As a successful entrepreneur, investor, and one of the stars of 'Shark Tank,' Daymond John is used to being pitched business ideas. In this interview, he shares what separates bad pitches from great pitches.
  • Beyond the idea, how well (or not) he and potential business partners will work together is a big factor.
  • Proof that the person did their research and some of the legwork before hand also goes a long way.

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