ResidentialBusiness

Resolving conflict in a team requires a systematic approach that emphasizes active listening and clear communication. Start by establishing a safe space where team members can share their views openly. Focus on the issues at hand rather than personal feelings, making sure that all voices are heard. By prioritizing the most pressing concerns and documenting agreements, you can create a pathway for resolution. Nevertheless, the process doesn’t end there; follow-up is vital to guarantee lasting harmony. Key Takeaways Foster a culture of active listening and empathy to understand differing perspectives and validate feelings during conflicts. Create a neutral and safe environment for discussions, encouraging open communication and reducing anxiety among team members. Utilize a structured approach to conflict resolution, outlining steps, documenting agreements, and prioritizing issues based on severity. Schedule follow-up meetings to ensure solutions are effective and address any lingering concerns among team members. Provide conflict resolution training for managers to equip them with skills necessary for managing disputes effectively and confidently. Understanding Workplace Conflict Grasping workplace conflict is essential for maintaining a productive team environment, especially since conflicts often arise from differing interests, opinions, and beliefs among team members. To effectively handle a team, you need to recognize that misunderstandings often stem from poor communication. For example, misinterpretations can escalate tensions and lead to inefficiencies. Furthermore, diverse personalities and working styles may create friction, underscoring the importance of managing these differences. When addressing conflicts, consider the perceptions of discrimination or harassment that can exacerbate issues. Recognizing how to resolve conflict in a team involves nurturing an inclusive and respectful culture, ensuring that all voices are heard, and addressing concerns swiftly, which can prevent a significant percentage of employees from leaving as a result of unresolved issues. Importance of Active Listening Active listening plays a crucial role in comprehending different perspectives during conflict resolution. When you actively listen, you not just show respect for others’ viewpoints, but you as well build trust within the team, which is fundamental for collaboration. Enhances Understanding Perspectives Comprehending different perspectives within a team is vital for effective collaboration, especially when conflicts arise. Active listening plays a key role in this process, as it helps you grasp your teammates’ feelings and viewpoints, reducing misunderstandings. Research shows that teams practicing effective listening experience a 25% boost in overall performance since members feel heard and valued. By paraphrasing and asking clarifying questions during discussions, you can show engagement and validate others’ feelings, creating a supportive environment. This culture of openness encourages everyone to express thoughts freely, greatly lowering the chances of unresolved conflicts. Furthermore, teams that engage in active listening are 30% more likely to resolve conflicts constructively, nurturing stronger relationships within the group. Builds Trust and Respect Trust and respect are foundational elements in any effective team dynamic, and cultivating these qualities can be greatly improved through the practice of active listening. By actively listening, you show team members that their perspectives are valued, which improves collaboration. Here are key benefits of active listening: Increased Goal Achievement: Teams practicing active listening are 26% more likely to meet their goals. Clearer Communication: It reduces misunderstandings by encouraging open dialogue. Validated Feelings: Summarizing and reflecting on shared thoughts encourages expression and resolution. Improved Satisfaction: Teams that engage in active listening during conflicts report a 35% increase in relationship satisfaction. Incorporating these techniques promotes a harmonious work environment and supports effective conflict resolution. Creating a Safe Space for Dialogue Creating a safe space for dialogue is essential for effective conflict resolution within a team. By using neutral meeting environments, like quiet rooms or private virtual calls, you can help guarantee conversations remain respectful and focused. Furthermore, encouraging uninterrupted sharing allows everyone to express their thoughts fully, which promotes comprehension and reduces defensiveness among team members. Neutral Meeting Environment How can a neutral meeting environment facilitate productive dialogue during conflict resolution? A neutral setting, like a quiet meeting room or a private Zoom call, reduces anxiety and promotes respectful communication. Here are four key benefits: Clear Communication Goals: Establish goals for the meeting to help participants feel secure and encourage open sharing. Time for Expression: Allow uninterrupted time for each party to present their views, easing defensiveness and nurturing constructive conversations. Minimized Influence Dynamics: Neutral environments encourage contributions from all team members, leading to balanced outcomes. Enhanced Trust: Creating a safe space for dialogue builds trust, enabling more effective collaboration and conflict resolution. Encourage Uninterrupted Sharing Encouraging uninterrupted sharing during discussions promotes a safe space for dialogue, allowing team members to voice their thoughts and feelings without interruption. To create this environment, select neutral settings, such as quiet meeting rooms or private virtual calls, which can help reduce defensiveness. Clearly communicate the meeting’s goal upfront, so participants grasp the purpose of the dialogue and feel more inclined to engage honestly. Implement a structured format, such as taking turns speaking without interruptions, ensuring all voices are heard. Establish ground rules for respectful communication and active listening, nurturing an atmosphere where individuals feel safe to express concerns without fear of retribution. This approach considerably improves comprehension and contributes to effective conflict resolution. Focusing on Issues, Not Personalities When conflicts arise within a team, it’s essential to concentrate on the specific issues at hand rather than the personalities involved. Focusing on behaviors and events can lead to more productive discussions. Here are some strategies to help you stay on track: Use phrases like “When this happens” instead of “When you do” to encourage constructive dialogue. Keep conversations centered on problems, minimizing defensiveness and promoting solutions. Avoid emotional language and personal attacks, as they escalate tensions. Clearly describe specific instances of concern rather than generalizing, allowing for focused conversations. The Role of Empathy in Conflict Resolution Empathy is essential in conflict resolution, as it enables team members to genuinely comprehend one another’s viewpoints and experiences. By nurturing empathy, you can reduce defensiveness and encourage open dialogue. When you actively listen and validate a colleague’s feelings, it greatly de-escalates tension, paving the way for more productive discussions. Research indicates that teams demonstrating high levels of empathy collaborate more effectively and address conflicts constructively, improving overall performance. Empathetic leaders who embody comprehension and compassion inspire similar behaviors within their teams, promoting a culture focused on relationship-building rather than blame. Organizations prioritizing empathy in conflict resolution report 25% higher employee satisfaction and retention rates, highlighting the significance of empathetic approaches in maintaining healthy workplace dynamics. Identifying Points of Agreement and Disagreement Identifying points of agreement and disagreement is crucial in maneuvering team conflicts effectively. You should focus on these key steps: Summarize areas of agreement and disagreement, stating what both parties concur on and where their views diverge. Confirm the accuracy of your assessment with the other party, allowing for modifications based on their feedback. Document points of agreement for future reference, which helps maintain clarity and accountability. Focus on common goals during discussions, as this can encourage collaboration and unity among team members. Developing a Conflict Resolution Plan Developing a conflict resolution plan is essential for addressing team disputes effectively, as it provides a structured approach to finding solutions. Start by outlining specific steps and strategies that everyone agrees upon, ensuring clarity and accountability. Document points of agreement and disagreement during discussions to create a clear reference for future interactions. As you prioritize conflicts, focus on the most important issues to address urgent concerns first. Schedule follow-up meetings to assess progress, maintaining open lines of communication throughout the process. This reinforces your commitment to resolving conflicts collaboratively. Emphasizing a collaborative attitude cultivates an environment where all parties feel heard and valued, ultimately leading to stronger team cohesion and improved relationships moving forward. Prioritizing Issues for Resolution When you’re faced with conflicts, it’s essential to assess their severity levels to determine which issues need immediate attention. Start by identifying key concerns that directly impact team dynamics and project goals, ensuring that you tackle the most significant problems first. This structured approach not just keeps your team focused but likewise aligns everyone with shared objectives, promoting a collaborative spirit in conflict resolution. Assess Conflict Severity Levels To effectively address conflicts within a team, it’s essential to assess their severity levels, which helps you prioritize issues that require immediate attention. Comprehending the severity can prevent emotional buildup and promote a culture of openness. Here are four levels to evaluate: Low Severity: Minor disagreements that can be resolved easily without significant impact on productivity. Moderate Severity: Conflicts that may affect team dynamics but don’t disrupt overall performance. High Severity: Significant disputes leading to emotional distress, requiring immediate intervention. Critical Severity: Conflicts that threaten team cohesion, requiring urgent resolution to prevent turnover or loss of morale. Identify Key Concerns First After evaluating the severity levels of conflicts within your team, the next step is identifying key concerns that need to be addressed. By pinpointing these issues, you can clarify the root causes of conflict, minimizing misunderstandings. Prioritizing the most critical problems guarantees your efforts focus on areas that greatly impact team dynamics and productivity. Engaging in open dialogue cultivates a collaborative environment, making everyone feel valued and enhancing trust. Documenting key concerns helps track progress and maintains transparency. Addressing pressing issues first can prevent emotional buildup and reduce further conflict, demonstrating a proactive approach. Key Concern Priority Level Communication Issues High Role Ambiguity Medium Task Overload High Resource Limitations Low Align With Team Goals Aligning conflicts with team goals is vital for effective resolution, as it helps shift the focus from personal disagreements to shared objectives. To prioritize issues for resolution, consider the following steps: Identify Common Objectives: Encourage team members to articulate shared goals, which can help minimize personal grievances. Assess Impact on Performance: Determine which issues directly affect team productivity and address those first to reduce disruptions. Encourage Open Communication: Promote discussions that center on how individual contributions align with team success. Conduct Regular Check-Ins: Schedule updates on team objectives to guarantee everyone is aligned and aware of their roles. Following Up After Conflict Resolution Effective follow-up after conflict resolution is essential for ensuring that the solutions agreed upon truly take root within the team. Single conversations often leave underlying issues unaddressed, so checking in a few days later helps you assess the effectiveness of the solutions and address any new concerns. Regular follow-up promotes accountability among team members and underscores that conflict resolution is an ongoing process, not just a one-time event. As a leader, your commitment to follow-up demonstrates dedication to a healthy work environment, enhancing trust and improving team dynamics. A proactive approach can prevent the re-emergence of issues by encouraging dialogue and allowing your team to reflect on lessons learned and necessary changes moving forward. Training Managers in Conflict Resolution Skills Training managers in conflict resolution skills is fundamental for cultivating a harmonious and productive work environment. By equipping them with key abilities, such as active listening and empathy, you can effectively address team disputes. Consider these four significant benefits of investing in conflict resolution training: Reduced Workplace Disputes: Organizations can experience a 25% increase in team productivity when managers are trained. Real-Life Preparedness: Role-playing scenarios and conversation frameworks help managers handle conflicts confidently. Staying Updated: Regular refreshers guarantee managers are informed about evolving workplace dynamics. Enhanced Team Morale: Skilled managers lead to a 30% decrease in employee turnover rates, promoting a stable team atmosphere. Ultimately, effective training is imperative for successful conflict management. Turning Conflict Into an Opportunity for Growth Conflict in a team setting doesn’t always have to lead to negative outcomes; instead, it can serve as a catalyst for growth and improvement. When managed properly, conflict encourages diverse perspectives and nurtures open dialogue, which can spark creativity and innovation. By viewing conflict as an opportunity for improvement, you help create a positive workplace culture that strengthens team cohesion and boosts performance. Reflecting on conflicts allows you to uncover hidden frustrations and blind spots, paving the way for proactive changes that increase collaboration. Furthermore, effective conflict resolution transforms challenges into growth opportunities, building your team’s resilience and adaptability for future issues. Embracing conflict as a chance for growth guarantees your team continuously evolves and strengthens its dynamics over time. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Resolve Conflict on Your Team? To resolve conflict on your team, start by arranging a face-to-face meeting in a neutral space. Use active listening techniques, like rephrasing and asking clarifying questions, to guarantee everyone feels heard. Address specific behaviors instead of personal attributes to keep discussions constructive. Clearly identify points of agreement and disagreement, leading to a collaborative action plan. Finally, schedule follow-up meetings to maintain accountability and monitor adherence to agreements made during the initial discussion. How Do You Resolve a Conflict Interview Question? When addressing conflict in an interview, use the STAR method to structure your answer. Start by outlining the Situation, then describe your Task in that scenario. Next, detail the Actions you took, such as employing active listening, clarifying concerns, and maintaining objectivity. Finally, highlight the Result, showing how you cultivated collaboration and trust. It’s essential to mention any follow-up actions that reinforced relationships and guaranteed ongoing communication for a positive work environment. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution? The 5 C’s of conflict resolution are essential for effective communication and problem-solving. First, clear communication guarantees you express thoughts without misunderstandings. Collaboration encourages teamwork to find solutions. Consideration involves acknowledging differing viewpoints, which improves comprehension. Compromise asks you to give up something for mutual benefit, balancing goals and relationships. Finally, commitment to follow-up reinforces accountability, guaranteeing resolutions stick and new issues are addressed swiftly, nurturing trust within your team. What Are the Five Steps in Resolving Conflict in a Team? To resolve conflict in a team, you should follow five key steps. First, identify the source of the conflict by analyzing communication breakdowns or differing objectives. Next, understand each party’s perspective to cultivate empathy and clarify misconceptions. Then, collaboratively explore potential solutions through brainstorming. Once you agree on a resolution, implement it effectively. Finally, follow up to assess the solution’s impact and guarantee accountability, maintaining a positive team dynamic for the future. Conclusion Resolving conflict in a team requires a structured approach that emphasizes active listening and empathy. By creating a safe space for dialogue and focusing on issues rather than personalities, you promote a collaborative environment. Prioritizing concerns, documenting agreements, and scheduling follow-ups guarantee clarity and accountability. Furthermore, training managers in conflict resolution improves team dynamics. Ultimately, viewing conflict as an opportunity for growth can lead to improved collaboration and productivity, benefiting the entire team. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How Do You Resolve Conflict in a Team?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you've been following smart pet tech closely over the last couple years, you might know Pawport. I saw the company's smart pet door at the last two CES's, and was my first introduction to this specific product category. At the time, Pawport hadn't yet launched; now they have. But there's one key difference between the pet door Pawport showed off at CES 2025, and the one that eventually launched late last year. Pawport's smart pet doorIn a lot of ways, Pawport's official pet door is the product I saw last year: Pawport is made of aluminum, and is reportedly bulletproof. (The company has a model riddled with bullet holes on display). This smart door is designed to fit over an existing pet door in your home. If you don't have one, the company also sells an insert to install into your wall. It's weatherproof, has deadbolts on the top and bottom for security, and connects to smart home and voice control assistants. It can even work on battery power, though you can also plug it into power. But Pawport tells me the big change between last year's prototype and its official launch model is the technology used in the smart tag that attached to your pet's collar. Now, Pawport uses a type of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to communicate between the tag and the door. That gives the user more control over things like how far your pet has to be from the door before it opens: Maybe you prefer your dog to be two feet away inside before it opens, but five feet away when outside. Pawport says UWB also gives the door more security than before. Now, the tech enables end-to-end encryption between the dog collar and the door, so, according to the company, the door can't be hacked. It's a bold claim, but, if true, that should give pet owners some peace of mind. Pawport's UWB smart tag attached to a dog collar. Credit: Lifehacker Pawport now also gives pet owners control over whether pets can run outside in adverse weather conditions. If there's rain or lightning, users can configure the app to lock the door from the inside, so pets can't scurry off into an unsafe backyard. That only locks one way, as well, so if the pet is already outside when the weather lock takes effect, they can still get back inside. In addition, the company tells me that UWB has extended the battery life of the tag this go around. While the previous prototype was rated for around six months of battery life, the new model has an advertised battery life of one year, though users could see their batteries lasting up to 15 to 18 months. Pawport plans to eventually sell a dedicated outdoor pet door as well, but at the moment, it only sells the indoor unit. That starts at $599 for the company's six standard colors in their medium sized unit, and $849 for one of eight "signature series" designs, which adds a polished wood look to the door. You can upgrade to a large unit for another $50, or the extra large unit for an extra $100. View the full article

Etsy, Inc., the globally recognized marketplace for unique and creative goods, has recently announced a significant move that could influence not just its operations but also the landscape for small business owners who leverage its platform. The company’s Board of Directors has authorized a new $750 million share repurchase program, signaling confidence in its long-term growth potential. This announcement comes alongside the appointment of Fred Wilson as the Lead Independent Director, as part of an upcoming leadership transition. With nearly $1 billion available for potential share repurchases, Etsy is poised to strengthen its financial position. As Josh Silverman, the outgoing CEO, expressed, “We see significant value in our shares, and we and our Board have confidence in the near-term growth priorities that have been put in place by our incoming Chief Executive Officer, Kruti Patel Goyal.” With about $1.6 billion in cash available, this substantial financial maneuver indicates that the company is looking to invest in itself while continuing to support strategic initiatives to foster growth. For small business owners managing their shops on Etsy, this share buyback plan may have several potential benefits. A robust cash reserve not only allows Etsy to undertake strategic investments in platform development and marketing but also might enhance the overall market confidence around Etsy.com. Improved company valuation can lead to better visibility for its sellers as the platform invests in advancements that could attract even more buyers. Digital marketplaces thrive on user experience, and Etsy’s financial flexibility could facilitate enhancements in features aimed at boosting seller success. If Etsy channels funds into improved tools for sellers—like advanced analytics features, more effective marketing options, or easier inventory management—small business owners could find themselves better equipped to create, market, and sell their products. However, the share repurchase program’s timing will depend on various factors, including stock price and general market conditions. This uncertainty might leave small business owners wondering how fluctuations in Etsy’s share performance could indirectly affect their selling opportunities. As management assesses when to buy back shares, sellers may want to stay informed about any significant changes in company policy or investor sentiment that could affect the platform’s strategic direction. The leadership changes at Etsy also introduce a new management perspective. Fred Wilson’s extensive experience in corporate governance and technology strategy adds a layer of stability as he steps into the role of Lead Independent Director. His prior involvement with Etsy since 2007 positions him as a knowledgeable steward during this transition. He stated, “I’m honored to become Etsy’s Lead Independent Director at this exciting time for the Company.” This could lead to effective decision-making that aligns closely with the interests of the creative entrepreneurs who form the backbone of Etsy’s marketplace. Small business owners, however, should remain cognizant of potential challenges that may arise from these changes. A focus on high-level financial strategies could shift some attention away from seller needs, especially if the company prioritizes shareholder value over seller support. Business owners may want to monitor how leadership decisions manifest in policy changes or resource allocations on the platform. Additionally, while share repurchase initiatives may signal growth, they could come with the caveat of reduced funds for operational improvements. Sellers relying on Etsy’s marketing and promotional support might feel the impact if financial resources are directed toward stock buybacks instead of innovations that directly benefit them. As the new leadership under Goyal takes shape, small business owners should stay engaged with the developments at Etsy and advocate for their needs. With increasing competition in the e-commerce space, having a keen insight into the company’s direction and performance can help sellers adjust their strategies effectively. For many creative entrepreneurs, Etsy represents a vital avenue for growth and outreach. Monitoring key decisions like the recent share repurchase authorization can empower small business owners to adapt to changes, ensuring they leverage the marketplace effectively. For additional details regarding Etsy’s latest announcements, revisit the original press release at Etsy Press Release. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Etsy Unveils $750 Million Share Buyback and New Leadership Changes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Etsy, Inc., the globally recognized marketplace for unique and creative goods, has recently announced a significant move that could influence not just its operations but also the landscape for small business owners who leverage its platform. The company’s Board of Directors has authorized a new $750 million share repurchase program, signaling confidence in its long-term growth potential. This announcement comes alongside the appointment of Fred Wilson as the Lead Independent Director, as part of an upcoming leadership transition. With nearly $1 billion available for potential share repurchases, Etsy is poised to strengthen its financial position. As Josh Silverman, the outgoing CEO, expressed, “We see significant value in our shares, and we and our Board have confidence in the near-term growth priorities that have been put in place by our incoming Chief Executive Officer, Kruti Patel Goyal.” With about $1.6 billion in cash available, this substantial financial maneuver indicates that the company is looking to invest in itself while continuing to support strategic initiatives to foster growth. For small business owners managing their shops on Etsy, this share buyback plan may have several potential benefits. A robust cash reserve not only allows Etsy to undertake strategic investments in platform development and marketing but also might enhance the overall market confidence around Etsy.com. Improved company valuation can lead to better visibility for its sellers as the platform invests in advancements that could attract even more buyers. Digital marketplaces thrive on user experience, and Etsy’s financial flexibility could facilitate enhancements in features aimed at boosting seller success. If Etsy channels funds into improved tools for sellers—like advanced analytics features, more effective marketing options, or easier inventory management—small business owners could find themselves better equipped to create, market, and sell their products. However, the share repurchase program’s timing will depend on various factors, including stock price and general market conditions. This uncertainty might leave small business owners wondering how fluctuations in Etsy’s share performance could indirectly affect their selling opportunities. As management assesses when to buy back shares, sellers may want to stay informed about any significant changes in company policy or investor sentiment that could affect the platform’s strategic direction. The leadership changes at Etsy also introduce a new management perspective. Fred Wilson’s extensive experience in corporate governance and technology strategy adds a layer of stability as he steps into the role of Lead Independent Director. His prior involvement with Etsy since 2007 positions him as a knowledgeable steward during this transition. He stated, “I’m honored to become Etsy’s Lead Independent Director at this exciting time for the Company.” This could lead to effective decision-making that aligns closely with the interests of the creative entrepreneurs who form the backbone of Etsy’s marketplace. Small business owners, however, should remain cognizant of potential challenges that may arise from these changes. A focus on high-level financial strategies could shift some attention away from seller needs, especially if the company prioritizes shareholder value over seller support. Business owners may want to monitor how leadership decisions manifest in policy changes or resource allocations on the platform. Additionally, while share repurchase initiatives may signal growth, they could come with the caveat of reduced funds for operational improvements. Sellers relying on Etsy’s marketing and promotional support might feel the impact if financial resources are directed toward stock buybacks instead of innovations that directly benefit them. As the new leadership under Goyal takes shape, small business owners should stay engaged with the developments at Etsy and advocate for their needs. With increasing competition in the e-commerce space, having a keen insight into the company’s direction and performance can help sellers adjust their strategies effectively. For many creative entrepreneurs, Etsy represents a vital avenue for growth and outreach. Monitoring key decisions like the recent share repurchase authorization can empower small business owners to adapt to changes, ensuring they leverage the marketplace effectively. For additional details regarding Etsy’s latest announcements, revisit the original press release at Etsy Press Release. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Etsy Unveils $750 Million Share Buyback and New Leadership Changes" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For retirement savers and retirees, the new year brings more than the usual inflation adjustments to retirement contributions. The retirement legislation known as Secure 2.0 will also continue to phase in, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will have impacts too. Here’s a roundup of three key changes and some moves to consider. Roth-only catch-up contributions for high-income 401(k) investors Thanks to a provision in the Secure 2.0 retirement legislation, high-income earners (with $150,000 or more in FICA income in the prior year) who are over 50 and investing in 401(k) or other company retirement plans must make catch-up contributions to their plans’ Roth option, rather than traditional tax-deferred contributions, starting this year. For 2026, 401(k) investors under 50 can contribute $24,500 to their company plans, plus $8,000 in catch-up contributions if they’re over 50, for a total of $32,500. In addition, people age 60 to 63 can make “super-catch-up” contributions: $11,250 on top of $24,500. Potential Action Items: Some 401(k) plans may not have a Roth option, so those participants should instead consider making a full IRA contribution in addition to their baseline 401(k) contributions ($24,500).This year, the IRA contribution limit is $8,600 for people over 50and $7,500 for those under 50. If you can invest even more than that, steer the overage to a taxable brokerage account. A separate issue is how 401(k) investors should proceed if their goal is to make traditional tax-deferred contributions rather than Roth. Secure 2.0 forces higher-income older workers into Roth, at least with the catch-up portion of their contributions. In that case, workers can contribute the base 401(k) limit ($24,500) to the traditional tax-deferred option, with catch-up contributions directed to the Roth option. Higher SALT deduction amounts Thanks to OBBBA, taxpayers can now deduct a higher amount of state and local taxes. The SALT deduction cap was increased from $10,000 to $40,000 starting in 2025. It will revert to $10,000 in 2030. Potential Action Items: How is this related to retirement? The amount of SALT that’s deductible phases out for higher-income taxpayers—those with modified adjusted gross incomes over $500,000. High-income earners should consider ways to come in under $500,000 if they’re close. They might favor contributions to traditional tax-deferred retirement plans rather than Roth or max out their health savings accounts. Qualifying for the higher SALT tax deduction might also argue against strategies that increase income, such as converting traditional IRAs to Roth. Of course, don’t miss the forest for the trees. Strategies like making Roth contributions or converting IRAs might make sense long-term, even if they curtail the deductibility of SALT. Senior deduction Through 2028, people 65and up can take advantage of a new $6,000 deduction. It’s available whether you itemize or not and doubles to $12,000 for married couples filing jointly, assuming both are 65. For non-itemizers, the new deduction would stack on top of standard deductions. Here’s how the deductions look this year: Single filers (standard deduction): $16,100 Single filers over 65: $16,100+ $2,050 + $6,000 = $24,150 Married couples filing jointly (standard deduction): $32,200 Married couples over 65 filing jointly: $32,200 + $1,650×2 + $6,000×2 = $47,500 Higher-income seniors, take note: Income limits apply. The deduction is reduced for single filers with modified adjusted gross incomes over $75,000 and married couples filing jointly with MAGI over $150,000.It goes away entirely for singles with MAGI over $175,000 and married couples filing jointly with MAGI of $250,000 or more. Potential Action Items: Early retirees who have a lot of control over their taxable income levels because they’re not yet receiving Social Security or subject to required minimum distributions may be tempted to try to keep MAGI down to qualify for the full deduction. But it’s wise to balance those aims alongside other worthwhile tactics, such as converting traditional IRA balances to Roth. This article was provided to The Associated Press by Morningstar. For more retirement content, go to https://www.morningstar.com/retirement. ChristineBenz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar. —Christine Benz of Morningstar View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. As we head into 2026, many people are setting fitness goals and signing up for gym memberships. But if you have the space at home, it’s a lot more convenient to get your cardio in with an at-home treadmill and skip the crowds. While this is by no means the most advanced model on the market, the NordicTrack T Series 5 treadmill is an entry-level smart treadmill for walkers and runners, offering reliable performance and a smaller-than-average footprint. Right now, it’s 20% off at $479 (originally $599). NordicTrack T Series 5 0-10MPH Incline Treadmill with 5" Display $479.00 at Amazon $599.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $479.00 at Amazon $599.00 Save $120.00 The NordicTrack T Series runs up to 10 mph at a maximum 10% incline and has a 5-inch LCD display that shows basic stats, but it doesn’t have a big built-in touchscreen (unlike the T-Series 8, which is 30% off right now), so it relies mostly on your phone or tablet, which can be placed on the device shelf. With an iFIT integration, you can follow guided workouts where the treadmill automatically adjusts speed and terrain as trainers coach you through your run. It still works in Manual mode if you don’t have a subscription, but it’s worth noting that part of the price tag goes toward these smart features. At 68 inches long, it has a more compact footprint than many at-home treadmills, which typically run from 72 to 84 inches, making it easier to squeeze into smaller offices, dens, and garages. It’s also a little more lightweight due to its smaller frame and has wheels on one end, making it easier to move around. While its smaller size is a perk for many, it also means a narrower running belt, which may be a downside for runners with a longer stride or anyone who wants more lateral room. With a 2.6 HP motor, it’s a mid-power option. If you’re looking to sprint daily or do a lot of intervals, at 2.6 HP, you may want a higher-powered model. But for walkers and joggers who want a compact machine and incline for conditioning, the NordicTrack T Series 5 treadmill is ideal for space-limited homes and anyone who wants a virtual trainer experience, especially at just $479. However, if you don’t plan to use iFIT and want a wider or longer belt (or a larger display), you may want to go with another model. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $148.99 (List Price $179.00) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — (List Price $24.99 With Code "FTV4K25") Dell 15 DC15255 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM) — $519.99 (List Price $688.99) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Silver) — $159.99 (List Price $219.99) Google Pixel 10 Pro 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian) — $799.00 (List Price $999.00) Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — $279.99 (List Price $349.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The USB-C charging port is likely to remain ubiquitous on phones for the foreseeable future—at least until the engineers at Apple figure out how to make the long-rumored portless iPhone—but this little socket is more versatile than you may have realized. Here are four other ways to put your USB-C port to use, no matter what your make and model of phone—from freeing up space on your handset to boosting your on-the-go productivity. It's almost like adding extra superpowers to your handset. Attach external storage Both iOS and Android have integrated file management apps. Credit: Lifehacker You can plug external USB storage devices of almost every description into your phone, just as you can with your laptop or desktop computer. Lifehacker has written before about how this works on an iPhone, and many Android phones offer the same functionality, with the default file browser app also able to see the external drive. You may need an adapter of some description, and you may need to make sure the USB drive is formatted in a particular way (a quick web search for the details for your particular phone model will tell you if this is the case). but often, you can just plug in your drive and the phone will figure out what's what. This is a helpful for backing up photos and videos without paying a monthly fee for cloud storage, or simply to free up some storage space on your device. It's also a quick and easy way of getting files onto your phone, whether that's audio or video files you want to play without having to stream them, or books or documents you need to review during a long trip when you won't be able to rely on getting a good signal. Put videos on a bigger screenMany handsets—the latest iPhones and Pixel phones included—can output video over a USB-C connection. One scenario where this is useful is if you're in a hotel room and you want to get a movie up on the room television without having to mess with wifi or streaming protocols. This can be quite fiddly in terms of the cables you need and how they attach to the TV, but if you do some research around your particular phone model and the inputs you want to connect to, you should be able to get it working without too much trouble. Here's Apple's guide for the cables and adapters you need for the iPhone, for example. If you have a Samsung Galaxy device, then it will probably support Samsung DeX. This is a desktop environment (like Windows or macOS) that you can run on an external monitor or TV from your phone, enabling you to not only play videos on the larger display, but also use social media, web browsing, and productivity apps too. Connect a gaming controller The Backbone One is an example of a gaming controller you can attach. Credit: Backbone There are some great mobile games around for iOS and Android, but using touchscreen controls can be awkward: You're just about to blast an alien spaceship out of existence when you tap the wrong part of the display and turn down the brightness instead. It's not ideal, but a dedicated gaming controller can help. Lifehacker has covered some of these controllers in the past, and many can hook up via your phone's USB-C port—giving you a solid and stable connection to the gaming action without any lag. You won't need to charge the controller either if it's hooked up via USB-C, as it'll use the power coming from your phone's battery. One of the best examples of this is the $99.99 Backbone One controller. It works with Android phones and iPhones, and gives you a gaming boost in titles such as Fortnite and Call of Duty. It can also work really well if you're streaming games from your Microsoft or Sony console to your phone over wifi. Attach a mouse and keyboardThere are yet more peripherals you can plug into your smartphone, including two that can harness its versatility as a productivity device: a mouse and a keyboard. This works on a broad range of iPhone and Android handsets—here are the instructions for plugging a wired mouse into a Samsung Galaxy phones, for instance. (You can also connect these peripherals via Bluetooth.) Admittedly you're probably not going to dig out a full size keyboard every time you send a text message, but if you've got a lot of emails or a long report to write while you're on the go, a travel keyboard can be very helpful. If you've got a foldable phone with a larger screen, then you've got yourself a decent portable workstation. It's even possible to connect up a mouse and a keyboard together via a USB-C hub, with maybe a memory card slot as an added bonus. Just keep an eye on power usage: If you're connecting multiple accessories, look for a hub that you can also connect your charger to, so your phone battery isn't constantly running down. View the full article

The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of cutting the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups said would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases. The change is effective immediately, meaning that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now recommend that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases. What’s no longer broadly recommended is protection against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis or RSV. Instead, protections against those diseases are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk, or when doctors recommend them in what’s called “shared decision-making.” The President administration officials said the overhaul, a move long sought by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., won’t result in families who want the vaccines losing access to them, and said insurance will continue to pay. But medical experts said the decision creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases. States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While CDC requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun creating their own alliances to counter the The President administration’s guidance on vaccines. The change comes as U.S. vaccination rates have been slipping and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, according to federal data. At the same time, rates of diseases that can be protected against with vaccines, such as measles and whooping cough, are rising across the country. Review came at the request of President The President The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the overhaul was in response to a request from President Donald The President in December. The President asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly. HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive. “This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement Monday. The President, reacting to the news on his Truth Social platform, said the new schedule is “far more reasonable” and “finally aligns the United States with other Developed Nations around the World.” Among those left on the recommended-for-everyone list are vaccines against measles, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, chickenpox and human papillomavirus, or HPV. The guidance reduces the number of recommended vaccine doses against HPV from two or three shots depending on age to one for most children. Medical experts said Monday’s changes without what they said was public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk. “Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said countries carefully consider vaccine recommendations based on levels of disease in their populations and their health systems. “You can’t just copy and paste public health and that’s what they seem to be doing here,” said O’Leary. “Literally children’s health and children’s lives are at stake.” Most high-income countries recommend vaccinations against a dozen to 15 serious pathogens, according to a recent review by the Vaccine Integrity Project, a group that works to safeguard vaccine use. France today recommends all children get vaccinated against 14 diseases, compared to the 11 that the U.S. now will recommend for every child under the new schedule. Doctors’ groups criticize decision The changes were made by political appointees, without any evidence that the current recommendations were harming children, O’Leary said. The pediatricians’ group has issued its own childhood vaccine schedule that its members are following, and it continues to broadly recommend vaccines that the The President administration demoted. O’Leary singled out the flu vaccine, which the government and leading medical experts have long urged for nearly everyone starting at age 6 months. He said the government is “pretty tone deaf” for ending its recommendation while the country is at the beginning of a severe flu season, and after 280 children died from flu last winter, the most since 2009. Even a disease that parents may not have heard of, rotavirus, could come roaring back if vaccination erodes, he added. That diarrheal disease once hospitalized thousands of children each winter, something that no longer happens. The decision was made without input from an advisory committee that typically consults on the vaccine schedule, said senior officials at HHS. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the changes publicly. The officials added that the new recommendations were a collaborative effort between federal health agencies but wouldn’t specify who was consulted. Scientists at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases were asked to present to the agency’s political leadership about vaccine schedules in other countries in December, but they were not allowed to give any recommendations and were not aware of any decisions about vaccine schedule changes, said Abby Tighe, executive director of the National Public Health Coalition, an advocacy organization of current and former CDC employees and their supporters. “Changes of this magnitude require careful review, expert and public input, and clear scientific justification. That level of rigor and transparency was not part of this decision,” said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, of the American Medical Association. “The scientific evidence remains unchanged, and the AMA supports continued access to childhood immunizations recommended by national medical specialty societies.” Kennedy is a longtime vaccine skeptic The move comes as Kennedy, a longtime activist against vaccines, has repeatedly used his authority in government to translate his skepticism about the shots into national guidance. In May, Kennedy announced the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts who saw no new data to justify the change. In June, Kennedy fired an entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee — later installing several of his own replacements, including multiple vaccine skeptics. Kennedy in November also personally directed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying any new evidence to support the change. Swenson reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report. _ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. —Ali Swenson and Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press View the full article

GameStop Corp. is forging ahead with efforts to reduce its physical footprint in the first weeks of 2026. The video game retailer is closing stores in numerous states this month, according to local media reports, and emails and store signage shared by customers on social media, part of its ongoing effort to reduce costs and adapt to changes in shopping habits. The closures are not completely unexpected. In its third-quarter earnings report on December 9, GameStop said it had already closed 590 stores in the United States during the previous fiscal year as part of a “store portfolio optimization review.” In a December filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the retailer reiterated its plan to shutter a “significant number of additional stores” during its 2025 fiscal year. GameStop’s fiscal year ends on January 31, 2026. GameStop reported net income of $77 million on revenue of $821 million for the third quarter, but the latter figure was below a consensus estimate cited by Reuters. The retailer’s shares have sagged since their heyday at the center of the 2021 meme stock frenzy, when retail traders bought shares en masse, causing losses for short sellers who had bet against the stock. Over the last 12 months, GameStop’s stock (NYSE: GME) has declined roughly 36%. Which GameStop stores are closing in 2026? The retailer has not provided a list of stores that are expected to close and did not respond to Fast Company‘s requests for additional details. We’ll update this story as we learn more. GameStop customers have been sharing emails—ostensibly from individual locations—and signage on some stores that indicates imminent closures. The communications have included various closure dates throughout this week and next. Local media outlets have also reported on individual store closings, in locations ranging from Topsham, Maine; to Ann Arbor, Michigan; to Topeka, Kansas, and beyond. At the beginning of last year, GameStop reported 2,325 stores in the United States. This story is developing . . . View the full article

Many people think the world is going to end in 2026. Man people think the world is going to end every year—maybe because the Bible said so, or The Simpsons said so—but this 2026-doomsday prediction seems to have a scientific basis. In a 1960 issue of Science magazine, Austrian scientist and polymath Heinz von Foerster detailed what he called the “Doomsday Equation,” a model he used to calculate the last day of civilization on earth. According to von Foerster (and probably Homer Simpson), The End is coming on Friday, November 13, 2026. Who is Heinz von Foerster?Foerster was not a crank. A pioneer in computer science, artificial intelligence, physics, biophysics, and other academic disciplines, von Foerster worked with the Pentagon, and was named a Guggenheim fellow twice—so he was a respected academic, and kind of a big deal. His Doomsday paper is very real. Here’s a link to it in the November 1960 issue of Science and a screenshot: Credit: Science Magazine The Doomsday Equation looked at 2,000 years of historical data about how fast the earth’s population grew–-there were 2.7 billion people in 1960—and extrapolated a continually accelerating rate of growth. According to von Foerster, Humanity’s ability to overcome natural checks on population would result in hyperbolic growth—faster-than-exponential—an accelerating curve of population growth which would reach “infinite” on November 13 of this year, at which point there would be no space left on the planet for any more people to be. “Our great-great-grandchildren will not starve to death,” Von Forester said. “They will be squeezed to death.” Preparing for the endSo should we pack it in and prepare for the End Times and death by suffocation? Actually the opposite. Von Foerster’s Doomsday Equation was meant to illustrate the problem of overpopulation, but he wasn’t being entirely serious with the specifics of his prediction; the math works out, but the conclusion is tongue-in-cheek. So yes, he was joking—November 13, 2026 will fall on Friday (scary), and it also happens to be Heinz von Foerster's 115th birthday—but he was joking to make a point. In the early 1960s, the population was growing at an alarming rate. The annual growth rate had climbed from roughly 1.7% to 1.9% throughout the 1950s, and by 1963, it had grown to 2.3%. So what happened? It turned out Von Foerster had a lot in common with fellow scientist Disco Stu of the Can’t Stop the Learnin’ Disco Academies: Ironically, 1960–1963 was the peak of global growth rates. Von Foerster’s (perhaps sardonic) solution was a control mechanism for population—a “peoplo-stat” where governments would carefully monitor and control the rate of people being born. But thankfully, we didn’t need eugenics-lite to solve the problem—like the best problems, it solved itself. The "population bomb" is a dud Credit: macrotrends.net The rate of world population growth began slowing, as you can see from this chart from macrotrends.net. and the much feared “population bomb” of the 1960s fizzled out. Increased urbanization meant that people had one child to send to an exclusive nursery school instead of having 10 children to work as farmhands. Better medical care means more children live, so there’s no need to make “spares.” The end result: Population growth slowed through the decades to around 1% in the 2010s. At present, according to the UN, more than half of all countries have negative population growth rates. If these trends continue, the world population will peak in the mid-2080s at around 10.3 billion people and then begin a slow decline. The bottom line on Doomsday 2026November 13, 2026, will come and go, and chances are very good that you will not starve to death, get hit by an asteroid, or suddenly be crushed under the weight of all these damn people (unless you’re on a subway at rush hour). As for overpopulation: The problem isn't that there are too many of us, but too few. We don’t really know what it will mean for the worldwide rate of reproduction to go negative, but it’s likely to mean a lot of 90-year-olds hobbling around and everyone younger trying to figure out how to care for them. But, like the best problems, it’s far enough in the future that someone else will have to deal with it. View the full article

Improving customer care is essential for any business aiming to build loyalty and improve satisfaction. By practicing active listening, you can better understand your customers’ needs, leading to more effective solutions. Furthermore, developing empathy allows you to connect with clients on a personal level, whereas clear communication minimizes misunderstandings. If you focus on personalizing interactions and consistently seeking feedback, you’ll uncover valuable insights. These strategies can greatly improve your customer care approach, so let’s explore them in detail. Key Takeaways Actively listen to customers by summarizing their concerns and asking clarifying questions to enhance understanding and build trust. Develop empathy by using positive language and acknowledging customer emotions to foster better interactions. Personalize customer experiences by utilizing data to tailor interactions and recognize loyalty with special gestures. Continuously improve technical skills and product knowledge through training and up-to-date resources to provide accurate assistance. Regularly seek and act on customer feedback to refine services, ensuring consistent communication across all channels to enhance satisfaction. Practice Active Listening When you practice active listening, you’re not just hearing words; you’re fully engaging with the customer to understand their needs. This approach cultivates a deeper connection and is crucial for providing the best customer service experience. Studies reveal that 70% of customers feel more valued when they believe their concerns are genuinely heard. By concentrating, responding, and remembering what the customer says, you can accurately identify their needs and offer customized solutions. Techniques like summarizing statements and asking clarifying questions improve active listening, making interactions more efficient. Furthermore, role-playing exercises during training can help you further develop these skills, enabling you to handle challenging situations effectively and finally enhancing customer care in your organization. Develop Empathy Developing empathy in customer service is vital for creating a positive experience, as it enables representatives to acknowledge and understand customer emotions. When agents practice empathy, they can reduce frustration, especially since 76% of consumers stop doing business after one bad experience. Implementing role-playing scenarios during training helps agents respond appropriately, using phrases like, “I can see why this is frustrating for you.” This practice encourages a supportive environment for problem-solving, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, responding with empathy can calm difficult interactions, as 90% of customers appreciate quick replies. Training agents to recognize and validate feelings builds trust, catering to the 71% of customers who expect personalized interactions reflecting their unique experiences. Use Positive Language Using positive language in customer interactions is crucial for building trusting connections and enhancing problem resolution. By framing your responses with constructive alternatives, like saying “Here’s what we can do” instead of “We can’t do that,” you promote a more positive atmosphere. This approach not just encourages better interactions but additionally supports customer loyalty, making it a valuable skill for any customer service representative. Build Trusting Connections Positive language plays a crucial role in building trusting connections with customers, as it reframes interactions to emphasize solutions rather than problems. When you say, “Here’s what we can do,” instead of “We can’t do that,” you create a more positive experience. This approach can greatly improve customer satisfaction and reduce frustration by up to 70%, promoting loyalty and encouraging repeat business. To equip your team, consider implementing a “positive alternatives” cheat sheet that helps transform negative statements into constructive responses. By using empathetic and supportive language, you not only de-escalate conflicts but also nurture a welcoming atmosphere, eventually improving the overall customer experience. Trust is built through consistency in communication, so practice positivity consistently. Enhance Problem Resolution When customers face issues, the way you respond can greatly influence their perception of your service. Using positive language focuses on solutions rather than limitations, creating a constructive atmosphere. For instance, saying, “Here’s what we can do” instead of “We can’t do that” not only boosts customer satisfaction but also encourages engagement. Research shows that a positive tone can increase customer loyalty by 20%, as customers feel appreciated and understood. Training your representatives to adopt this approach improves their confidence and effectiveness in resolving problems. Implementing a “positive alternatives” cheat sheet can guide agents in converting negative statements into empowering responses, ultimately raising the overall customer experience and nurturing lasting relationships. Foster Positive Interactions Encouraging positive interactions in customer service is crucial for improving the overall experience. Using positive language can transform these interactions, focusing on solutions rather than problems. When you say phrases like “I can help you with that” or “Here’s what we can do,” you convey a willingness to assist, promoting collaboration with the customer. Research shows that representatives who use positive language greatly improve customer satisfaction, which can lead to increased loyalty and repeat business. To maintain this approach, consider implementing a “positive alternatives” cheat sheet to help team members quickly find constructive phrases. This method not only reduces customer frustration but also enhances conflict resolution, making customers feel valued and understood throughout their experience. Improve Technical Skills To improve your technical skills, start by enhancing your product knowledge, as this will enable you to provide accurate and efficient support to customers. Make sure to utilize support tools like CRM systems effectively, which can help you access customer data quickly and personalize interactions. Furthermore, commit to continuous skill development through formal training, online resources, and feedback from peers to keep pace with evolving technologies in customer service. Enhance Product Knowledge Enhancing product knowledge is vital for customer service representatives, as it directly impacts their ability to assist customers effectively. When you have thorough knowledge of your products, you can provide accurate and confident responses, which cultivates trust and satisfaction. Regularly updating an internal FAQ or a searchable knowledge base allows you to quickly access critical information, making your responses timely and relevant. Conducting refresher training sessions whenever products or policies change guarantees you stay informed and ready to address inquiries. Empowering yourself with in-depth knowledge enables you to make informed recommendations, enhancing the overall customer experience. Finally, engaging in continuous learning opportunities, like workshops or online courses, sharpens your technical skills, leading to higher service quality and reduced customer frustration. Utilize Support Tools Having a strong foundation in product knowledge sets the stage for utilizing support tools effectively in customer service. Investing in ongoing technical training enables you to resolve issues more efficiently, boosting customer satisfaction. A thorough internal FAQ or knowledge base gives quick access to crucial information, reducing response times. Implementing customer relationship management (CRM) tools allows you to access customer history, enabling personalized interactions. Regular refresher training on new technologies keeps your skills sharp, improving performance metrics. Furthermore, data analytics tools help you spot customer trends and proactively address potential issues. Support Tool Benefits Implementation Tips Internal FAQ Quick information access Regularly update content Salesforce Personalized service Train staff on features Data Analytics Tools Identify trends Analyze data regularly Continuous Skill Development As customer interactions increasingly rely on automated systems, it’s vital for representatives to continuously develop their technical skills to navigate various technologies confidently. With 85% of interactions expected to be automated by 2025, ongoing training is critical. Consider implementing the following strategies to improve technical proficiency: Provide access to an internal FAQ or searchable knowledge base, empowering agents to resolve inquiries efficiently. Schedule regular refresher sessions on product features and policies to keep representatives informed and reduce misinformation. Incorporate hands-on training and simulations during onboarding to improve new hires’ technical abilities and boost retention. Utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) tools effectively can likewise streamline processes, enabling agents to focus on delivering quality service, ultimately improving the customer experience. Communicate Clearly Clear communication is essential in customer care, as it greatly reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings. Studies show that 70% of customers appreciate straightforward responses, so using simple, jargon-free language is critical. In fact, 65% of customers feel confused when service representatives use technical terms. At the end of interactions, summarizing solutions in plain language boosts trust, with 80% of customers preferring clarity over complexity. Providing real-time updates, like hold times during service interactions, promotes transparency and can reduce frustration by 50%. Furthermore, establishing a consistent communication style across all channels makes it 60% easier for customers to navigate their inquiries effectively. Personalize Customer Interactions Personalizing customer interactions is crucial for enhancing satisfaction and loyalty, especially as consumers increasingly expect customized experiences from brands. By effectively utilizing customer data, you can address individual preferences, resulting in more engaging interactions. Consider acknowledging customer loyalty through personalized gestures like thank-you notes or special offers, which can greatly boost retention. Furthermore, implementing AI-driven tools enables you to gain real-time insights into customer history and preferences, leading to informed responses. This approach not only promotes a sense of recognition but also increases the likelihood of positive word-of-mouth referrals. Utilize customer data to tailor interactions. Acknowledge loyalty with personalized gestures. Implement AI tools for real-time insights. Seek and Act on Customer Feedback Comprehending customer feedback is a crucial part of improving your service and overall customer experience. Regularly solicit feedback through surveys and follow-up calls to gather insights about customer interactions. Use customer satisfaction surveys (CSAT) to measure service effectiveness; remember, 76% of consumers may stop doing business after a single bad experience. Analyze the feedback to identify trends and common issues, allowing you to implement changes that elevate satisfaction. Establish accessible channels for feedback, such as phone surveys, email surveys, or website forms. Finally, communicate any improvements made based on customer feedback to reinforce the value you place on their opinions and strengthen your relationships. Taking these steps demonstrates your commitment to quality service and responsiveness to customer needs. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Customer Service? The 5 C’s of customer service are clarity, consistency, credibility, compassion, and customization. Clarity guarantees you communicate simply, avoiding jargon, so customers understand you. Consistency involves delivering the same quality of service across all channels, guaranteeing reliability. Credibility requires you to demonstrate knowledge about products, cultivating trust. Compassion helps you empathize with customers, addressing their concerns. Finally, customization means personalizing interactions based on customer preferences, enhancing their overall experience and satisfaction. What Are the Ways to Improve Customer Service? To improve customer service, you can implement a feedback system like surveys or follow-up calls to identify strengths and weaknesses. Ongoing training for your representatives improves their effectiveness and service quality. Utilizing technology, such as CRM tools and chatbots, streamlines processes and reduces response times. Establishing clear expectations nurtures trust, as well as encouraging empathy and active listening among your agents can greatly improve customer interactions, leading to a more positive overall experience. What Is the 10 to 10 Rule in Customer Service? The 10 to 10 Rule in customer service emphasizes responding to inquiries within 10 minutes and providing a resolution or update within 10 hours. This approach caters to customers’ desire for quick replies, as over 90% value immediate communication. By following this guideline, you can greatly improve customer satisfaction, reduce frustration, and encourage loyalty, since 76% of consumers are likely to disengage after a negative experience. Implementing this rule strengthens your business’s reputation for reliability. What Are the 7 Skills of Good Customer Service? To excel in customer service, you need seven key skills. First, empathy helps you understand customer perspectives. Second, clear communication guarantees customers grasp information easily. Third, adaptability allows you to handle various situations effectively. Fourth, product knowledge empowers you to provide accurate assistance. Fifth, active listening shows customers you value their concerns. Sixth, patience is crucial when dealing with difficult situations. Finally, problem-solving skills enable you to find effective solutions quickly and efficiently. Conclusion Improving customer care is essential for building loyalty and satisfaction. By practicing active listening, developing empathy, and using positive language, you can create a more engaging experience. Enhancing your technical skills and communicating clearly will streamline interactions. Personalizing customer experiences based on preferences nurtures connection, as well as regularly seeking and acting on feedback helps identify growth areas. Implementing these strategies will not just meet customer needs but additionally reinforce trust and reliability in your service. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Effective Tips for Improving Customer Care" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Improving customer care is essential for any business aiming to build loyalty and improve satisfaction. By practicing active listening, you can better understand your customers’ needs, leading to more effective solutions. Furthermore, developing empathy allows you to connect with clients on a personal level, whereas clear communication minimizes misunderstandings. If you focus on personalizing interactions and consistently seeking feedback, you’ll uncover valuable insights. These strategies can greatly improve your customer care approach, so let’s explore them in detail. Key Takeaways Actively listen to customers by summarizing their concerns and asking clarifying questions to enhance understanding and build trust. Develop empathy by using positive language and acknowledging customer emotions to foster better interactions. Personalize customer experiences by utilizing data to tailor interactions and recognize loyalty with special gestures. Continuously improve technical skills and product knowledge through training and up-to-date resources to provide accurate assistance. Regularly seek and act on customer feedback to refine services, ensuring consistent communication across all channels to enhance satisfaction. Practice Active Listening When you practice active listening, you’re not just hearing words; you’re fully engaging with the customer to understand their needs. This approach cultivates a deeper connection and is crucial for providing the best customer service experience. Studies reveal that 70% of customers feel more valued when they believe their concerns are genuinely heard. By concentrating, responding, and remembering what the customer says, you can accurately identify their needs and offer customized solutions. Techniques like summarizing statements and asking clarifying questions improve active listening, making interactions more efficient. Furthermore, role-playing exercises during training can help you further develop these skills, enabling you to handle challenging situations effectively and finally enhancing customer care in your organization. Develop Empathy Developing empathy in customer service is vital for creating a positive experience, as it enables representatives to acknowledge and understand customer emotions. When agents practice empathy, they can reduce frustration, especially since 76% of consumers stop doing business after one bad experience. Implementing role-playing scenarios during training helps agents respond appropriately, using phrases like, “I can see why this is frustrating for you.” This practice encourages a supportive environment for problem-solving, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, responding with empathy can calm difficult interactions, as 90% of customers appreciate quick replies. Training agents to recognize and validate feelings builds trust, catering to the 71% of customers who expect personalized interactions reflecting their unique experiences. Use Positive Language Using positive language in customer interactions is crucial for building trusting connections and enhancing problem resolution. By framing your responses with constructive alternatives, like saying “Here’s what we can do” instead of “We can’t do that,” you promote a more positive atmosphere. This approach not just encourages better interactions but additionally supports customer loyalty, making it a valuable skill for any customer service representative. Build Trusting Connections Positive language plays a crucial role in building trusting connections with customers, as it reframes interactions to emphasize solutions rather than problems. When you say, “Here’s what we can do,” instead of “We can’t do that,” you create a more positive experience. This approach can greatly improve customer satisfaction and reduce frustration by up to 70%, promoting loyalty and encouraging repeat business. To equip your team, consider implementing a “positive alternatives” cheat sheet that helps transform negative statements into constructive responses. By using empathetic and supportive language, you not only de-escalate conflicts but also nurture a welcoming atmosphere, eventually improving the overall customer experience. Trust is built through consistency in communication, so practice positivity consistently. Enhance Problem Resolution When customers face issues, the way you respond can greatly influence their perception of your service. Using positive language focuses on solutions rather than limitations, creating a constructive atmosphere. For instance, saying, “Here’s what we can do” instead of “We can’t do that” not only boosts customer satisfaction but also encourages engagement. Research shows that a positive tone can increase customer loyalty by 20%, as customers feel appreciated and understood. Training your representatives to adopt this approach improves their confidence and effectiveness in resolving problems. Implementing a “positive alternatives” cheat sheet can guide agents in converting negative statements into empowering responses, ultimately raising the overall customer experience and nurturing lasting relationships. Foster Positive Interactions Encouraging positive interactions in customer service is crucial for improving the overall experience. Using positive language can transform these interactions, focusing on solutions rather than problems. When you say phrases like “I can help you with that” or “Here’s what we can do,” you convey a willingness to assist, promoting collaboration with the customer. Research shows that representatives who use positive language greatly improve customer satisfaction, which can lead to increased loyalty and repeat business. To maintain this approach, consider implementing a “positive alternatives” cheat sheet to help team members quickly find constructive phrases. This method not only reduces customer frustration but also enhances conflict resolution, making customers feel valued and understood throughout their experience. Improve Technical Skills To improve your technical skills, start by enhancing your product knowledge, as this will enable you to provide accurate and efficient support to customers. Make sure to utilize support tools like CRM systems effectively, which can help you access customer data quickly and personalize interactions. Furthermore, commit to continuous skill development through formal training, online resources, and feedback from peers to keep pace with evolving technologies in customer service. Enhance Product Knowledge Enhancing product knowledge is vital for customer service representatives, as it directly impacts their ability to assist customers effectively. When you have thorough knowledge of your products, you can provide accurate and confident responses, which cultivates trust and satisfaction. Regularly updating an internal FAQ or a searchable knowledge base allows you to quickly access critical information, making your responses timely and relevant. Conducting refresher training sessions whenever products or policies change guarantees you stay informed and ready to address inquiries. Empowering yourself with in-depth knowledge enables you to make informed recommendations, enhancing the overall customer experience. Finally, engaging in continuous learning opportunities, like workshops or online courses, sharpens your technical skills, leading to higher service quality and reduced customer frustration. Utilize Support Tools Having a strong foundation in product knowledge sets the stage for utilizing support tools effectively in customer service. Investing in ongoing technical training enables you to resolve issues more efficiently, boosting customer satisfaction. A thorough internal FAQ or knowledge base gives quick access to crucial information, reducing response times. Implementing customer relationship management (CRM) tools allows you to access customer history, enabling personalized interactions. Regular refresher training on new technologies keeps your skills sharp, improving performance metrics. Furthermore, data analytics tools help you spot customer trends and proactively address potential issues. Support Tool Benefits Implementation Tips Internal FAQ Quick information access Regularly update content Salesforce Personalized service Train staff on features Data Analytics Tools Identify trends Analyze data regularly Continuous Skill Development As customer interactions increasingly rely on automated systems, it’s vital for representatives to continuously develop their technical skills to navigate various technologies confidently. With 85% of interactions expected to be automated by 2025, ongoing training is critical. Consider implementing the following strategies to improve technical proficiency: Provide access to an internal FAQ or searchable knowledge base, empowering agents to resolve inquiries efficiently. Schedule regular refresher sessions on product features and policies to keep representatives informed and reduce misinformation. Incorporate hands-on training and simulations during onboarding to improve new hires’ technical abilities and boost retention. Utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) tools effectively can likewise streamline processes, enabling agents to focus on delivering quality service, ultimately improving the customer experience. Communicate Clearly Clear communication is essential in customer care, as it greatly reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings. Studies show that 70% of customers appreciate straightforward responses, so using simple, jargon-free language is critical. In fact, 65% of customers feel confused when service representatives use technical terms. At the end of interactions, summarizing solutions in plain language boosts trust, with 80% of customers preferring clarity over complexity. Providing real-time updates, like hold times during service interactions, promotes transparency and can reduce frustration by 50%. Furthermore, establishing a consistent communication style across all channels makes it 60% easier for customers to navigate their inquiries effectively. Personalize Customer Interactions Personalizing customer interactions is crucial for enhancing satisfaction and loyalty, especially as consumers increasingly expect customized experiences from brands. By effectively utilizing customer data, you can address individual preferences, resulting in more engaging interactions. Consider acknowledging customer loyalty through personalized gestures like thank-you notes or special offers, which can greatly boost retention. Furthermore, implementing AI-driven tools enables you to gain real-time insights into customer history and preferences, leading to informed responses. This approach not only promotes a sense of recognition but also increases the likelihood of positive word-of-mouth referrals. Utilize customer data to tailor interactions. Acknowledge loyalty with personalized gestures. Implement AI tools for real-time insights. Seek and Act on Customer Feedback Comprehending customer feedback is a crucial part of improving your service and overall customer experience. Regularly solicit feedback through surveys and follow-up calls to gather insights about customer interactions. Use customer satisfaction surveys (CSAT) to measure service effectiveness; remember, 76% of consumers may stop doing business after a single bad experience. Analyze the feedback to identify trends and common issues, allowing you to implement changes that elevate satisfaction. Establish accessible channels for feedback, such as phone surveys, email surveys, or website forms. Finally, communicate any improvements made based on customer feedback to reinforce the value you place on their opinions and strengthen your relationships. Taking these steps demonstrates your commitment to quality service and responsiveness to customer needs. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Customer Service? The 5 C’s of customer service are clarity, consistency, credibility, compassion, and customization. Clarity guarantees you communicate simply, avoiding jargon, so customers understand you. Consistency involves delivering the same quality of service across all channels, guaranteeing reliability. Credibility requires you to demonstrate knowledge about products, cultivating trust. Compassion helps you empathize with customers, addressing their concerns. Finally, customization means personalizing interactions based on customer preferences, enhancing their overall experience and satisfaction. What Are the Ways to Improve Customer Service? To improve customer service, you can implement a feedback system like surveys or follow-up calls to identify strengths and weaknesses. Ongoing training for your representatives improves their effectiveness and service quality. Utilizing technology, such as CRM tools and chatbots, streamlines processes and reduces response times. Establishing clear expectations nurtures trust, as well as encouraging empathy and active listening among your agents can greatly improve customer interactions, leading to a more positive overall experience. What Is the 10 to 10 Rule in Customer Service? The 10 to 10 Rule in customer service emphasizes responding to inquiries within 10 minutes and providing a resolution or update within 10 hours. This approach caters to customers’ desire for quick replies, as over 90% value immediate communication. By following this guideline, you can greatly improve customer satisfaction, reduce frustration, and encourage loyalty, since 76% of consumers are likely to disengage after a negative experience. Implementing this rule strengthens your business’s reputation for reliability. What Are the 7 Skills of Good Customer Service? To excel in customer service, you need seven key skills. First, empathy helps you understand customer perspectives. Second, clear communication guarantees customers grasp information easily. Third, adaptability allows you to handle various situations effectively. Fourth, product knowledge empowers you to provide accurate assistance. Fifth, active listening shows customers you value their concerns. Sixth, patience is crucial when dealing with difficult situations. Finally, problem-solving skills enable you to find effective solutions quickly and efficiently. Conclusion Improving customer care is essential for building loyalty and satisfaction. By practicing active listening, developing empathy, and using positive language, you can create a more engaging experience. Enhancing your technical skills and communicating clearly will streamline interactions. Personalizing customer experiences based on preferences nurtures connection, as well as regularly seeking and acting on feedback helps identify growth areas. Implementing these strategies will not just meet customer needs but additionally reinforce trust and reliability in your service. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Effective Tips for Improving Customer Care" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

There's very little privacy on the internet: Data brokers collect tons of information about you and your online activity and sell it to anyone interested in marketing to you. California residents have gained more control over their personal data than those in other states since the passage of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in 2018, and they now have a one-stop shop for requesting that their information be removed from hundreds of data brokers registered with the state (and any that do so in the future). California isn't the only state to enact stronger consumer privacy laws in recent years, but its Delete Requests and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) is the first of its kind. The tool is live now, though brokers won't begin processing submissions until August. Here's what to do now if you live in California—and some options for removing your information from data brokers if you don't. How to sign up for California's data removal platformTo get started with DROP, you'll need to confirm that you are, in fact, a California resident by verifying personal information via California Identity Gateway or signing in with Login.gov credentials. To be eligible, you must either live in California or be domiciled in the state even if you live elsewhere temporarily. (This is based on the location of your primary residence, where you are registered to vote, and which state issued your driver's license.) You will then be able to create and submit a deletion request. You'll need to provide some personal data, which will be used to match your request with records held by data brokers. Data types include names, date of birth, zip codes, email addresses, phone numbers, Mobile Advertising IDs (MAIDs), and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). You can enter multiples of everything except your date of birth and update your request at a later time—if you get a new car or change your email, for example. While you can begin submitting requests now, know that data brokers won't actually begin processing them until August 2026 and could take up to 90 days from then to delete your data. If they find a match, they are required to delete all of the information they have about you, though there are some exceptions, such as data available through public records or provided directly to a business. Once processing begins later this year, you'll be able to track the status of your request on the DROP platform. Alternatives for deleting your dataIf you don't reside in California and qualify for DROP, all is not lost—though you will have to invest a bit more time and/or money to remove your information from data broker sites than simply mass deleting via a single request. To start opting out of data collection, download Consumer Reports' donation-based Permission Slip app, which tracks where your data can be found and follows up on removal requests. You can try to manually opt out by identifying data brokers and going directly to their sites, but this can be tedious, and there are a handful of other paid services that will do it for you. (None are perfect, nor do they guarantee 100% success.) We also have a guide to blocking companies from tracking your online activities, which can help mitigate the problem somewhat before it begins. View the full article

Popular cryptocurrency XRP had a lackluster 2025, starting the year at around $2.32 per token while finishing at around the $1.84 mark. But in the past 24 hours, the price of XRP has jumped more than 11% to $2.37 per coin—a price not seen since the early part of November. So what’s driving the rise? Here are the two strongest factors. Spot ETF inflows are rising XRP is the native token of the XRP Ledger from Ripple Labs. Like some other well-known cryptocurrencies, XRP tokens are available to purchase directly or through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Traditional retail investors tend to prefer to invest in the token through ETFs for convenience and tax advantages. And recently, the money being put into spot XRP ETFs is rising. (“Spot” means that the ETF holds the asset directly.) As noted by CoinDesk, spot XRP ETF inflows reached $48 million on Monday alone. An inflow refers to additional money being put into an ETF. This money comes from investors, and the ETF fund managers then use it to buy more of the asset. Increasing spot ETF inflows suggest that investors have a growing appetite for the asset—in this case, XRP. Monday’s inflow volume, combined with the inflows of spot XRP ETFs over the past two months, means total inflows have now exceeded $1 billion during that time frame, indicating that investors are bullish on the crypto. Exchange availability is dropping At the same time that spot XRP inflows are rising, the availability of XRP on traditional cryptocurrency exchanges, where crypto investors can buy and sell the coin directly, is falling. CoinDesk says XRP availability on crypto exchanges “has dropped to multi-year lows.” What this means is fewer crypto investors are moving their money to exchanges, where a coin must be if it is to be sold, and instead keeping XRP in their personal wallets. Investors typically hold an asset when they believe its value will increase, or there will be more demand for the asset in the future. And by keeping XRP in their wallets and off exchanges, there are fewer tokens available to buy, which increases demand. When demand increases, prices of an asset tend to rise. Cryptocurrencies are seeing a broader rebound this week XRP’s spot ETF inflow growth and reduced exchange availability likely aren’t the only two factors behind the token’s 11% surge these past 24 hours. The first week of 2026 has seen a crypto rally of sorts since the year began, with many major tokens, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, up over the past five days. During that time, Bitcoin has risen nearly 6%, and Ethereum is up nearly 8%. XRP is up nearly 26% during the same timeframe, its growth likely helped by broader crypto market optimism. This comes after many tokens struggled to gain ground in December. Yet despite XRP’s recent growth, the coin is still down about 2% over the past 12 months. It is also down significantly from its all-time high of over $3.65 last July. With 2026 just beginning, it remains to be seen whether the new year will bring a repeat of 2025’s calendar-year lackluster performance or if XRP will continue moving toward its previous all-time highs. View the full article

Emboldened by the Venezuelan operation, The President is seeking a foreign balm for domestic painView the full article

A new year, a new quantum computing breakthrough: D-Wave, one of the quantum industry’s rising stars, announced “an industry-first breakthrough” on Tuesday as it works to make quantum computing commercially viable. The company says it has demonstrated “scalable, on-chip cryogenic control for gate-model qubits,” claiming it is the first in the industry to do so, and that the breakthrough helps overcome “a long-standing obstacle to building commercially viable and scalable gate-model quantum computers.” The issue, as Trevor Lanting, D-Wave’s chief development officer, tells Fast Company, is that adding qubits to a quantum system requires additional resources, such as control lines. That involves more space, material, and an overall increase in complexity for the entire system. But D-Wave has found a way to reduce that complexity, opening the door for scalability. “You can think of it as a chip in your phone or laptop,” Lanting says. “The CPU has transistors in it, and there are billions in a modern CPU or logic chip, but only a small number of connections that go from the motherboard and get the information on and off the chip. You don’t have individual wires going to each transistor; you need to multiplex that control.” That, in a corollary to classical computing, is what D-Wave is claiming to have demonstrated. Again, this means that additional quantum computing power can be controlled with fewer resources, or “scalable control,” as Lanting puts it. For D-Wave, it’s the latest major announcement among several over the past year, as the company continues to push the envelope in the burgeoning quantum computing field. Last March, the company claimed to have achieved “quantum supremacy” after it was able to “successfully simulate the properties of magnetic materials” using its Advantage2 annealing quantum computer. In October, it struck a $12 million deal to bring its computers to Europe. All of that has sent D-Wave’s stock to the moon. Over the past year, shares have increased by more than 200%. Two years ago, shares were trading for less than $1; as of January 5, they were trading at nearly $31. Lanting, who has been with the company for nearly two decades, says it’s been a long time coming. “We’ve been intensively investing in this technology for a decade, and now we’ve been able to harness it for a gate-model program. This was the step we needed to get the control technology working,” he says, adding, “We’re very excited. This really is a differentiating technology for D-Wave. [And] our customers are excited because they get to work on cutting-edge hardware.” View the full article

US President Donald The President threatens Mexico and says Cuban regime will fall after capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás MaduroView the full article

Organizations are increasingly turning to “Culture Coaches” to address workplace challenges that traditional management approaches can’t solve. These specialized professionals bring outside perspective and emotional intelligence strategies to help teams build stronger communication patterns, employee engagement, and alignment. In this article, experts share insights on how culture coaching is reshaping the way companies approach employee growth, leadership development, and organizational success. Leaders Shape the Operating System of Business Companies are hiring Culture Coaches because many leaders are finally recognizing that culture is not a perk and not a mood. It is the operating system of the business. Most cultural breakdowns start in leadership behaviors: how decisions are made, how conflict is handled, how communication lands, and how trust is built or eroded in daily interactions. A Culture Coach gives leaders the mirror, structure, and practice to strengthen those patterns so teams can collaborate with clarity instead of confusion. When leaders shift their habits, the culture follows. The impact is tangible. Engagement rises when employees feel seen, heard, and supported. Alignment improves because leaders stop sending mixed signals. Collaboration improves because teams feel safer challenging ideas and offering better ones. And performance improves because clarity reduces rework and friction across the system. Companies with coaching-supported cultures consistently see stronger engagement, stronger retention, and better performance outcomes. A concrete example from my own experience: At a high-growth company I worked with, the leadership team was deeply capable but stretched thin. Decisions were made reactively, communication was inconsistent, and the team began losing trust in one another. A Culture Coach helped the executives slow their reaction cycle, name the patterns, rebuild communication agreements, and establish clear decision ownership. Within months, the shift was visible. Meetings became more honest, tension eased, and teams had clearer direction. Leaders modeled steadiness instead of urgency, and that stability cascaded into the organization. Culture did not shift because of a program. It shifted because the leaders did. Culture Coaches do not fix culture. They strengthen the leaders who shape it every day. And when leaders have more awareness, more clarity, and more skill, the culture becomes a competitive advantage instead of a liability. Lena McDearmid, Founder, Wryver Culture Lives in Daily Feelings at Work I am seeing more companies look for Culture Coaches because they are finally admitting something important. Culture does not live in a policy manual. It lives in how people feel day to day at work. I often step into an informal Culture Coach role for my clients. I sit with senior leaders and ask very direct questions. How does it really feel to work here? Who is thriving and who is quietly checking out? Where are your values visible, and where are they only marketing language? Those conversations are where the real culture work begins. A Culture Coach makes it safer to name what is not working. My role is to translate what I hear from employees into language leaders can act on. Sometimes that means rethinking how feedback is given. Sometimes it means changing who is in the room when decisions are made. Often it is about slowing down long enough to listen before launching the next big initiative. Inside my company, my team holds me accountable in the same way. We are a lean, mostly remote group, so I invite honest feedback on how our workload, communication style, and tools actually feel in practice. If something feels heavy, confusing, or unfair, I want to know. That input shapes how we set expectations, run meetings, and protect rest. The impact of a Culture Coach is not just a nicer atmosphere. It is clearer decisions, fewer unspoken tensions, and a workplace where people feel safe enough to tell the truth. When that happens, engagement and performance follow, but they grow from a real foundation, not from a slogan. Alysha M. Campbell, Founder and CEO, CultureShift HR Emotional Intelligence Builds Thriving Workplace Cultures Right now, company culture is one of the most critical prerequisites for multiple younger generations. They are no longer willing to work in a hostile environment controlled by micromanagers. Companies are losing their top talent due to leaders with low emotional intelligence. My work has involved working with companies for over two decades, teaching emotional intelligence and building thriving cultures. In the last year alone, there has been a sharp increase in the desire and need for outside expert support. Creating a thriving culture is not a quick fix; it requires courageous and dedicated leaders willing to address their own shortcomings. In one such company that hired me, turnover was constant! They were losing enormous resources with this one challenge alone; yet, the backbiting and lack of safety made it miserable even for employees who stayed. Now, employees love coming to work and remain loyal, even during tough economic times. During the process, leaders were incredulous at first, until results began to show. Workplace gossip plummeted; employees worked through their own conflicts; leaders’ transparency increased; employee drama decreased; and a foundation of trust and open communication rose dramatically. Leaders went from disbelief to “hmmm” to “wow,” then relaxed into “ahhh.” Nothing beats a workplace where people love coming to work! Jennifer Williams, Executive Coach & EQ Leadership Trainer, Heartmanity Adaptive Leadership Shifts Patterns Through Behavioral Experiments Companies are turning to Culture Coaches because they’re finally recognizing what many of us in adaptive leadership have known for years: you can’t delegate your way out of a culture problem. Culture is the lived patterns of behavior a system rewards, tolerates, or ignores. And those patterns don’t shift because a CEO announces a new initiative; they shift because someone is helping people see their system clearly, experiment with new behaviors, and stay in the discomfort long enough for real change to take root. A clear example stands out for me. An international institution brought us in to conduct listening sessions and map a plan to reengage critical staff and signal a more collaborative and accountable culture following a change in leadership and direction. Traditional consulting had handed them a tidy road map, which did not adequately incorporate staff input, nor did it account for the loss and frustration they had experienced. With groups of key staff, we facilitated a gap analysis of where the organization was and where they wanted to be. Small groups, each working on one theme, then identified behaviors to bridge that gap and plotted the impact of each idea as a function of their difficulty to implement. Six months later, staff reported feeling heard, retention stabilized, and the system could better focus on their core mission. That’s the tangible impact: a culture where people are not managed into compliance, but coached into capability. Kirsti Samuels, Founder, Women Igniting Leadership Lab Coaches Provide Safe Space for Employee Growth Companies that hire Culture Coaches are finding that their employees are increasingly happier, less overwhelmed, have tools to navigate growth and performance better, and create strategies to be more visible and relevant. This equates to better retention, work, and outcomes for overall company goals. Seldom in our adult lives do we have a space to talk openly about our fears, imposter syndrome, and what’s holding us back, and doing it with key relationships in the office can be terrifying because of optics and the stakes feel too high. Employees who have this type of coaching opportunity are supported in positive regard, free of bias, find strategies to overcome these fears, and champion more productive conversations with leadership or their direct reports while quietly and powerfully making a positive shift in culture through each and every conversation. If every employee is on autopilot on a never-ending hamster wheel working, there is no pause for reflection, to find ways to navigate friction, or the pieces of the work experience that don’t feel right. Being able to work with a coach can help address these in the most positive ways and keep an employee from being disconnected, resentful, or lost. It also might keep them from leaving and help them be more productive! As a coach that works for a Fortune 100 tech company, I’ve supported my clients in finding strategies to: Onboard more successfully by working on tools for mastering their line of business and building key relationships, so they more quickly become comfortable in their role as well as valued team players. Have conversations with leadership that are more productive and drive visibility and relevance for the employee. Ask for what they want. Everyone in the workplace is human, never mind leaders, and finding the language and the ask that feels best has elicited the best outcomes. One of my clients finally asked for a promotion, and his manager’s response was, “I had no idea you wanted more.” They are now working on what’s next collaboratively. Be more authentic with their team and leaders, leading to less overwhelm even though the amount of work didn’t change. There are dozens more examples, but all these moments have made my clients more hopeful, confident, and excited about their roles. Many have gone from, “I want to leave this place,” to, “I found tools to address my needs and I like it here; I want to stay.” The benefits are endless, and an amazing tool for organizations to harness. Shannon Bloom, Leadership & Transformation Career Coach & Founder, PCC, Radiant Firefly Outside Perspective Reveals Gaps Leaders Miss Daily Companies are turning to Culture Coaches because they’re finally realizing that culture isn’t a poster on the wall or a gorgeous website—it’s the day-to-day habits, decisions, and communication patterns that shape how people feel at work. Most leaders weren’t trained to spot culture issues early or to talk about them honestly, or they are so busy with the day-to-day that they are unable to diagnose culture cracks. Having someone who can name the gaps, coach leaders through them, and build simple systems for consistency makes a noticeable difference. A Culture Coach brings outside perspective without the baggage of internal politics, which helps teams move faster and with more clarity. This is especially true when an organization scales and the informal ways of working that once “just worked” start to break down. In my own work as a fractional people leader, I’ve stepped into this role many times. In one organization I supported, the team had expanded but the culture hadn’t kept pace (though in fairness, there hadn’t been intentional thought here). Staff and mid-level leaders (especially those who had recently joined) were reporting low levels of inclusion, while senior leadership—who were the same founders who built the organization—were both surprised and confused. What we uncovered was that the values were still deeply held by senior leaders, but they hadn’t been translated into clear, consistent practices consistently communicated as the organization grew. Without that structure, opportunities for growth started to feel subjective and political. Together, we mapped out key priorities and a road map to define organizational competencies and pathways for growth. We also communicated this to the organization as a whole so that everyone had visibility into the findings and the new direction. Lisa Friscia, President and Founder, Franca Consulting Intentional Culture Supports Ambitious Startup Goals Companies are increasingly hiring Culture Coaches for a few different reasons. 1. They have the resources and foresight to plan ahead, likely startups with funding trying to become a venture-scale business that recognize the importance of developing an intentional culture to achieve challenging goals. I have hired Culture Coaches for this purpose at past startups I have worked at, including Patreon and Clara. At both of these companies, the founders understood the importance of an intentional and aligned company culture from the beginning. They were aiming to grow rapidly and disrupt a traditional market. To do this, you need more than a basic business model; you need a team intrinsically motivated behind your mission and work. You need the company culture (i.e., actions and behaviors or DNA) to align with your ambitious goals. A Culture Coach in this setting comes in to help you refine vision, mission, and values and integrate those things into daily systems and practices. 2. The company has received feedback via engagement scores, performance reviews, or retention data and exit interviews that the culture is causing a problem, a “toxic” culture. This may be on a specific team or within the org as a whole. For this example, I have joined as the external “culture” coach. Here, you take a similar path, learning about the company’s goals and vision, and from there, develop the behaviors needed to be successful, and then, using listening tours and 360s, observe the culture and behaviors that exist today. You prioritize adjustments based on impact and begin intentional changes with feedback loops in a design thinking model to slowly adjust the culture over time. 3. The company may be preparing for rapid growth or another big change. In this example, the company may be aware, advised, or dealing with some early indicators of trouble with the culture. Regardless of the impetus, the company will pursue a “culture” coach, also a role I have taken, to support identifying the culture that exists today and the culture that will be needed throughout and after the change. This can be very helpful in undergoing a merger, international expansion, or dramatic shift in product/service offering and market. Chelsea Seid, CEO & Founder, Talent Praxis Regulate Nervous Systems to Transform Workplace Behavior Companies are bringing in Culture Coaches because they’re realizing something fundamental: you can’t create a healthier workplace by only teaching leadership skills. You have to teach leaders and teams how to be regulated humans first. A large portion of what’s labeled as “performance issues” is actually nervous system dysregulation showing up as reactivity, tension, poor communication, and burnout. A Culture Coach helps shift the internal state that drives external behavior, and that’s where culture genuinely starts to change. One of the clearest examples of this comes from my work with a construction company whose owner, Jac Ryan, later wrote about their experience. She shared that what immediately stood out was that my approach wasn’t the traditional top-down leadership training they were used to. Instead of piling on more skills or telling people how they should behave, we focused on helping their trainers and field teams understand their own nervous systems, how their state, presence, and energy were shaping every conversation on the job site. As Jac put it, the work was “refreshing, insightful, and deeply human.” Once their trainers understood how to center themselves, everything shifted: They communicated more constructively instead of reactively. They reframed tough conversations instead of escalating them. Their attitude set a steadier tone for the whole team. The entire field environment became more collaborative and less chaotic. What impressed leadership most was watching their team open up, make honest shifts, and actually want to show up differently—not because they were told to, but because they finally understood themselves. Jac described the shift as “noticeable and inspiring,” calling it a true top-down change that energized their entire company. That’s ultimately why Culture Coaches are becoming essential. They don’t just improve performance—they transform the internal capacity of a workforce. And when people feel regulated, safe, and centered, culture improves organically. Companies feel that immediately in engagement, communication, retention, and the overall human experience of work. Karen Canham, Entrepreneur/Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Karen Ann Wellness Clear Communication Norms Eliminate Expensive Business Obstacles A Culture Coach is someone who comes in and translates the values, practices, and desires of a business into what happens on a day-to-day basis, then moves pieces into alignment with that vision. When we think of culture in a global sense, we think about the physical spaces, language, customs, laws, foods, slang; we think of the lifestyle. A company has a culture as well. It can go badly when the culture is not tended or respected, it has evolved but not well, or it was not established clearly at the start. When I was a classroom teacher, my first few years were rough: I did not know how to create a classroom culture so everyone felt they belonged and knew what to expect. Once I got this down to a science, students excelled, even ones who struggled in other places. When you are part of a strong culture, it signals to your human brain that you belong there, you are part of something, and you are safe. From there, from that psychologically safe place, you are more likely to take risks, which leads to vulnerability, connection, innovation . . . these are things that eliminate expensive business obstacles, like disengagement and talent loss. I have a client that recently scaled from a four-person team to a 10-person team. They are in the business of social support, so everyone has a big heart, but you have, for example, legacy members who hate tech, newbies without experience, misunderstood neurodivergent staff, seasoned but overwhelmed leaders . . . and no one has established lanes of function, communication norms, or respectful discourse. No one has talked about why huddles and retrospectives matter. We started simply: list everything the company does and where everyone fits. Then we explored why overwhelm was predictable and how it shows up for different people. From there, we defined what requires permission, how communication should happen, and how to escalate something. They chose their norms and scheduled trainings on the tools (Slack, email, request forms, etc.). Everyone left with a communication chart and escalation map. In one month, the CEO’s time opened up dramatically. He could actually lead instead of putting out fires. Duplicate efforts disappeared. People understood each other better. Communication became clearer. They estimate a 600% ROI based on time gained, fewer bottlenecks, and the overall improvement in how it feels to come to work. That’s exactly why Culture Coaches are on the rise: when you fix the culture, everything else starts working again. Sandra Bean, Founder + Strategist, Global Girl Boss Mirrors Normalize Healthy Behaviors and Team Alignment Culture Coaches exist to ensure that the workplace is a good place to be, because if it isn’t, great employees quickly exit, and for those who do stay, their engagement and performance will decline. What does a good place to work look like? It looks like a space where healthy working relationships are expected, where work-life balance is the rule, not the exception, and where individuals treat each other with kindness, whether they are in the room or not. When I serve in the role of culture coach, I exist as the mirror. I model what it looks like to be a team player, a listener, an advocate, and a clear communicator. My role includes validating the great work that many staff are doing, and simultaneously motivating those who are not in alignment with our company culture to explore opportunities that are more aligned with their own core values. Sometimes, employees are asked to schedule a meeting with me. In this meeting, I get to wear my coach hat, which rotates between life coaching, career coaching, and leadership coaching. Some staff are elated to have an hour dedicated to their professional success. But not everyone welcomes having the support of a coach. Some staff have the complete opposite reaction and do everything in their power to avoid spending one-on-one time with a coach. This galvanizes an organization. Staff with a growth mindset get supported and increase their performance, and those with a fixed mindset realize somewhere else would be a better fit for them. Having the right culture coach in your organization is a huge win for your staff. They get supported, healthy behaviors get acknowledged, and a trusting, effective team gets built that can crush business goals together and celebrate each other’s wins in the process. Kate Vawter, Founder and CEO, Ascent Solutions Gen Z Demands Purpose Beyond Competitive Salaries It’s because leaders have finally figured out that employees need more than free coffee and monthly lunches to fix team culture. Especially with Gen Z entering the workforce, and how much they care about having a sense of purpose more than a competitive salary, you definitely need a professional who’s solely dedicated to making teams open up and work together honestly. That’s how you build trust between employees and give them a sense of belonging. Unlike HR, Culture Coaches are a lot more hands-on, and they work with everyone, both the employees and the managers. That’s the crucial part because if your employees are making an effort but your managers are still aloof or don’t know how to tackle things like burnout, then the whole exercise is redundant. I think they’re incredibly valuable, but even more so in tech startups, and I’ve seen how these coaches remove all sorts of blockages that get in the way of innovation. They’re really great at helping founders spot which old-school habits are killing creativity. Mario Hupfeld, CTO and Cofounder, NEMIS Technologies View the full article

Five years ago this month, Kia took what seemed at the time to be a sledgehammer to its brand in the form of an inscrutable new logo. Today, its U.S. sales have never been higher. Kia America announced a 7% sales increase in 2025 after selling a record 852,155 units in the U.S. last year. It’s the third consecutive annual sales record for the South Korean automaker’s U.S. division, and the feat was driven by strong sales growth for vehicles like its K4 sedan and its Sportage and Telluride SUVs. Kia’s U.S. market share has never been greater. North America CEO Sean Yoon said in a news release that the numbers indicate “the strength of the Kia brand and the competitiveness of our models.” It also goes to show that the knee-jerk reaction to a rebrand is no indicator of future success. In January 2021, Kia dropped its old logo, which spelled out its name clearly in all capital letters inside an oval badge, and replaced it with its current mark, which writes out Kia in sharply angled letters. At first, consumers found the new logo confusing. As vehicles with the new badge began hitting the roads that year, online searches for “KN car” spiked. Some motorists seemed to mistake the futuristic-looking cross-bar-free A in the new mark as part of as a backwards N, or they assumed it was a new brand. Even if people didn’t initially get it, Kia’s new logo at least succeeded at looking future-forward. And indeed, it was meant to represent change and innovation, the company said at the time. Kia’s rebrand came amid wider rebrand efforts across the auto industry during the late 2010s and early 2020s. With the rise of electric vehicles and competitors like Tesla and Rivian increasingly crowding the market, car companies over the past several years have rebranded with flat logos suitable for digital screens or have used fonts designed to look futuristic. “The automotive industry is experiencing a period of rapid transformation, and Kia is proactively shaping and adapting to these changes,” Kia CEO Ho Sung Song said in 2021 about the company’s rebrand. Among the auto rebrands of the early 2020s, the backlash to Jaguar’s dramatic logo rebrand in 2024 seemed like the canary in the coal mine after the luxury British automaker introduced a sans serif wordmark. Kia’s success, however, should be a lesson. Kia’s rebrand was dramatic, too, but its growing sales show the company has delivered for its customers. The brand ranks above average on the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. vehicle dependability study, and the company offers models for less than $25,000 at a time when that’s now the price floor for new cars. In a time of rising car costs, it’s a recipe for success. View the full article

On December 1, podcaster and venture capitalist Harry Stebbings posted on LinkedIn that candidates were 200 times more likely to get into Harvard University than they were to get a job at the $6.6 billion valuation AI startup ElevenLabs. According to his statistic, out of 180,000 applicants in the first half of the year, only 0.018% were hired by the AI voice agent platform. That figure—extrapolated from a July spike in applications—may have been hyperbole. But it still went viral. And out of tens of thousands of applications, just 132 candidates eventually got the job at ElevenLabs—indeed, much lower than Harvard’s 3% to 4% admission rates. “On average, we’re seeing more people apply every quarter,” says Victoria Weller, VP of operations at ElevenLabs. “I hope that the high number of applicants motivates people—it’s inspiring to work somewhere that’s hard to get in. It’s like Harvard: once you’re in, you know you’re surrounded by the best people in an inspiring environment.” In-demand companies are reinforcing their recruitment to cope with a volume of applications that often runs into the six figures. For example, ElevenLabs has tripled its recruitment team this year. Coinbase, which has a 0.1% hiring rate according to the company, has added AI tools to reach more candidates, surface stronger ones earlier, and support decision making. The crypto exchange, which has a market cap of approximately $70 billion and is in the process of expanding into a financial superapp, has been long renowned for its stringent hiring process: candidates can expect six stages over 60 days—if they make it that far. And that was before a 2025 surge and a 45% year-over-year rise in applications, totaling in the hundreds of thousands. “The size of the applicant pool doesn’t determine the quality of your hires—the rigor of your system does,” says Greg Garrison, VP, talent at Coinbase. “Our core process is largely the same, but the system has simply become more efficient and calibrated.” Amid greater competition for fewer roles, and applications made easier than ever thanks to LinkedIn and generative AI, vacancies can receive hundreds—even thousands—of résumés within hours of going live. While this makes recruiters’ jobs harder, it also works in companies’ favor: high demand and low hiring signals prestige to the labor market; only the top 0.1% make the cut. Beating the bots Nicholas Bloom, professor of economics at Stanford University, believes companies’ eye-popping application numbers are largely bot-driven. “I know a Stanford undergrad that wrote code to apply to every job advert on a job board, and told me his friends use it too,” he says. “The big issue is this actually crowds out serious applicants. If you actually are in the 1% that applies by hand you have little chance of making it through.” As a result of such intense demand, candidates can expect greater scrutiny—particularly at the earlier hiring stages. In many cases, candidates will have to impress AI first. With a deluge of résumés in the inbox, ElevenLabs uses data-driven applicant tracking software Ashby to help sift the best candidates. “We have website fields asking applicants why they want to work with us and how our mission excites them,” says Weller. “That means you can identify who’s autofilled their details, and clicked ‘submit’ versus those that took the time to answer thoughtfully.” It means quick-fire applications are unlikely to make it through to the next round: the screening call; the first round where candidates meet someone in the hiring position. So even when the acceptance rates are so tiny, ensuring to do the basics, like thoroughly answering questions—without the help of ChatGPT—could make a difference. Beyond assessing candidates’ experience, the onus is on testing cultural fit. “There are certain types of questions that map to our values,” says Weller. “For example, we look for candidates with low egos, so we ask for feedback they’ve recently received—their answer can indicate their personality.” It means that the bragging LinkedIn posts aren’t perhaps a fair reflection of what hiring managers actually want from applicants. While ElevenLabs has up to five assessment rounds in total, Coinbase candidates face the prospect of four interviews in a single stage—bookended by assessments and work trials before a potential offer is made. Experience—and persistence—separate the top 0.1% from the top 1%. “The best candidates tend to stand out,” says Garrison. “What separates them isn’t polish—it’s evidence. Their track record speaks louder than their résumé.” But given the glut of applications, some of the best may slip through. Others might not even be seen at all. Publicly posting near-zero acceptance rates is a marketing tactic, says Bloom. “Some companies love to flex on how hard it is to get a job with them. It’s a big show-off, just as colleges love tons of applications to flex on how low their yield rate is, so do some companies.” Standing out from the crowd Bots or not, with so many applications for the most coveted roles, it’s harder to get your résumé read by the right person. That’s why networking becomes essential, says Mathew Schulz, founder of procurement newsletter Pennywurth. His own LinkedIn post comparing hiring rates at Ramp, the fintech that hit a $32 billion valuation last November, with Harvard admission rates—with just 0.23% of engineers hired—also went viral this year. “It’s becoming even more difficult to submit your résumé and move along the process—a vacancy has hundreds of applicants within 24 hours of going live,” says Schulz. “So having a mutual connection, reaching out to contacts, and actively following up on LinkedIn becomes more important.” With more top talent to choose from, companies can often afford to be pickier. Hiring managers are increasingly looking for candidates who are comfortable beyond their niche. “More companies are looking for ‘builders’ and ‘creators’ who can do new things, are entrepreneurial-minded, and are highly skilled,” says Schulz. “There’s a lean towards being a generalist now versus a hyper-specialist.” In practice, that can mean increasing a skillset, taking courses, and becoming adept at new tools that vacancies demand. “It’s like what they say: looking for a job becomes a full-time job,” says Schulz. Getting through the door might be a bigger challenge than before. But once candidates are finally opposite a hiring manager, the fundamentals remain the same—no matter how low the acceptance rates. “Good recruitment is still finding out, ‘What drives this person? What are they good at? Are they a good fit for the company?’” says Weller. “That will always stay the same, regardless of what the process looks like.” View the full article

As a child growing up with his grandmother in Haiti, the artist Wyclef Jean developed an early appreciation for the idea that any worthy pursuit requires a blend of agency and preparation. On the day I spoke to him, Jean recalled a time when a missionary visited his village. “At five years old, a car pulls up and a man gets out and this was like my first time seeing a white person ever. I looked at my grandma and I said, ‘Do you know who this is?’ And my grandma was like, ‘This is Jesus Christ.’” Later, Jean came to understand this man was a missionary, bringing rice and beans to his village. “When he’s leaving, I look at my grandma, and I’m like, ‘Yo, how come Jesus didn’t leave us the seed?’” Even at that young age, Jean knew the visit may have meant a meal for one day, but without the seeds to build a farming practice, little could change for him and his community. Ever since, Jean has been looking for opportunities to leave the seeds, not just the rice and beans, as a way to cultivate creativity. Wyclef Jean While he’s best known as a founding member of the iconic hip hop group the Fugees, Jean has an extensive resume: He’s produced music for Shakira, Whitney Houston, and Santana; composed music for movies like Hotel Rwanda; won multiple Grammys; ran and lost a remittance business; launched a music publishing company in Africa; and even made a run for president of Haiti. Jean is boundlessly curious, and his career is a mashup of hustle and hunches. He isn’t afraid to name what he doesn’t know, or fumble in the process of sorting it out. Here, he shares how he frames his relationship to music, when he feels most inspired, and the value of nerding out. When I’m creating, I create in two spaces. Sometimes I like it super loud. I like people coming in and out while I’m vibing. Creation is like the pulse of the human. Humans don’t hear music. They just feel music. So that’s one part. The other part of me: When I’ve gotta nerd out, I want complete silence. My inner me, my engineer, is asking, “How can we take Shakira up? You know, what are we missing?” To do that, it has to be, like complete silence. It’s two parts of the madness, you know? I wake up and I’m a coffee head. I gotta have my Bustelo. If it’s really hot, I would go for a walk; if it’s kind of cold, I go downstairs. I like the treadmill. I just put the headphones on my ears for like an hour and a half, and literally just walk. I do very light weights, just to keep my gymnastics ability going. Then I take, like, 10 or 15 minutes to surf the net on world news. Two hundred days out of the year, I’m traveling, and I’m going to all parts of the world. and I always want to know the pulse. What’s the energy? What’s the culture? After that I hit my recording studio in the back. I’m recording, writing, looking at films, you know, building my ecosystem. I do it all at once. I could be making music, but then I have an idea for a place that I’m thinking about opening up in three years. And I’m like, what do I want that place to be like? So I could be doing the music, and then I stop. And then I start writing a little bit, put it on Chat GPT, and then get back to the music and keep on boom, boom, boom. So that’s sort of like what my days are usually like. I live in a space of creativity, day and night. My best input for output is when I travel. I’m a local head. My greatest input is the human; and not the human through any form of technology—the human touch. Last week I was in Brazil. The first thing we do, you know, we go to the local spot, and they’re doing capoeira. Then we go to another spot, you know, there’s like four or five different local liquors they’re having, and I’ve gotta taste it. We went shopping. I went to the place where Michael Jackson did “They don’t really care about us.” Now, I could have looked at that online, but physically being there is going to do something to my brain. I call it like cultural currency, but it’s the idea of the human. My whole connection, my juju and my magic is the human connection. I couldn’t imagine someone not listening to music. Anyone who tells me they don’t listen to music, I have to touch them to see if they have a heart. I always tell people, “Man, tell me whatever you want about America, it’s the greatest place in the world.” This is the only place I know where Wyclef could come from a hut. Snoop Dogg can come from where he comes from; 50 Cent could get shot nine times in Queens. Shakira could come from Colombia, and the next thing you know, we can appear in the forefront. And in the forefront, we get these tools, and once we get the tools, we become invincible. So whether it’s music tools, economical freedom tools, or culture currency, these tools work together and what they help us do is it helps us literally inspire and deliver an entire new generation. You get stuck because you need that pause time. You could be writing, writing, writing, writing, writing, and then all of a sudden, now you’re going into a state of forcing. So, whenever, like, I run out of it, I literally just chill. I don’t stress, I don’t be like, “Yo, when’s the next bar gonna come? When’s the next idea?” I feel as if it’s the universe that’s like, “Just calm the fuck down. Like, chill a little bit. You have to reboot.” It’s hard for people to understand that, and I’m telling you, we all have writer’s, block. It used to freak me out. So now if I have the block, I just chill, smoke a joint, relax, you know, play my piano, take time. View the full article

Yann LeCun, Meta’s outgoing chief AI scientist, says his employer tested its latest Llama model in a way that may have made the model look better than it really was. In a recent Financial Times interview, LeCun says Meta researchers “fudged a little bit” by using different versions of Llama 4 Maverick and Llama 4 Scout models on different benchmarks to improve test results. Normally researchers use a single version of a new model for all benchmarks, instead of choosing a variant that will score best on a given benchmark. Prior to the launch of the Llama 4 models, Meta had begun to fall behind rivals Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google in pushing the envelope. The company was under pressure to reassert Llama’s prowess, especially in an environment where stock prices can turn on the latest model benchmarks. After Meta released the Llama 4 models, third-party researchers and independent testers tried to verify the company’s benchmark claims by running their own evaluations. But many found that their results didn’t align with Meta’s. Some doubted that the models it used in the benchmark testing were the same as the models released to the public. Ahmad Al-Dahle, Meta’s vice president of generative AI, denied that charge, and attributed the discrepancies in model performance to differences in the models’ cloud implementations. The benchmark-fudging, LeCun said, contributed to internal frustration about the progress of the Llama models and led to a loss of confidence among Meta leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In June, Zuckerberg announced an overhaul of Meta’s AI organization, which included the establishment of a division called Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL). Meta also paid between $14.3 billion and $15 billion to buy 49% of AI training data company Scale AI, and tapped Scale’s CEO, Alexandr Wang, to lead MSL. On paper, at least, LeCun, who won the coveted Turing Award for his pioneering work on neural networks, reported to the 28-year-old Wang. LeCun told FT’s Melissa Heikkilä that while Wang is a quick learner and is aware of what he doesn’t know, he’s also young and inexperienced. “There’s no experience with research or how you practice research, how you do it. Or what would be attractive or repulsive to a researcher,” LeCun said. The division LeCun ran at Meta for a decade, FAIR (Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research), was a pure research organization that picked its own areas of inquiry. An adjacent “applied AI” group worked closely with the lab to find ways to use the research in Meta’s own products. But the organizational changes weren’t the only reason LeCun wanted to leave Meta. He has long expressed doubts that the current thrust of Meta’s AI research—large language models—will lead to human-level intelligence because such models can’t learn fast and continuously. LLMs can learn a certain amount about the world through words and images, but the models of the future will also have an understanding of the real world through physics. And it’s those “world models” that LeCun hopes to invent at his new company, Advanced Machine Intelligence. LeCun will act as executive chair, which will allow him to spend much of his time doing research. Alex LeBrun, CEO of French healthcare AI startup Nabla, will become CEO of AMI. “I’m a scientist, a visionary. . . . I can inspire people to work on interesting things,” LeCun told Heikkilä. “I’m pretty good at guessing what type of technology will work or not.” View the full article

McDonald’s limited-time McRib sandwich is a cultural icon. And like any item of its ilk, it’s divisive. On the one hand, the saucy, vaguely rib-esque boneless pork sandwich has a fan base so dedicated that it’s inspired its own Reddit megathread, merch, and a website called the McRib Locator. But on the other, the McRib has long been critiqued for its off-putting form factor and dubious ingredients. Now, a new class action lawsuit is asking the question that’s always plagued the sandwich: Is the McRib actually rib? The lawsuit, which was filed on December 23, 2025, in the Northern District of Illinois, alleges that McDonald’s has purposefully been misleading customers with the name and shape of the McRib. The four plaintiffs who jointly filed the suit claim that the sandwich is advertised to resemble a rack of pork ribs, which McDonald’s does “despite knowing that the sandwich in fact does not contain any meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat—indeed, none at all.” Ultimately, this lawsuit is all about marketing—and how we define deceptive marketing practices. Does a rib-shaped “seasoned boneless pork patty,” as McDonald’s describes it, a rib make? Or is the McRib a mere imitation of a true rib sandwich, masquerading as the real thing to allow McDonald’s to jack up its prices? While most Americans probably have their own knee-jerk reaction to these questions, the official answer will be left up to the court. For now, here are the facts. “The name McRib is a deliberate sleight of hand” The crux of the new lawsuit rests on proving whether the McRib can definitionally be called “rib”—and, as it turns out, that’s easier said than done. According to the filing, McDonald’s has cultivated a scarcity mindset around the McRib by only releasing it for a brief time each year since its 1981 debut, using annual anticipation to drive sales. Its authors suggest that the term “rib” refers to a more “premium” cut of meat—generating an expectation of quality that allows McDonald’s to price the sandwich at up to $7.89 in some regions, making it “among the most expensive single-item options on the menu.” Further, they argue, McDonald’s purposefully misleads customers by calling the sandwich a “McRib” and shaping it to resemble “a rack of pork ribs.” This mislabeling rests at the core of their claim that the McRib’s status as a fleeting hero of McDonald’s menus nationwide rests on an inherently deceptive premise. “The name ‘McRib’ is a deliberate sleight of hand,” the suit reads. “By including the word ‘Rib’ in the name of the sandwich, McDonald’s knowingly markets the sandwich in a way that deceives reasonable consumers, who reasonably (but mistakenly) believe that a product named the ‘McRib’ will include at least some meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat, which commands a premium price on the market.” Instead, it adds, they’re actually eating a “reconstructed meat product.” Yikes. To rib, or not to rib? To understand the difference between a pork rib and a “reconstructed meat product,” the filing dives into its definition of “actual pork rib meat.” It says pork rib meat refers either to spare ribs, a cut at the bottom of the rib cage, or baby back ribs, located at the top of the rib cage. Both cuts, it explains, are consistently priced higher than lower-quality cuts like “loin” or “butt.” Compare that definition to the McRib’s contents, and things get a little dicey. Per the filing, the McRib’s meat patty is constructed using ground-up portions of lower-grade pork products, such as “pork shoulder, heart, tripe, and scalded stomach.” In an email to Fast Company, McDonald’s wrote that the lawsuit “distorts the facts” with “meritless claims,” adding, “Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S.—there are no hearts, tripe or scalded stomach used in the McRib patty as falsely alleged in this lawsuit. We’ve always been transparent about our ingredients so guests can make the right choice for them.” Already, an army of McRib fans are rising to defend the sandwich’s honor on Reddit. “Do people have nothing better to do or have no shame?” one commenter wrote. “Who really really thought the McRib was meat from ribs?” Another added, “Dumb. . . . Imagine all the ‘there was a bone in my McRib’ post if it was actually ribs.” Whether you believed McDonald’s nebulous meat slab was made of real ribs or not, it remains to be seen whether this case will impact the McRib’s future. Regardless, it’s a good day to be a vegetarian. View the full article

Michael Jordan is widely recognized as one of the best basketball players to ever live. In a recent interview, Jordan revealed one of the secrets to his success: His love of the game. Jordan says he loved the game so much that he made sure to have a special clause included in his contract when playing with the Chicago Bulls, one which he’s “positive” players today don’t have: the “love of the game” clause. “If I was driving with you down the street, and I see a basketball game on the side of the road, I can go play in that basketball game,” Jordan told NBC’s Mike Tirico. “And if I get hurt, my contract is still guaranteed.” Jordan went on to explain that constant practice, not just doing drills but playing real games, helped him and other NBA players like Larry Bird master their craft. It was playing in games that helped players develop their love of basketball, and helped them remain passionate about the game, rather than just viewing it as a job. “I love the game so much. I would never let someone take the opportunity for me to play the game away from me,” Jordan said. Jordan’s “love of the game” clause teaches us an important secret to finding career success, namely: To truly become the best at what you do, you have to love it. This secret is related to emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage emotions to reach a goal. How can you leverage emotional intelligence to master what you do? Let’s explore. (If you enjoy this article, consider signing up for my free emotional intelligence course.) Leveraging your “love of the game” To clarify, Jordan wasn’t speaking about becoming the best basketball player ever. Although countless fans and analysts alike have pegged Jordan as the GOAT (greatest of all time), Jordan typically steers away from that conversation, saying that title disrespects the basketball legends who’ve come before him, and the players who play today. Rather, Jordan was primarily interested in reaching his full potential—and his love of the game fueled that drive. “Basketball was that type of love for me,” Jordan said. “I had to find a way to make sure I was the best basketball player I could be.” Jordan’s success led to his becoming the wealthiest professional athlete in history. Most of his earnings didn’t come from his playing contracts, though. Rather, they resulted in multiple business ventures and branding deals, most notably the Jordan brand with Nike. But Jordan says that for him, the brand never affected what he was going to do on the basketball court. “I put the work first, and then the brand evolved based on the work,” Jordan said. “We would play this game for free. We did. And now we just happen to get paid for it.” So, how can you apply this to your own work? There are several reasons business owners run the businesses they do. You may have taken over a family business. Maybe you dabbled in the world of self-employment and discovered you enjoyed the freedom it offered. Other entrepreneurs become so out of necessity: Mark Cuban started his first business after getting fired. But regardless of how you got into the business you now run, the secret to mastering your craft is to develop a love for what you do. Ask yourself: What aspects of my work do I really love? The things I’d do for free? How can I practice those things as much as possible? How can I further leverage that love to master my craft? As you answer those questions, and as you put in the work, you’ll find yourself constantly improving, continually growing, and consistently becoming a better (work) version of yourself. Because if there’s one thing that Michael Jordan taught us, it’s that natural ability, talent, and skill will get you far, but love is what makes you the best. —Justin Bariso This article originally appeared on Fast Company’s sister publication, Inc. Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. View the full article

The founder of Slack once deemed email “the cockroach of the internet.” He wasn’t the first to lament the extreme survivability of our inbox. From text messages to social media to office messaging platforms, all sorts of communication technologies have teased the promise of killing email by connecting us to others in faster, richer ways. And yet, more than 50 years after its invention, ye olde email is more popular than ever. Some 1 billion people spend three hours a day in email—adding up to more than a trillion hours collectively per year, according to the email app Superhuman. And there’s no sign of this slowing down. “More people use Gmail every single month than ever before,” says Blake Barnes, head of Gmail product, who oversees the experience of more than 2.5 billion users on the world’s most popular email platform. To some, email is an endless guilt machine: The average person receives dozens of messages each day but takes action on fewer than five, according to Yahoo. And the range of emails we receive is wild to comprehend: personal notes. Newsletters. Amazon package updates. Dinner reservations. Jira tickets. LinkedIn invites. Passwords we’ve sent to ourselves. Strange conspiracy theory chain letters forwarded along by a second cousin once removed. Email has become the junk drawer for our digital lives. A catchall for intimate and automated messages, our inboxes contain too much information for most people to process. “Your last 100 emails are more unique than your fingerprint,” says Anant Vijay, product lead behind the encrypted-email platform Proton Mail. “Even if you’re using another app to do something, there’s an imprint left in your email.” And therein lies the opportunity. Not only is email refusing to go away, it’s becoming more important than ever in our new, data-hungry world. And startups and incumbent tech companies alike are vying to control it. A slew of email apps have launched in recent years—including Notion Mail, from emerging productivity giant Notion, and the organization-minded Shortwave—each with a different set of handy UX features for juggling your inbox. At the same time, giants like Yahoo and Google are racing to maintain their dominance. But nowhere is the value of email more evident than writing-assistance titan Grammarly’s acquisition of email startup Superhuman for an undisclosed amount over the summer. (Superhuman was last valued at $825 million, in 2021, according to PitchBook.) In October, Grammarly rebranded itself as Superhuman. Ultimately, these companies aren’t so much betting that email will be the future of communication but that its treasure trove of data contains all the information needed to create the personalized AI systems of tomorrow. By owning email, they plan to claim your whole life. The ‘Overwhelming’ inbox The promise behind most email platforms is sanity. The average person faces 400 unread emails at any given moment. And given that the subject and first few lines of any email tend to be generic, it can be hard for people to extract insights at a glance. “It’s just overwhelming,” says Kyle Miller, GM at Yahoo Mail, the world’s second-largest email platform, with hundreds of millions of users. “Some users don’t see [inbox zero] as a goal, and that’s okay. What we’re trying to do is help them get out this clutter so then they don’t miss the stuff that’s important.” To help users tackle the mess, Yahoo recently started gamifying the task with a daily Inbox Challenge that gives users trophies for triaging their messages. Other email platforms are supercharging the auto-sort function. Eleven-year-old Proton, which relaunched its security-focused email app earlier this year, not only compiles your newsletters into one stack, it also displays your average open rate for each, so you can decide if it’s time to unsubscribe. Notion Mail, launched in April, distinguishes itself by letting you sort email by any content criteria you can think of. For instance, you can ask Notion to label incoming job applications as “Job Candidates” or have your home renovation emails sorted to “Home Improvements.” Superhuman offers similar features, along with an auto-reply service that drafts responses tailored to recipients and in your own voice and tone. All you need to do is hit send. Modern AI makes these advanced features possible. When Superhuman founder Rahul Vohra was fundraising 11 years ago, an investor asked him how he planned to realize the magical interactions he’d teased in his investment deck. “Frankly, I don’t know,” Vohra said at the time, though he, like many, trusted that the technologies would eventually arrive. Today, Superhuman says that its users reply to 72% more emails per hour after signing up, thanks largely to a combination of auto-sorting and auto-writing tools. “[Email has] always had all this data, but up until large language models, there was no way for the computer to access that information,” says Andrew Lee, who launched the email client Shortwave in 2022 to pick up where Google left off when it folded its short-lived Inbox app (which bundled messages into categories and allowed you to snooze messages). “You can go through and read [your emails], but it’s a huge amount. We have people with 10 million emails in the system. And now the computer can just go and read 10 million emails!” Email apps are going beyond mere sorting to use LLMs to extract data and surface insights that allow users to make faster decisions. In the case of Yahoo Mail, that means emails now have action buttons placed right below the subject line. Those actions might be copying a security code or RSVP’ing for a birthday party or paying a bill, “so you don’t even have to open the email,” Miller says. Superhuman and Shortwave, meanwhile, let you manage the deluge by querying your mail directly. You can ask the AI straightforward questions (“Where is the Q1 off-site?” or “What time is my flight to Denver?”), and these services will analyze your email for the answers, much like Perplexity will hunt for information across the internet. Proton Mail, which encrypts email to offer a higher level of security, is the rare exception: The company sees cloud-based LLMs as an inherent security risk. But product team lead Anant Vijay believes that within a few years, high-quality AI models will be able to run on your phone or computer—allowing them to analyze your emails securely. A growing number of email users, however, seem willing to hand over their most precious data in the name of unlocking new efficiencies. To set up a new Shortwave account, for example, you first have to copy over your inbox for analysis on the company’s servers. Shortwave, which has enterprise plans for teams of 50 or more, explains the security risk to prospective clients. “I have calls with people at investment firms and Fortune 500 companies. I see the concern on their faces. And then they’re like, ‘Nah, but I want it!’” says Lee. “There’s a lot of pressure in these companies for security, but there’s even more pressure to figure out a [corporate] AI strategy.” Agentic for email While some of these email services can be used for free, all of them reserve their best features for people willing to pay for a subscription—up to $40 per month for a Superhuman business account. But those initial dollars aren’t the endgame. Modern email apps are positioning themselves at the top of the funnel to pull you in—and offer agentic services that go well beyond managing your correspondence. Yahoo’s first salvo will be connecting your inbox more directly to your calendar. The company is working on a product that could take information out of your email and offer it back to you as a list—and then pin the items to suggested dates on your calendar. Yahoo plans to further build this out, so its AI agent will eventually handle many of these to-dos for you. Google is thinking along similar lines. “In the future, you can imagine a world where [your] calendar understands you deeply,” says Google VP Barnes. “It knows when you’re eating dinner with your family. It knows when it’s best to meet a new prospective client, when you’re most fresh.” Vohra from Superhuman envisions a future where an AI agent is cc’d on emails, allowing it to take over tasks, like scheduling a meeting. “Our two AI agents can find time and book meetings for us despite neither of us actually having access to each other’s calendar,” he says. Indeed, AI is rapidly breaking email out of its inbox. Shortwave recently launched a spin-off platform, called Tasklet, that lets users program background agents that connect their email and calendar to more than 3,000 services via APIs. For heavy email users, these agents hold a lot of promise. Real estate agents could use plain language to program a daily search of new homes for a prospective client. Meanwhile, product developers could use agents to track updates from disparate apps and correlate them into a dashboard that tracks bug reports and patches. As for Gmail, Barnes says that not only will it get the power of the AI Overviews we’ve seen in Google Search, but Google Search will get the knowledge of your email to personalize its results: “What if Gemini could help you plan a vacation with all of the context Gmail has? Imagine that experience. We know what kind of places you like to go to. We know the budget you usually spend. We know how many people you’re traveling with.” Eventually, this could evolve into more than a shopping assistant. “It’s like having your own personal chief of staff,” he says. In a world ruled by AI, most tech strategists believe we’ll no longer be managing our lives by juggling individual apps or even platforms like Slack or Teams. All of this information and communication could sit largely out of sight, most of the time, while an AI with the most intimate and complete portrait of your life helps to make decisions on your behalf. That’s as exciting for a big data player like Google as it is for a newer startup like Superhuman—because the first challenge is being adept at wrestling that treasured email junk drawer into shape. “We actually feel really great about this,” says Vohra. “Primarily, because we have a massive head start.” View the full article