ResidentialBusiness

Stocks slumped in morning trading on Wall Street Tuesday after President Donald The President threatened to hit eight NATO members with new tariffs as tensions escalate over his attempts to assert American control over Greenland. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%, pulling back further from the record it set early last week. It was the first time U.S. markets could react to the escalation from The President, as they were closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 536 points, or 1.1%, as of 10:56 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite slumped 1.5%. The losses were widespread and led by technology stocks, many of which already have more influence over the direction of the market because of outsized values. Retailers, banks and industrial companies also fell sharply. Nvidia, one of the most valuable companies in the world, plunged 3%. Amazon fell 2%, JPMorgan Chase fell 0.6%, and Caterpillar lost 1%. The energy sector eked out gains as the price of U.S. crude oil rose 1.4% to $60.19 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1.1% to $64.69. Exxon Mobil rose 1%. European markets and markets in Asia fell. The President said Saturday that he would charge a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. The annual combined imports from European Union nations are greater than those from the top two biggest individual importers into the U.S., Mexico, and China. Gold prices surged 3% and silver prices soared 5.5%. Both reached for records. Such assets are often considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil. The trade tensions apparently short-circuited a recent rally in bitcoin. The cryptocurrency rose above $96,000 late last week but has dropped back to around $90,400. Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.27% from 4.23% late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury fell to 3.59% from 3.60% late Friday. The President linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” in a text message released Monday. The President’s message to Jonas Gahr Støre appeared to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. The President’s threats have sparked outrage and a flurry of diplomatic activity across Europe, as leaders consider possible countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs and the first-ever use of the European Union’s anti-coercion instrument. Tariffs have been looming over the U.S. and global economies since 2024. The President’s tariff policy has been confusing and uncertain, involving the threat or implementation of tariffs and then often followed by delays or cancellations. Existing tariffs have added more pressure to already high prices on goods and the threat of more to come makes it difficult for businesses to plan ahead. The threat of tariffs reigniting already high inflation could further complicate the Federal Reserve’s job. The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate three times late in 2025 to help bolster the economy as the job market weakened. But, it has taken a more cautious view because of the risk of rising inflation, which remains above the Fed’s target of 2%. Lower interest rates on loans can help bolster economic activity, but they could also fuel inflation, which could counter any benefit from lower interest rates. The Fed, and Wall Street, will get another update on inflation on Thursday, when the government releases the personal consumption expenditures price index, or PCE. It is the Fed’s preferred measure for inflation. The Fed will meet next week for its policy meeting on interest rates and Wall Street is betting that the central bank will hold its benchmark interest rate steady. Wall Street is also in the midst of the latest round of corporate earnings, which could help provide more insight into how companies are handling uncertainty from tariffs, geopolitics, and cautious consumers. Industrial and consumer conglomerate 3M slumped 6.2% after reporting mixed results for its most recent quarter. United Airlines and Netflix will report their results after the market closes on Tuesday. Companies from a wide range of industries will report their results this week, including Johnson & Johnson, Halliburton and Intel. —Damian J. Troise, AP business writer AP Business Writers By Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report. View the full article

The real estate data firm said the merger will support efforts to scale and plans to ramp up development of enterprise technology products. View the full article

Iranians have been struggling for nearly two weeks with the longest, most comprehensive internet shutdown in the history of the Islamic Republic — one that has not only restricted their access to information and the outside world, but is also throttling many businesses that rely on online advertising. Authorities shut down internet access on Jan. 8 as nationwide protests led to a brutal crackdown that activists say has killed over 4,000 people, with more feared dead. Since then, there has been minimal access to the outside world, with connectivity in recent days restored only for some domestic websites. Google also began partially functioning as a search engine, with most search results inaccessible. Officials have offered no firm timeline for the internet to return, leading to fears by businesses across the country about their future. One pet shop owner in Tehran, who spoke on the condition of anonymity like others for fear of reprisals, said his business had fallen by 90% since the protests. “Before that, I mainly worked on Instagram and Telegram which I don’t have access to anymore. The government has proposed two domestic alternatives. The point is our customers are not there — they don’t use it.” Internet outages are the latest squeeze on businesses The internet outage compounds economic pain already suffered by Iranians. The protests, which appear to have halted under a bloody suppression by authorities, began Dec. 28 over Iran’s rial currency falling to over 1.4 million to $1. Ten years ago, the rial traded at 32,000 to $1. Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it traded at 70 to $1. The currency’s downward spiral pushed up inflation, increasing the cost of food and other daily necessities. The pressure on Iranians’ pockets was compounded by changes to gasoline prices that were also introduced in December, further fueling anger. Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA quoted a deputy minister of communications and information technology, Ehsan Chitsaz, as saying the cut to the internet cost Iran between $2.8 to $4.3 million each day. But the true cost for the Iranian economy could be far higher. The internet monitoring organization NetBlocks estimates each day of an internet shutdown in Iran costs the country over $37 million. The site says it estimates the economic impact of internet outages based on indicators from multiple sources including the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Union, which is the United Nations’ specialized agency for digital technology. In 2021 alone, a government estimate suggested Iranian businesses made as much as $833 million a year in sales from social media sites, wrote Dara Conduit, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne in Australia, in an article published by the journal Democratization in June. She cited a separate estimate suggesting internet disruptions around the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests cost the Iranian economy $1.6 billion. The 2022 internet disruptions’ “far-reaching and blanket economic consequences risked further heightening tensions in Iran and spurring the mobilization of new anti-regime cohorts onto the streets at a time when the regime was already facing one of the most serious existential threats of its lifetime,” Conduit wrote. More than 500 people were reportedly killed during that crackdown and over 22,000 detained. Prosecutors target some businesses over protest support Meanwhile, prosecutors have also begun targeting some businesses in the crackdown. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported Tuesday that prosecutors in Tehran filed paperwork to seize the assets of 60 cafes it alleged had a role in the protests. It also announced plans to seek the assets of athletes, cinema figures and others as well. Some cafes in Tehran and Shiraz have been shut down by authorities, other reports say. Internet cuts drive more outrage The financial damage also has some people openly discussing the internet blackout. In the comments section of a story on the internet blackout carried by the semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, one reader wrote: “For heaven’s sake, please do not let this internet cut become a regular thing. We need the net. Our business life is vanishing. Our business is being destroyed.” Another commentator questioned why the internet remained blocked after days with no reports of street protests. It’s not just the internet blackout that is hurting businesses. The violent crackdown on the protests, and the wave of a reported 26,000 arrests that followed, also have dampened the mood of consumers. In Iran’s capital, many shops and restaurants are open, but many look empty as customers focus primarily on groceries and little else. “Those who pass by our shops don’t show any appetite for shopping,” said the owner of an upscale tailor shop in Tehran. “We are just paying our regular expenses, electricity and staff … but in return, we don’t have anything.” —Elena Becatoros and Jon Gambrell, Associated Press View the full article

The debate around llms.txt has become one of the most polarized topics in web optimization. Some treat llms.txt as foundational infrastructure, while many SEO veterans dismiss it as speculative theater. Platform tools flag missing llms.txt files as site issues, yet server logs show that AI crawlers rarely request them. Google even adopted it. Sort of. In December, the company added llms.txt files across many developer and documentation sites. The signal seemed clear: if the company behind the sitemap standard is implementing llms.txt, it likely matters. Except Google pulled it from its Search developer docs within 24 hours. Google’s John Mueller said the change came from a sitewide CMS update that many content teams didn’t realize was happening. When asked why the files still exist on other Google properties, Mueller said they aren’t “findable by default because they’re not at the top-level” and “it’s safe to assume they’re there for other purposes,” not discovery. The llms.txt research We wanted data, not debates. So we tracked llms.txt adoption across 10 sites in finance, B2B SaaS, ecommerce, insurance, and pet care — 90 days before implementation and 90 days after. We measured AI crawl frequency, traffic from ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini, and what else these sites changed during the same window. The results: Two of the 10 sites saw AI traffic increases of 12.5% and 25%, but llms.txt wasn’t the cause. Eight sites saw no measurable change. One site declined by 19.7%. The 2 ‘success’ stories weren’t about the file The Neobank: 25% growth This digital banking platform implemented llms.txt early in Q3 2025. Ninety days later, AI traffic was up 25%. Here’s what else happened in that window: A PR campaign around its banking license, with coverage in major national publications. Product pages restructured with extractable comparison tables for interest rates, fees, and minimums. Twelve new FAQ pages optimized for extraction. A rebuilt resource center with new banking information and concepts. Technical SEO issues, like header structures, fixed. When a company gets Bloomberg coverage the same month it launches optimized content and fixes crawl errors, you can’t isolate the llms.txt as the growth driver. The B2B SaaS platform: 12.5% growth This workflow automation company saw traffic jump 12.5% two weeks after implementing llms.txt. Perfect timing. Case closed. Except… Three weeks earlier, the company published 27 downloadable AI templates covering project management frameworks, financial models, and workflow planners. Functional tools, not content marketing, drove the engagement behind the spike. Google organic traffic to the templates rose 18% during the same period and continued climbing throughout the 90 days we measured. Search engines and AI models surfaced the templates because they solved real problems and launched an entirely new site section — not because they were listed in an llms.txt file. The 8 sites where nothing happened after uploading llms.txt Eight sites saw no measurable change. One declined by 19.7%. The decline came from an insurance site that implemented llms.txt in early September. The drop likely had nothing to do with the file. The same pattern showed up across all traffic channels. Llms.txt neither prevented the decline nor created any advantage. The other seven sites — ecommerce (pet supplies, home goods, fashion), B2B SaaS (HR tech, marketing analytics), finance, and pet care — all documented their best existing content in llms.txt. That included product pages, case studies, API docs, and buying guides. Ninety days later, nothing changed. Traffic stayed flat. Crawl frequency was identical. The content was already indexed and discoverable, and the file didn’t alter that. Sites that launched new, functional content saw gains. Sites that documented existing content saw no gains. Why the disconnect? No major LLM provider has officially committed to parsing llms.txt. Not OpenAI. Not Anthropic. Not Google. Not Meta. Google’s Mueller put it plainly: “None of the AI services have said they’re using llms.txt, and you can tell when you look at your server logs that they don’t even check for it.” That’s the reality. The file exists. The advocacy exists. The adoption by platforms doesn’t show it (yet!). The token efficiency argument (and its limits) The strongest case for llms.txt is about efficiency. Markdown saves time and tokens when AI agents parse documentation. Clean structure instead of complex HTML with navigation, ads, and JavaScript. Vercel says 10% of their signups come from ChatGPT. Its llms.txt includes contextual API descriptions that help agents decide what to fetch. This matters — but almost exclusively for developer tools and API documentation. If your audience uses AI coding assistants like Cursor or GitHub Copilot to interact with your product, token efficiency improves integration. For ecommerce selling pet supplies, insurance explaining coverage, or B2B SaaS targeting nontechnical buyers, token efficiency doesn’t translate into traffic. llms.txt is a sitemap, not a strategy The most accurate comparison is a sitemap. Sitemaps are valuable infrastructure. They help search engines discover and index content more efficiently. But no one credits traffic growth to adding a sitemap. The sitemap documents what exists; the content drives discovery. Llms.txt works the same way. It may help AI models parse your site more efficiently if they choose to use it, but it doesn’t make your content more useful, authoritative, or likely to answer user queries. In our analysis, the sites that grew did so because they: Created functional assets like downloadable templates, comparison tables, and structured data. Earned external visibility through press and backlinks. Fixed technical barriers such as crawl and indexing issues. Published content optimized for extraction, including FAQs and structured comparisons. Llms.txt documented those efforts. It didn’t drive them. What actually works The two successful sites show what matters: Create functional, extractable assets. The SaaS platform built 27 downloadable templates that users could deploy immediately. AI models surfaced these because they solved real problems, not because they were listed in a markdown file. Structure content for extraction. The neobank rebuilt product pages with comparison tables with interest rates, fees, and account minimums. This is data AI models can pull directly into answers without interpretation. Fix technical barriers first. The neobank fixed crawl errors that had blocked content for months. If AI models can’t access your content, no amount of documentation helps. Earn external validation. Coverage from Bloomberg and other major publications drove referral traffic, branded searches, and likely influenced how AI models assess authority. Optimize for user intent. Both sites answered specific queries: “best project management templates” and “how do [brand] interest rates compare?” Models surface content that maps to what users are asking, not content that’s merely well documented. None of this requires llms.txt. All of it drives results. Should you implement an llms.txt file? If you’re a developer tool where AI coding assistants are a primary distribution channel, then yes — token efficiency matters. Your audience is already using agents to interact with documentation. For everyone else, treat llms.txt like a sitemap: useful infrastructure, not a growth lever. It’s good practice to have. It won’t hurt. But the hour spent implementing llms.txt is often better spent restructuring product pages with extractable data, publishing functional assets, fixing technical SEO issues, creating FAQ content, or earning press coverage. Those tactics have shown real ROI in AI discovery. Llms.txt hasn’t — at least not yet. The lesson isn’t that llms.txt is bad. It’s that we’re reaching for control in a system where the rules aren’t written yet. Llms.txt offers that comfort: something concrete, actionable, and familiar, shaped like the web standards we already know. But looking like infrastructure isn’t the same as functioning like infrastructure. Focus on what actually works: Create useful content. Structure it for extraction. Make it technically accessible. Earn external validation. Platforms and formats will change. The fundamentals won’t. View the full article

Capitalism has a new sheriff in town View the full article

European leaders criticise stance on Arctic island, with Macron taking aim at US president’s ‘useless aggressivity’ View the full article

Make them second nature. By Martin Bissett Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Make them second nature. By Martin Bissett Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Attack on Fed independence and threat to seize Greenland create ‘substantial risks’, says Andrew BaileyView the full article

Revenues and client rosters outpace gains in profits as firms battle cost pressures. By CPA Trendlines Join the Busy Season Barometer survey here. Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Revenues and client rosters outpace gains in profits as firms battle cost pressures. By CPA Trendlines Join the Busy Season Barometer survey here. Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. 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. Today's Bluetooth speakers have features that make them better than they were just a few years ago, from USB-C for universal fast charging, to hi-res audio playback, to serving as battery backup for other devices. The Beats Pill speaker has all these features and more, making it a great choice, and it has dropped in price to $99.95 (down from $149.95), matching the lowest price it has reached since its recent release, according to price-tracking tools. For less than a hundred dollars, this speaker is a steal. Beats Pill - Bluetooth Speaker and Portable Wireless Charger via USB-C - Up to 24 Hours Battery Life, IP67 Water Resistant, Apple & Android Compatible, Built-in Microphone – Campagne Gold $99.95 at Amazon $149.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.95 at Amazon $149.95 Save $50.00 I've been trying out the Beats Pill speaker since it came out in summer 2024, and it has everything I could want in a portable speaker: stereo sound when connected to another compatible speaker, multi-room mode to play the same music on multiple speakers, the Find My Device feature in case you misplace it during a rager, and Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range. Apple users will get the most out of the Pill, with seamless iOS compatibility for a smoother experience. (You can read about it in more detail on PCMag's "excellent" review), but this Beats speaker is not just for Apple users: Android users can also connect to it with a Bluetooth 5.3 connection, but it only supports AAC and SBC codecs, so there are no Android-friendly codec options that will make the audio really pop. When it comes to battery life, you can expect around 24 hours per charge, depending on your use, which is comparable to other speakers of its size. It has that classic, bright Beats sound signature, balanced yet bass-heavy. It is rated IP67 dust-proof and waterproof, so it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes. The biggest downside is that there is no adjustable EQ within the app, but that's less important when it sounds so great out of the box. 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 — $399.00 (List Price $429.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — (List Price $24.99 With Code "FTV4K25") Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Boosting team spirit is essential for a productive work environment, and engaging in fun games can greatly improve collaboration and camaraderie. Activities such as icebreakers, creative challenges, and competitive games create opportunities for team members to connect and communicate effectively. By incorporating these interactive experiences, you can cultivate a more motivated and cohesive workforce. Let’s explore ten effective games that can raise morale and strengthen relationships within your team. Key Takeaways Engage in Two Truths and a Lie to encourage personal storytelling and foster openness among team members. Organize a Virtual Scavenger Hunt, allowing team members to collaborate while finding items in their own spaces within a time limit. Host Office Olympics for friendly competition, enhancing teamwork and boosting morale through fun physical challenges. Implement the Emoji Story Challenge to promote creative storytelling, allowing team members to express ideas using only emojis. Conduct trivia contests to share knowledge and elevate team spirit, while also encouraging friendly competition and collaboration. Icebreaker Games to Get Started How can icebreaker games improve team interactions? Icebreaker games are effective tools for nurturing communication and rapport among team members. Activities like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Human Bingo” encourage personal storytelling, allowing you to learn interesting facts about your coworkers. When you engage in these fun work games, you create a positive atmosphere that promotes collaboration and engagement right from the start. Research shows that using icebreakers can increase employee satisfaction and team cohesion, enhancing overall workplace morale. By incorporating games to play on Microsoft Teams with coworkers, you make everyone feel more comfortable, leading to an open environment where ideas and opinions are freely shared. Regularly using icebreaker games can greatly improve team dynamics by breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity among diverse team members. This approach eventually sets a strong foundation for effective teamwork and communication. Creative Team-Building Activities What makes creative team-building activities essential for improving workplace dynamics? These activities promote collaboration, improve problem-solving skills, and boost overall team cohesion. Engaging in innovative exercises allows you to think outside the box and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Here are some effective creative team-building activities: Activity Purpose Ideas as Building Blocks Develop solutions to fictional problems Use What You Have Create projects with limited supplies This is Better Than That Analyze scenarios and make strategic decisions Moreover, “Do the Math” encourages teamwork under pressure, whereas “Survival Scenario Planning” helps prioritize resources effectively. By participating in these activities, you not only improve your team’s creativity and resourcefulness but additionally cultivate a stronger, more collaborative work environment. Problem-Solving Challenges Building on the foundation of creative team-building activities, problem-solving challenges take collaboration to the next level by putting teams in scenarios where they must think critically and work together under pressure. These challenges improve critical thinking skills, encouraging teamwork and innovation that can lead to better performance and productivity. Engaging in structured problem-solving activities nurtures a sense of achievement among team members, promoting camaraderie and reinforcing group dynamics. Often, these challenges require teams to work creatively with limited resources, simulating real-world constraints that help develop strategic decision-making abilities. By participating in problem-solving challenges, employees strengthen their interpersonal skills, as effective communication and collaboration are crucial for successful outcomes. Incorporating fun problem-solving challenges into team-building activities can greatly reduce stress and increase overall morale, creating a more positive work environment. In this way, problem-solving challenges become an invaluable tool for improving workplace culture and performance. Fun Competitive Games Even though friendly competition might seem trivial, fun competitive games play a significant role in improving workplace dynamics and productivity. Activities like Office Olympics or Minute to Win It challenges not only entertain but also elevate communication and problem-solving skills. Engaging in these games promotes motivation and engagement among team members, often resulting in a boost in overall productivity, with studies showing up to a 30% increase post-activity. In addition, these experiences create lasting memories and strengthen interpersonal relationships, contributing to a more cohesive team environment. Incorporating competitive elements encourages goal-setting and achievement, making the work experience more enjoyable. Game Type Benefits Example Activity Office Olympics Improves teamwork, boosts morale Relay races Minute to Win It Elevates problem-solving skills Stack Attack challenge Trivia Contests Encourages knowledge sharing Themed trivia night Scavenger Hunts Promotes collaboration Office scavenger hunt Collaborative Projects for Teamwork Collaborative projects are vital for promoting teamwork, and they offer opportunities for creative problem-solving sessions, group brainstorming activities, and team idea sharing. By engaging in these activities, you not merely tap into diverse skill sets but additionally improve communication and trust among team members. Implementing these collaborative efforts regularly can lead to more innovative solutions and enhanced overall performance within your team. Creative Problem-Solving Sessions Creative problem-solving sessions are vital for nurturing teamwork and innovation within any organization. These collaborative projects allow team members to leverage their diverse skills and perspectives, leading to innovative solutions. Here are some key benefits: Improves communication and collaboration, boosting team performance by up to 25%. Promotes creativity and critical thinking, important for tackling complex challenges. Helps identify individual strengths, enabling effective delegation and improved productivity. Regular sessions can greatly increase employee morale and engagement. Contributes to higher retention rates and a positive workplace culture. Group Brainstorming Activities Group brainstorming activities can greatly improve teamwork and innovation within an organization. Engaging in collaborative projects allows your team to cultivate open communication, sharing diverse perspectives that enrich the idea pool. Research shows that teams participating in brainstorming sessions can experience a 21% increase in productivity, thanks to the synergy from collective efforts. Structured brainstorming can additionally help identify underlying issues within team dynamics, promoting a better comprehension of each member’s strengths. By regularly partaking in these activities, you not only boost team spirit but also strengthen interpersonal relationships, which contributes to higher employee morale and job satisfaction. In the end, these collaborative projects lead to innovative solutions and improved problem-solving skills among team members. Team Idea Sharing Engaging in team idea sharing through collaborative projects can markedly boost both creativity and productivity within your organization. Here are some key benefits to reflect on: Cultivates joint ownership of tasks, leading to improved team performance by up to 25%. Encourages diverse perspectives, generating unique solutions and enhancing project outcomes. Strengthens relationships among team members, creating a more cohesive work environment. Leverages individual strengths, resulting in a 21% increase in productivity when team members feel connected. Addresses underlying issues, improving dynamics and nurturing a positive workplace culture that supports morale. Energizing Office Games If you’re looking to improve productivity and team cohesion in the workplace, incorporating energizing office games can be a highly effective strategy. These games boost team morale, leading to a 21% increase in productivity when team members engage through shared experiences. Activities like Minute to Win It challenges utilize everyday office items for quick, competitive fun, encouraging friendly competition and collaboration. Incorporating energizers midway through long meetings helps reset focus and maintain high energy levels, improving information retention. Quick activities, such as office scavenger hunts, encourage teamwork and quick thinking, making work more enjoyable as well as promoting problem-solving skills. Engaging in these energizing games provides a stimulating break from routine tasks, allowing employees to recharge. As a result, they return to work with improved creativity and motivation, ultimately benefiting the entire team. Inclusive Virtual Activities When you think about inclusive virtual activities, consider how engaging icebreakers and creative remote team challenges can improve team cohesion. These activities not just allow everyone, regardless of their location or ability, to participate, but they additionally encourage collaboration and connection among team members. Utilizing platforms for fun games like virtual scavenger hunts or trivia can keep morale high and promote a sense of belonging within your team. Engaging Virtual Icebreakers How can you effectively break the ice in a virtual environment? Engaging virtual icebreakers can greatly improve team spirit, nurturing connections and boosting productivity. Here are some inclusive activities to take into account: Two Truths and a Lie: Share personal stories to promote openness. Guess That Baby: Team members submit baby photos for fun guessing. Emoji Story Challenge: Use emojis to tell a story and have others interpret it. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Find specific items in your home within a time limit. Show and Tell: Share something meaningful from your workspace. These icebreakers not only set a positive tone for meetings but are also beneficial to a supportive work culture, improving team cohesion and employee morale. Creative Remote Team Challenges Creative remote team challenges can effectively strengthen team bonds and improve collaboration, even in a virtual environment. Activities like virtual scavenger hunts and online trivia games allow team members to engage in a relaxed setting, enhancing cohesion. Implementing virtual escape rooms or brainstorming sessions nurtures creativity and problem-solving skills, leading to a 21% productivity increase. Inclusive activities, such as “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Show and Tell,” encourage everyone’s participation and help build rapport by sharing personal insights. Utilizing digital platforms for these interactive games keeps remote teams engaged and connected, promoting a positive work culture that reduces feelings of isolation. Regularly incorporating these challenges boosts morale, job satisfaction, and can even decrease turnover rates by 36%. Outdoor Team Adventures Outdoor team adventures offer a variety of activities that can improve both physical fitness and workplace relationships. Participating in these challenges promotes collaboration and boosts problem-solving skills among team members. Here are some effective activities to take into account: Team hikes: Encourage fitness during exploration of nature. Obstacle courses: Cultivate teamwork through physical challenges. Outdoor scavenger hunts: Improve strategic planning and communication. Kayaking or canoeing: Develop trust and coordination on water. Camping retreats: Provide opportunities for informal networking. Engaging in these activities can greatly boost morale, with 79% of employees noting that outdoor adventures strengthen workplace relationships. Additionally, these experiences often lead to a 25% increase in performance, as they encourage communication in a relaxed environment. By participating in outdoor adventures, you can break down barriers between departments, nurturing a sense of community and improving overall team dynamics. Quick and Easy Games for Busy Teams After exploring outdoor team adventures, it’s important to recognize that not every team-building activity needs to take place outside or require extensive planning. Quick and easy games can effectively improve team spirit by providing invigorating breaks during busy work schedules. Activities like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “One-Word Story” are ideal, requiring minimal setup and completing in under 10 minutes. These fast-paced games not just boost morale but additionally enhance communication, leading to a 21% increase in productivity as team members connect and collaborate. Incorporating such activities into regular meetings helps maintain high energy levels and engagement, ensuring team bonding is a consistent practice. Utilizing lunchtime or brief gaps between meetings for these games encourages informal interactions, nurturing a positive work culture and stronger relationships among team members. Engaging Activities for Remote Teams How can remote teams stay engaged and connected in light of the physical distance? Implementing interactive activities can promote teamwork and camaraderie among team members. Here are some engaging options to contemplate: Virtual scavenger hunts: Teams race to find items from their homes, promoting quick thinking and collaboration. Icebreaker games: Try “Two Truths and a Lie” to encourage storytelling and personal connections. Video conferencing activities: Play “Pictionary” or virtual trivia to keep energy levels high and spark friendly competition. Brainstorming sessions: Use collaborative platforms to stimulate innovative thinking and improve creative problem-solving skills. Virtual coffee chats: Regular informal sessions can help build community and connection, allowing team members to bond. These activities not only maintain engagement but likewise promote a supportive work environment, ensuring that remote teams feel united regardless of the distance. Frequently Asked Questions What Are Some Games That Encourage Teamwork? To encourage teamwork, consider games like the Human Knot, where participants must untangle themselves without letting go of hands. Bridge Building tasks teams with creating a weight-bearing structure from limited materials, enhancing collaboration. Office Olympics promotes friendly competition through various challenges. A Scavenger Hunt combines physical and mental tasks, whereas Minute to Win It challenges utilize everyday items for quick, engaging activities, cultivating teamwork and communication among participants. What Can You Do to Promote Team Spirit? To promote team spirit, you can organize regular team-building activities, such as workshops or casual gatherings, which encourage open communication and collaboration. Establishing an environment where everyone feels valued nurtures mutual respect. Consider implementing creative challenges or problem-solving tasks that require teamwork, enhancing relationships among team members. Recognizing achievements, both big and small, in addition boosts morale. What Are Some Workplace Games for Fun? You can engage in various workplace games to improve camaraderie and collaboration. Try “Two Truths and a Lie,” where you share personal facts to learn about colleagues. “Office Scavenger Hunts” promote teamwork as you search for items, as well as “Minute to Win It Challenges” offer quick, fun competitions. Human Bingo encourages networking, and Creative Team Jigsaw Puzzles boost problem-solving skills. Each game promotes interaction, communication, and a more connected work environment. Which Game Needs Team Spirit? The game that needs team spirit is the “Human Knot.” In this activity, participants stand in a circle, grab hands with others, and try to untangle themselves without letting go. It requires effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, as team members must strategize together to succeed. This game not just encourages teamwork but additionally improves interpersonal relationships, making it crucial for building a cohesive group dynamic in any setting. Conclusion Incorporating these work games into your team’s routine can greatly improve collaboration and morale. From icebreakers that promote initial connections to problem-solving challenges that stimulate teamwork, each activity serves a distinct purpose. Competitive games can energize your workforce, whereas inclusive virtual options guarantee remote team members feel engaged. By selecting the right activities, you not only create a more cohesive environment but likewise lay the groundwork for improved productivity and communication within your team. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Fun Work Games to Boost Team Spirit" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Boosting team spirit is essential for a productive work environment, and engaging in fun games can greatly improve collaboration and camaraderie. Activities such as icebreakers, creative challenges, and competitive games create opportunities for team members to connect and communicate effectively. By incorporating these interactive experiences, you can cultivate a more motivated and cohesive workforce. Let’s explore ten effective games that can raise morale and strengthen relationships within your team. Key Takeaways Engage in Two Truths and a Lie to encourage personal storytelling and foster openness among team members. Organize a Virtual Scavenger Hunt, allowing team members to collaborate while finding items in their own spaces within a time limit. Host Office Olympics for friendly competition, enhancing teamwork and boosting morale through fun physical challenges. Implement the Emoji Story Challenge to promote creative storytelling, allowing team members to express ideas using only emojis. Conduct trivia contests to share knowledge and elevate team spirit, while also encouraging friendly competition and collaboration. Icebreaker Games to Get Started How can icebreaker games improve team interactions? Icebreaker games are effective tools for nurturing communication and rapport among team members. Activities like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Human Bingo” encourage personal storytelling, allowing you to learn interesting facts about your coworkers. When you engage in these fun work games, you create a positive atmosphere that promotes collaboration and engagement right from the start. Research shows that using icebreakers can increase employee satisfaction and team cohesion, enhancing overall workplace morale. By incorporating games to play on Microsoft Teams with coworkers, you make everyone feel more comfortable, leading to an open environment where ideas and opinions are freely shared. Regularly using icebreaker games can greatly improve team dynamics by breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity among diverse team members. This approach eventually sets a strong foundation for effective teamwork and communication. Creative Team-Building Activities What makes creative team-building activities essential for improving workplace dynamics? These activities promote collaboration, improve problem-solving skills, and boost overall team cohesion. Engaging in innovative exercises allows you to think outside the box and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Here are some effective creative team-building activities: Activity Purpose Ideas as Building Blocks Develop solutions to fictional problems Use What You Have Create projects with limited supplies This is Better Than That Analyze scenarios and make strategic decisions Moreover, “Do the Math” encourages teamwork under pressure, whereas “Survival Scenario Planning” helps prioritize resources effectively. By participating in these activities, you not only improve your team’s creativity and resourcefulness but additionally cultivate a stronger, more collaborative work environment. Problem-Solving Challenges Building on the foundation of creative team-building activities, problem-solving challenges take collaboration to the next level by putting teams in scenarios where they must think critically and work together under pressure. These challenges improve critical thinking skills, encouraging teamwork and innovation that can lead to better performance and productivity. Engaging in structured problem-solving activities nurtures a sense of achievement among team members, promoting camaraderie and reinforcing group dynamics. Often, these challenges require teams to work creatively with limited resources, simulating real-world constraints that help develop strategic decision-making abilities. By participating in problem-solving challenges, employees strengthen their interpersonal skills, as effective communication and collaboration are crucial for successful outcomes. Incorporating fun problem-solving challenges into team-building activities can greatly reduce stress and increase overall morale, creating a more positive work environment. In this way, problem-solving challenges become an invaluable tool for improving workplace culture and performance. Fun Competitive Games Even though friendly competition might seem trivial, fun competitive games play a significant role in improving workplace dynamics and productivity. Activities like Office Olympics or Minute to Win It challenges not only entertain but also elevate communication and problem-solving skills. Engaging in these games promotes motivation and engagement among team members, often resulting in a boost in overall productivity, with studies showing up to a 30% increase post-activity. In addition, these experiences create lasting memories and strengthen interpersonal relationships, contributing to a more cohesive team environment. Incorporating competitive elements encourages goal-setting and achievement, making the work experience more enjoyable. Game Type Benefits Example Activity Office Olympics Improves teamwork, boosts morale Relay races Minute to Win It Elevates problem-solving skills Stack Attack challenge Trivia Contests Encourages knowledge sharing Themed trivia night Scavenger Hunts Promotes collaboration Office scavenger hunt Collaborative Projects for Teamwork Collaborative projects are vital for promoting teamwork, and they offer opportunities for creative problem-solving sessions, group brainstorming activities, and team idea sharing. By engaging in these activities, you not merely tap into diverse skill sets but additionally improve communication and trust among team members. Implementing these collaborative efforts regularly can lead to more innovative solutions and enhanced overall performance within your team. Creative Problem-Solving Sessions Creative problem-solving sessions are vital for nurturing teamwork and innovation within any organization. These collaborative projects allow team members to leverage their diverse skills and perspectives, leading to innovative solutions. Here are some key benefits: Improves communication and collaboration, boosting team performance by up to 25%. Promotes creativity and critical thinking, important for tackling complex challenges. Helps identify individual strengths, enabling effective delegation and improved productivity. Regular sessions can greatly increase employee morale and engagement. Contributes to higher retention rates and a positive workplace culture. Group Brainstorming Activities Group brainstorming activities can greatly improve teamwork and innovation within an organization. Engaging in collaborative projects allows your team to cultivate open communication, sharing diverse perspectives that enrich the idea pool. Research shows that teams participating in brainstorming sessions can experience a 21% increase in productivity, thanks to the synergy from collective efforts. Structured brainstorming can additionally help identify underlying issues within team dynamics, promoting a better comprehension of each member’s strengths. By regularly partaking in these activities, you not only boost team spirit but also strengthen interpersonal relationships, which contributes to higher employee morale and job satisfaction. In the end, these collaborative projects lead to innovative solutions and improved problem-solving skills among team members. Team Idea Sharing Engaging in team idea sharing through collaborative projects can markedly boost both creativity and productivity within your organization. Here are some key benefits to reflect on: Cultivates joint ownership of tasks, leading to improved team performance by up to 25%. Encourages diverse perspectives, generating unique solutions and enhancing project outcomes. Strengthens relationships among team members, creating a more cohesive work environment. Leverages individual strengths, resulting in a 21% increase in productivity when team members feel connected. Addresses underlying issues, improving dynamics and nurturing a positive workplace culture that supports morale. Energizing Office Games If you’re looking to improve productivity and team cohesion in the workplace, incorporating energizing office games can be a highly effective strategy. These games boost team morale, leading to a 21% increase in productivity when team members engage through shared experiences. Activities like Minute to Win It challenges utilize everyday office items for quick, competitive fun, encouraging friendly competition and collaboration. Incorporating energizers midway through long meetings helps reset focus and maintain high energy levels, improving information retention. Quick activities, such as office scavenger hunts, encourage teamwork and quick thinking, making work more enjoyable as well as promoting problem-solving skills. Engaging in these energizing games provides a stimulating break from routine tasks, allowing employees to recharge. As a result, they return to work with improved creativity and motivation, ultimately benefiting the entire team. Inclusive Virtual Activities When you think about inclusive virtual activities, consider how engaging icebreakers and creative remote team challenges can improve team cohesion. These activities not just allow everyone, regardless of their location or ability, to participate, but they additionally encourage collaboration and connection among team members. Utilizing platforms for fun games like virtual scavenger hunts or trivia can keep morale high and promote a sense of belonging within your team. Engaging Virtual Icebreakers How can you effectively break the ice in a virtual environment? Engaging virtual icebreakers can greatly improve team spirit, nurturing connections and boosting productivity. Here are some inclusive activities to take into account: Two Truths and a Lie: Share personal stories to promote openness. Guess That Baby: Team members submit baby photos for fun guessing. Emoji Story Challenge: Use emojis to tell a story and have others interpret it. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Find specific items in your home within a time limit. Show and Tell: Share something meaningful from your workspace. These icebreakers not only set a positive tone for meetings but are also beneficial to a supportive work culture, improving team cohesion and employee morale. Creative Remote Team Challenges Creative remote team challenges can effectively strengthen team bonds and improve collaboration, even in a virtual environment. Activities like virtual scavenger hunts and online trivia games allow team members to engage in a relaxed setting, enhancing cohesion. Implementing virtual escape rooms or brainstorming sessions nurtures creativity and problem-solving skills, leading to a 21% productivity increase. Inclusive activities, such as “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Show and Tell,” encourage everyone’s participation and help build rapport by sharing personal insights. Utilizing digital platforms for these interactive games keeps remote teams engaged and connected, promoting a positive work culture that reduces feelings of isolation. Regularly incorporating these challenges boosts morale, job satisfaction, and can even decrease turnover rates by 36%. Outdoor Team Adventures Outdoor team adventures offer a variety of activities that can improve both physical fitness and workplace relationships. Participating in these challenges promotes collaboration and boosts problem-solving skills among team members. Here are some effective activities to take into account: Team hikes: Encourage fitness during exploration of nature. Obstacle courses: Cultivate teamwork through physical challenges. Outdoor scavenger hunts: Improve strategic planning and communication. Kayaking or canoeing: Develop trust and coordination on water. Camping retreats: Provide opportunities for informal networking. Engaging in these activities can greatly boost morale, with 79% of employees noting that outdoor adventures strengthen workplace relationships. Additionally, these experiences often lead to a 25% increase in performance, as they encourage communication in a relaxed environment. By participating in outdoor adventures, you can break down barriers between departments, nurturing a sense of community and improving overall team dynamics. Quick and Easy Games for Busy Teams After exploring outdoor team adventures, it’s important to recognize that not every team-building activity needs to take place outside or require extensive planning. Quick and easy games can effectively improve team spirit by providing invigorating breaks during busy work schedules. Activities like “Two Truths and a Lie” or “One-Word Story” are ideal, requiring minimal setup and completing in under 10 minutes. These fast-paced games not just boost morale but additionally enhance communication, leading to a 21% increase in productivity as team members connect and collaborate. Incorporating such activities into regular meetings helps maintain high energy levels and engagement, ensuring team bonding is a consistent practice. Utilizing lunchtime or brief gaps between meetings for these games encourages informal interactions, nurturing a positive work culture and stronger relationships among team members. Engaging Activities for Remote Teams How can remote teams stay engaged and connected in light of the physical distance? Implementing interactive activities can promote teamwork and camaraderie among team members. Here are some engaging options to contemplate: Virtual scavenger hunts: Teams race to find items from their homes, promoting quick thinking and collaboration. Icebreaker games: Try “Two Truths and a Lie” to encourage storytelling and personal connections. Video conferencing activities: Play “Pictionary” or virtual trivia to keep energy levels high and spark friendly competition. Brainstorming sessions: Use collaborative platforms to stimulate innovative thinking and improve creative problem-solving skills. Virtual coffee chats: Regular informal sessions can help build community and connection, allowing team members to bond. These activities not only maintain engagement but likewise promote a supportive work environment, ensuring that remote teams feel united regardless of the distance. Frequently Asked Questions What Are Some Games That Encourage Teamwork? To encourage teamwork, consider games like the Human Knot, where participants must untangle themselves without letting go of hands. Bridge Building tasks teams with creating a weight-bearing structure from limited materials, enhancing collaboration. Office Olympics promotes friendly competition through various challenges. A Scavenger Hunt combines physical and mental tasks, whereas Minute to Win It challenges utilize everyday items for quick, engaging activities, cultivating teamwork and communication among participants. What Can You Do to Promote Team Spirit? To promote team spirit, you can organize regular team-building activities, such as workshops or casual gatherings, which encourage open communication and collaboration. Establishing an environment where everyone feels valued nurtures mutual respect. Consider implementing creative challenges or problem-solving tasks that require teamwork, enhancing relationships among team members. Recognizing achievements, both big and small, in addition boosts morale. What Are Some Workplace Games for Fun? You can engage in various workplace games to improve camaraderie and collaboration. Try “Two Truths and a Lie,” where you share personal facts to learn about colleagues. “Office Scavenger Hunts” promote teamwork as you search for items, as well as “Minute to Win It Challenges” offer quick, fun competitions. Human Bingo encourages networking, and Creative Team Jigsaw Puzzles boost problem-solving skills. Each game promotes interaction, communication, and a more connected work environment. Which Game Needs Team Spirit? The game that needs team spirit is the “Human Knot.” In this activity, participants stand in a circle, grab hands with others, and try to untangle themselves without letting go. It requires effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, as team members must strategize together to succeed. This game not just encourages teamwork but additionally improves interpersonal relationships, making it crucial for building a cohesive group dynamic in any setting. Conclusion Incorporating these work games into your team’s routine can greatly improve collaboration and morale. From icebreakers that promote initial connections to problem-solving challenges that stimulate teamwork, each activity serves a distinct purpose. Competitive games can energize your workforce, whereas inclusive virtual options guarantee remote team members feel engaged. By selecting the right activities, you not only create a more cohesive environment but likewise lay the groundwork for improved productivity and communication within your team. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Fun Work Games to Boost Team Spirit" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For years, leaders have been told that ”being true to themselves” and “ignoring what others think” represent the gold standard of effective leadership, a kind of moral and emotional north star. But in practice, this type of advice often gets leaders into trouble. For a vivid illustration, consider how two famous fictional (yet hyper-realistic) characters, namely Don Draper (Madmen) and Michael Scott (The Office) embody these two mantras. Draper clings to a rigid, unchanging identity, using “this is who I am” as armor to avoid confronting his insecurities, while Scott approaches management with unfiltered candor, oversharing, and acting on impulse. Both believe they are being true to themselves, so others should appreciate it, but in reality they are trapped behind a rigid self-protective shield that excuses poor judgment and blocks growth. The real problem arises not so much from being untrue to themselves, but rather, from mis-calibrating how they show up, mistaking self-expression for effectiveness. Leaders who are reduced to this kind of pattern routinely erode trust, exhaust their teams, and undermine their own influence while sincerely believing they are acting with genuineness and integrity. As psychological research shows, every leader carries internal narratives shaped by early experiences about how to stay safe, earn belonging, or manage uncertainty. These narratives result in behavioral patterns that were once adaptive. But over time, they harden into identity (“this is just who I am”) and limit leaders’ flexibility and versatility. Leaders are therefore presented with a difficult psychological choice, namely: (a) to resist pressures to conform, and act without consideration for what others think, but, in doing so, risk alienating or antagonizing others; or (b) to adjust their behavior to meet the situational demands—mostly, what other people want and need from them—but risk alienating . . . themselves. The question, then, is how leaders can skillfully navigate the intricate balance between their self-expression needs and their obligation to others. To this end, here are a few science-based recommendations to consider: Communicate with greater precision and empathy Leaders don’t struggle because they speak the truth, but because they speak it without intention, timing, or attunement. Balancing candor with empathy is the discipline of telling the truth in ways that preserve dignity, empathy, and trust. Here’s how: Pair honesty with intention. Before speaking hard truths, ask: “What impact do I want this message to have?” Clarifying intent helps you choose language that builds trust rather than simply offloading what’s on your mind. Think of it as an emotional aim: honesty without intention is like firing an arrow without checking what or who is behind the target. Slow the reflex. If you feel urgency to “just say it,” pause. Urgency often signals an activated trigger, not clarity. This is your mind’s equivalent of a car engine revving too hot; giving it a moment prevents you from speeding into the wrong lane. Use that pause to let adrenaline fall and cognition rise. Practice “empathetic accuracy.” Test your instincts by naming what others might feel, then adjust your delivery in service of effectiveness, not self-expression. Great communicators act like emotional cartographers, mapping the terrain before entering it so they know where the cliffs, rivers, and fragile bridges are. Regulate emotion before you express it Vulnerability builds trust only when it is regulated, purposeful, and contained. Grounded vulnerability allows leaders to be real without turning their teams into emotional shock absorbers or co-regulators. Here’s how: Share what is useful, not what is unfiltered. Vulnerability should serve others, not the leader’s emotional relief. Raw disclosure is not always courageous; sometimes it is simply an emotional data dump that burdens the listener. Useful vulnerability, by contrast, is like offering a compass: personal, yes, but handed over with the intent to orient others, not to lighten your own load. Do emotional processing upstream. Use peers, mentors, or therapists as your primary space, not your colleagues. This preserves your team’s psychological safety while still giving you the support you need. Upstream processing allows you to show up composed, thoughtful, and ready to metabolize complexity on behalf of others rather than through them. For example, employees often report feeling “emotionally hijacked” when leaders vent openly about board pressure or uncertainty, unsure whether they are being informed or enlisted as emotional support. Replace unloading with grounding. Before sharing, ask: “Is this helpful to them? Or helpful to me?” Grounding yourself first allows you to express vulnerability as perspective, not pressure. Think of grounding as fastening your oxygen mask before assisting others: when you regulate your own emotional state, your words become stabilizing rather than contagious. Leaders who ground themselves create a conversational climate where honesty feels safe instead of sharp. Balance identity with adaptability Many leaders confuse integrity with sameness. True reliability comes not from repeating the same behaviors, but from expressing the same values with greater responsiveness and emotional range. Here’s how: Redefine consistency. Anchor to values, not behaviors. Values stay largely steady; behaviors can evolve. When leaders treat consistency as performing the same behaviors in every situation, they confuse predictability with rigidity. True consistency comes from being reliably guided by the same principles even as contexts shift. Try 10% adjustments. Micro-flexibility builds confidence without threatening identity. A modest shift in tone, timing, or format can expand your influence far more than sweeping reinventions, demonstrating that authenticity and adaptability can coexist. Name what rigidity protects. When you feel resistant, ask: “What part of me feels endangered right now?” Identifying the fear beneath the resistance opens the door to more adaptive choices. This self-reflection keeps self-expression honest while ensuring that protective impulses do not override responsibilities to the people they lead. Demonstrate values with judgment, not dogma Strong values don’t require rigid postures. Moral maturity allows leaders to stand for what matters while remaining curious, connected, and oriented toward collective impact rather than personal righteousness. Here’s how: Distinguish values from validation. Ask: “Am I standing in a principle or hiding behind it?” This distinguishes conviction from ego. By interrogating whether a stance is truly principle-driven or simply self-affirming, leaders prevent rigid authenticity from becoming a shield for stubbornness. Expand the aperture of “right.” Seek nuance in situations that challenge your certainty. Curiosity reduces the need to treat disagreement as a moral referendum. By widening their interpretive frame, leaders move from defending their identity to understanding the system they are operating in. Prioritize impact over insistence. Sometimes the most ethical choice is the one that maintains relationships, not the one that wins the argument. Insisting on being right can satisfy the ego but damage the social fabric leaders rely on to get things done. In short, if you are interested in being a better leader who is true to her/himself, focus on being your best possible self rather than your unfiltered or uncensored self. Why? Because the less you care about your reputation, the more others will care—and not in a good way. Leadership is fundamentally relational, so leaders’ professional selves must be optimized to the needs of others. People don’t need leaders to share every inner thought but to provide clarity, stability, and a responsible, human presence. Effective leaders prioritize impact over self-expression and treat authenticity as an active, intentional process. By contrast, misguided self-expression creates friction that slows decisions, distorts information, and weakens execution, even in otherwise capable teams. The best leaders commit to continuous improvement and becoming more effective in their roles.​​ This demands self-awareness and emotional intelligence, recognizing what traits to emphasize or adjust to meet the moment’s demands. Instead of unfiltered self-expression, leaders engage in thoughtful self-presentation tailored to the collective needs of their teams and organizations. As a result, leaders’ professional reputation becomes a practiced skill of managing how to show up powerfully while staying true to core values, not a static identity to be discovered or defended at all costs.​ In summary, effective leadership is less about rigid self-identity and more about strategic self-curation aimed at adaptive effectiveness and relational impact. Leaders who understand this evolve beyond trapped patterns and refine themselves to lead with clarity, competence, and integrity. View the full article

A relatively new category of solopreneur is booming, and its ascent is challenging perceptions of what it means to be self-employed. Since 2018 demand for fractional expertise—or specialized talent that works for one or many firms on a limited or part-time basis—has tripled, according to a recent study by workforce intelligence company Revelio Labs. The most popular part-time executive position, according to the study, is CFO, which makes up 18% of fractional executive roles, followed by CMO at 14% and CEO at 10%. Revelio Labs’ chief economist Lisa Simon says the skyrocketing demand for fractional executives is largely a function of the current job market. She explains that layoffs have freed up many highly skilled workers while budgetary constraints have added to the appeal of a lower cost flexible alternative to full-time hires among businesses. “Employers see fractional work as a way to save on costs while filling a particular role and, because of the weak labor market, more workers are willing to take these part-time positions,” she explains. Though some go fractional out of necessity, others actively choose the arrangement for its added flexibility, especially women. According to the Revelio Labs study, about 38% of American fractional executives are female, compared with 31.5% of those that are traditionally employed. “Women are much more likely to be interested in remote work and return to office has had particularly adversely affected women; they’re less willing to go back, because of the extra caregiving responsibilities,” Simon explains. “Fractional work is more attractive to mothers, to those giving elder care, because it allows for that extra flexibility.” A new work paradigm, or just a fad? The trend may be driven by temporary market conditions, but there is reason to believe the growth in both the supply and demand of fractional help is indicative of a broader and more lasting change. “What I’m seeing is the unbundling of roles,” explains Sara Daw, the global CEO of U.K.-based Liberti Group, which connects businesses with fractional executive talent in 18 counties. “Roles that we historically only thought of as being full-time and permanent are unbundling into more work tasks and activities, and the fractional trend meets that head on.” Daw says her organization has been providing part-time executive services since 2001, but those services have only been labelled “fractional” since the pandemic. Since then the organization has doubled thanks to skyrocketing demand, especially for CFOs, which it provides through its sub-brand the CFO Centre. “Before COVID most people didn’t know what we were talking about when we were pitching it,” says Daw, who published a book tracking the fractional trend last year. “Most business owners wanted their CFO sitting next to them, and I think COVID taught everyone that we can work differently, and it’s normalized our business model.” The pandemic also inspired workers to reevaluate their relationship with work and seek more control over their schedules. “It encouraged a lot of people to consider whether their full-time high-end C-suite leadership job was detrimental to their health, their well-being, their family,” Daw says. “Those two trends coming together has created this phenomenon.” That’s especially true among younger workers. Though they may not be ready to step into fractional executive roles, a new generation of talent is proving much more comfortable with the part-time model, suggesting more growth on the horizon. “Most Gen Zers have a side gig already; they’re much more portfolio-minded and gig-orientated,” Daw says. “I’m not saying employment is dead, I’m saying this has got its own space alongside it.” Not Just for Cash-Strapped Startups Prior to the pandemic, Daw says the primary customer for fractional services were startups and small businesses that couldn’t afford full-time help. While that segment remains strong, there has also been significant growth among larger organizations looking for a temporary, flexible helping hand. “Since COVID, the pace of change—geopolitics, climate change, war, technology, all of those mega-trends—has meant that organizations have got a lot to cope with, and the senior leaders have started looking more for outside help,” she says. “They might have a group CFO or group CMO who’s employed full-time, but those individuals are overwhelmed in a turbulent world, and they need an agile talent structure.” When large organizations needed outside assistance in the past they traditionally looked to major consulting and advisory firms. Many are now discovering that they can find specialized talent at a lower cost by engaging a part-time, temporary expert. Those fractional experts may have even been previously employed by one of those big consulting firms or may have helped a similar organization overcome a similar challenge in the past. “You’re seeing very large corporations—the brands you know—hiring these fraction-ers intentionally to get access to the talent,” says Ran Harpaz, the founder and CEO of Lettuce Financial, a Fintech platform for solopreneurs earning six figures. “They don’t want to go to finance and justify a job, and put it in the budget for the next five years and deal with all the support systems around it.” From embarrassment to badge of honor Before the term gained traction, those who offered what we’d now describe as fractional services were given labels that Harpaz says didn’t really match their level of expertise. “Consultant, contractor, 1099, those are accounting terms. ‘Fractional’ is a business term,” he says. “It says ‘I’m going to solve your problem, and I can do it in a fractional capacity.’” That new label, he says, has shifted the perception of this category of solopreneurs from something many felt they had to hide on their résumés to something they advertise as a badge of honor. “They say out loud, ‘I’m so great at what I do that I can help your business in 10 hours or 20 hours a week, because I’m that experienced,” Harpaz says. “It’s not a gig, it’s a destination, and I’m positioning myself so that clients understand what they’re getting, and they see the value in the interaction.” View the full article

Need for connectivity tends to grow the longer the flight, weakening the case for the budget airlineView the full article

A reader writes: My coworker – who is not my boss – is trying to micromanage my projects, and I am having difficulty responding effectively. About six months ago, I was appointed to a leadership position for a well-known nonprofit in my area of expertise. I’ve generally enjoyed the work and feel well-supported, with the exception of one coworker, Linda. Linda is about 10-15 years older than I am, though I have more professional expertise and public-facing engagement in this field. She is in a different department than I am, but she acts as though she thinks I report to her, instead of to my actual boss (who is also her boss) and she constantly wants updates on my projects. A few recent examples: • I spearheaded the launch of a new grant-making initiative this past fall. She wanted updates every week about the application process, the reviews, and the final selection, and then tried to go over my head to our supervisor to insist that a low-scoring proposal by a friend of hers gets leapfrogged to the top. • I’m starting a new educational series for my peers and she wants to know all the nitty-gritty details – not just dates and topics, but detailed talking points, what the run of show is like, what resources will be provided to attendees, etc. She’s also making suggestions that don’t make any sense for this audience. I wouldn’t expect her to know that because she doesn’t have this background training herself, but this is why I was hired! • With my manager’s blessing and letter of recommendation, I applied for and got into a fairly prestigious leadership program, which involves some travel and online webinar commitments. Linda was annoyed to see these out-of-office blocks on my calendar and expressed surprise that I hadn’t told her first. It’s not jealousy that she didn’t get in; she’s not even eligible because it’s only for holders of certain professional degrees, which she doesn’t have. • There’s a huge industry-wide conference every spring. I’ll be there for the first six days, and then leaving for another, smaller conference that’s more in my area of expertise. She expressed frustration that I didn’t tell her about my travel plans earlier. It didn’t even occur to me to clear my travel with anyone other than my supervisor and my direct team! I took this job in part because I was looking to escape a toxic manager at my previous job, and am really not excited about falling back into bad habits. I’ve told Linda both in email and in Teams calls that I appreciate her offers of support but I’ll let her know if and when I need help. But after the incidents above, which all happened within the last week, I think I need to be more forceful and direct. What is the best way for me to navigate this?. We are a mostly remote organization, so I can’t suggest we grab coffee to discuss it, unfortunately. You can read my answer to this letter at New York Magazine today. Head over there to read it. The post my coworker is trying to micromanage my work appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Amid ongoing supply chain disruptions, Oracle has unveiled a new solution designed to bolster retailer operations: Oracle Retail Supply Chain Collaboration. This cloud-based platform promises to help businesses manage supplier relationships, enhance operational efficiency, and improve compliance—all critical elements in today’s unpredictable market. The introduction of this solution arrives at a time when small retailers face myriad challenges, from shifts in consumer demand to compliance with evolving regulations. Oracle’s latest offering addresses these concerns by providing actionable, data-driven insights that empower businesses to navigate supply chain complexities more effectively. The solution enhances operational oversight through improved forecast accuracy and timely alerts regarding potential supply chain disruptions. In a rapidly changing environment, retailers can now anticipate issues and engage suppliers proactively. For instance, if there is an impending change in demand or a regulatory shift that could impact inventory shipments, retailers can issue urgent notifications directly within the system. Such capabilities allow for a more responsive and agile operation, vital for maintaining customer satisfaction and protecting profit margins. As Paul Woodward, global vice president of Oracle Retail Products, remarked, “From natural disasters to shifting global trade conditions, retailers are in a constant battle to better balance their supply chains to meet customer expectations… This solution gives retailers the AI-and data-driven visibility and intelligence needed to navigate complex supply chain and vendor relationships.” A notable feature of the Oracle Retail Supply Chain Collaboration is its integration with the Oracle Retail Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service. This integration streamlines the process for retailers, enabling them to collaborate effectively with suppliers. Retailers can assess production facilities and analyze valuable supplier data right from a unified portal. Such direct collaboration can help in making informed decisions, fostering more strategic and effective merchandising operations. Key benefits for small businesses utilizing Oracle’s new solution include: Enhanced Supplier Coordination: Retailers can better share critical information with suppliers, promoting transparency and effective collaboration. Sustainability and Compliance Focus: Retailers can collect and review sustainability certifications and compliance audits, aiding in high-standard operations while also addressing environmental and social governance (ESG) requirements. Streamlined Operations: By automating the creation and updating of product records, the solution simplifies data synchronization, thus reducing manual errors and workload. Centralized Data Sharing: A single portal allows for more straightforward communication and delegation of responsibilities among suppliers, boosting productivity and efficiency. For small business owners, these features provide a means to enhance their operational strategies. In an environment where every delay can lead to lost sales, the ability to anticipate problems and coordinate promptly could prove invaluable. However, while the benefits are compelling, challenges may arise during the integration of this new system, particularly for smaller retailers with limited resources. Transitioning to a cloud solution requires an initial investment and possibly a learning curve for staff. Business owners might also need to assess how responsive their supply bases can be to the technologies and processes implemented. Increased reliance on technology also raises questions about data security and privacy. Small business owners must ensure that their partner suppliers comply with the necessary standards to avoid potential disruptions. As Oracle showcases this solution at the NRF 2023 event in New York, small business owners have an opportunity to see its capabilities firsthand and explore how it might fit within their operational frameworks. With the right implementation, Oracle Retail Supply Chain Collaboration could empower smaller retailers to respond more adeptly to today’s challenges, protecting margins and enhancing customer satisfaction. For more information, visit the original Oracle press release at Oracle. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle Launches Cloud Solution to Revolutionize Retail Supply Chain Collaboration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Amid ongoing supply chain disruptions, Oracle has unveiled a new solution designed to bolster retailer operations: Oracle Retail Supply Chain Collaboration. This cloud-based platform promises to help businesses manage supplier relationships, enhance operational efficiency, and improve compliance—all critical elements in today’s unpredictable market. The introduction of this solution arrives at a time when small retailers face myriad challenges, from shifts in consumer demand to compliance with evolving regulations. Oracle’s latest offering addresses these concerns by providing actionable, data-driven insights that empower businesses to navigate supply chain complexities more effectively. The solution enhances operational oversight through improved forecast accuracy and timely alerts regarding potential supply chain disruptions. In a rapidly changing environment, retailers can now anticipate issues and engage suppliers proactively. For instance, if there is an impending change in demand or a regulatory shift that could impact inventory shipments, retailers can issue urgent notifications directly within the system. Such capabilities allow for a more responsive and agile operation, vital for maintaining customer satisfaction and protecting profit margins. As Paul Woodward, global vice president of Oracle Retail Products, remarked, “From natural disasters to shifting global trade conditions, retailers are in a constant battle to better balance their supply chains to meet customer expectations… This solution gives retailers the AI-and data-driven visibility and intelligence needed to navigate complex supply chain and vendor relationships.” A notable feature of the Oracle Retail Supply Chain Collaboration is its integration with the Oracle Retail Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service. This integration streamlines the process for retailers, enabling them to collaborate effectively with suppliers. Retailers can assess production facilities and analyze valuable supplier data right from a unified portal. Such direct collaboration can help in making informed decisions, fostering more strategic and effective merchandising operations. Key benefits for small businesses utilizing Oracle’s new solution include: Enhanced Supplier Coordination: Retailers can better share critical information with suppliers, promoting transparency and effective collaboration. Sustainability and Compliance Focus: Retailers can collect and review sustainability certifications and compliance audits, aiding in high-standard operations while also addressing environmental and social governance (ESG) requirements. Streamlined Operations: By automating the creation and updating of product records, the solution simplifies data synchronization, thus reducing manual errors and workload. Centralized Data Sharing: A single portal allows for more straightforward communication and delegation of responsibilities among suppliers, boosting productivity and efficiency. For small business owners, these features provide a means to enhance their operational strategies. In an environment where every delay can lead to lost sales, the ability to anticipate problems and coordinate promptly could prove invaluable. However, while the benefits are compelling, challenges may arise during the integration of this new system, particularly for smaller retailers with limited resources. Transitioning to a cloud solution requires an initial investment and possibly a learning curve for staff. Business owners might also need to assess how responsive their supply bases can be to the technologies and processes implemented. Increased reliance on technology also raises questions about data security and privacy. Small business owners must ensure that their partner suppliers comply with the necessary standards to avoid potential disruptions. As Oracle showcases this solution at the NRF 2023 event in New York, small business owners have an opportunity to see its capabilities firsthand and explore how it might fit within their operational frameworks. With the right implementation, Oracle Retail Supply Chain Collaboration could empower smaller retailers to respond more adeptly to today’s challenges, protecting margins and enhancing customer satisfaction. For more information, visit the original Oracle press release at Oracle. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle Launches Cloud Solution to Revolutionize Retail Supply Chain Collaboration" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Balancing gut feelings with hard data isn’t a soft skill. It’s a strategic advantage. In an era where AI, automation, and ubiquitous dashboards flood us with metrics, it’s tempting to believe that better spreadsheets alone will yield better decisions. But our most consequential choices rarely emerge from a cell in column D. They arise from an ongoing negotiation between intuition and rational analysis. The paradox is this: as technology becomes more sophisticated at processing information, the human capacity to notice what matters—the intangible signals of opportunity or risk—becomes more valuable. Yet most organizations force a false choice. We either romanticize intuition (“I just know this investment is a winner”) or we bury it under rationalizations (“The model says no”). A healthier—and more innovative—approach is to design for both. The Science Behind the Marriage of Modes Recent research reveals something counterintuitive. According to a Science Direct article about entrepreneurs’ decision making, when entrepreneurs with domain expertise integrate AI-driven analysis with their intuitive insights, they achieve the most balanced outcomes, excelling simultaneously in novelty, depth, and innovation. A controlled study of 124 entrepreneurs found that while AI assistance increased the number of recognized opportunities and the depth of evaluation, it simultaneously reduced novelty and contextual sensitivity. But here’s the interesting thing: sector knowledge and intuitive judgment restored this creative dimension. The entrepreneurs who combined both sources of intelligence outperformed those relying on either alone. Separately, research into human-AI collaboration in decision-making found that expertise in the decision-making domain is a necessary condition for intuition to be effective. Organizations attempting to eliminate intuition in favor of pure analytics often find themselves unable to navigate ill-structured problems—you know, the kind that have no precedent and require human judgment. Conversely, intuition without analytical rigor falls prey to bias and incomplete information. What neuroscience reveals is even more compelling. Research shows that leaders who cultivate interoceptive awareness, which is your ability to sense and interpret internal bodily signals, experience improved self-regulation and more grounded decision-making. A study published in NeuroImage found that individuals with higher interoceptive awareness showed increased activation in the insular cortex during decision-making tasks, suggesting a direct link between bodily awareness and cognitive processes. In other words, learning to read your physical responses during deliberation literally changes how your brain processes information. Redesign How You Think One practical shift is to separate your phases of thinking. In the first phase, privilege expansive, intuitive work: walking meetings, whiteboard sessions, voice notes, even practices like yoga nidra (a guided relaxation technique) or non-sleep deep rest that loosen our grip on linear problem-solving. The job of this phase is not to decide; it’s to notice. What’s tugging at your attention? What feels unexpectedly alive or off? What pattern are you sensing before you can articulate it? This isn’t meditation or mysticism. It’s the recognition that your brain’s pattern-recognition systems, honed by years of experience in your domain, often detect signals faster than your conscious, analytical mind can process them. Honor that system. Later, in a distinct evaluative phase, invite rigor back in. We interrogate assumptions. We ask: What data supports this hunch? What contradicts it? Who would disagree, and on what grounds? Who benefits if this decision goes our way? Who bears the costs? Simply naming that we are in “intuitive mode” or “rational mode” reduces the unspoken power struggle between the two. It also prevents the common organizational mistake I see all the time: abandoning the intuitive insight midway through because the data is messy, or defending an intuitive pull long after contradicting evidence has emerged. Treat Hunches as Hypotheses The next step is to treat intuition as a hypothesis, not a verdict. A gut feeling about a hire, a product direction, or a market pivot can be translated into small, testable experiments. Pilot the idea with a narrow customer segment. Run an A/B test instead of a full rollout. Offer a time-bound consulting or project role before committing to a full-time leader. This shifts the conversation from “Should I trust my instinct?” to “What would I need to see to strengthen or challenge this intuition?” That’s rigor without self-betrayal. It’s also how learning accelerates. You’re not choosing between data and gut; you’re using data to train your gut. The Interoceptive Edge Of course, not all gut feelings are wisdom. Some are simply our biases wearing a confident costume. This is where building interoceptive awareness matters. Paying attention to how your body feels before and after major decisions can, over time, distinguish between expansive intuition and constricting fear. Research on interoceptive training demonstrates that after just one week of focused practice, participants showed enhanced interoceptive accuracy and significantly more rational decision-making. They also reported reductions in anxiety and somatic symptoms. The implication for leaders is clear: developing the capacity to read your internal signals isn’t indulgent—it’s foundational. Consider keeping a brief “intuition log”: What did I feel? What did I decide? How did it turn out? Are there patterns? You’re effectively training your inner instrument. Over time, you become more reliable at distinguishing between a genuine signal and noise. Counter Implicit Bias To counter cultural and implicit bias, organizations need deliberate friction in decision-making. Research on affinity bias (our tendency to favor people similar to us) reveals that this bias operates silently and persistently. One study found that male candidates are 1.5 times more likely to advance to screening than equally qualified women. More broadly, diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones on measures of innovation, problem-solving, and financial returns, yet affinity bias remains one of the most common barriers to building such teams. Designate someone in key meetings to challenge assumptions: How might affinity bias be shaping this decision? If this candidate or idea looked nothing like our past successes, would we still be excited? Would we hire or promote this person if they came from a different background? If this market opportunity came from a woman rather than a man proposing it, would we fund it? Pairing intuitive pulls with structured dissent helps ensure we’re not just re-inscribing “this is how we do things around here.” It also reveals when our intuition is actually convenience masquerading as wisdom. The “Both/And” Decision Framework Ultimately, the goal is a “both/and” review of major decisions. On one side of the page: data, constraints, risks, what the models say. On the other: gut feel, emotional tone, bodily cues, pattern recognition from experience, what feels alive. Include the assumptions that underlie each. Include the people who would gain and lose with each choice. The closing question is simple: Given both columns, what is the smallest, most reversible next step? Make It Visible When leaders narrate this process out loud—”Here’s what my intuition is telling me, here’s what the data says, and here’s how I’m reconciling them”—then they normalize a culture where neither spreadsheets nor gut checks are taboo. This transparency also models the kind of thinking that develops over time. Junior leaders see that confidence isn’t about certainty; it’s about integrating multiple sources of information and taking action despite genuine uncertainty. In the imagination era, where ideas are our true currency and markets move faster than data can track the shifts, the organizations that thrive won’t be those that worship logic or intuition alone. They’ll be those that have the courage and discipline to let them dance. View the full article

The smaller firm gets a say, so decide what you want. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

The smaller firm gets a say, so decide what you want. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

Curving walls of clay brick and the dappled light of a forest canopy make up the design of the 2026 Serpentine Pavilion, the annual architectural installation that has become one of the field’s most prestigious commissions. This year’s pavilion is being designed by Isabel Abascal and Alessandro Arienzo of LANZA atelier, a Mexico City-based architecture studio. An annual installation outside the Serpentine art gallery in London’s Kensington Park that is freely open to the public from June through October, the Serpentine Pavilion is high-brow design that’s unusually accessible. Isabel AbascalAlessandro Arienzo Hitting the premise on the nose, LANZA atelier’s design was inspired by a common English architectural feature known as a “serpentine” or a “crinkle-crankle” that uses a gently curving line of bricks to form a decorative wall. For the Serpentine Pavilion, the architects lined one side of the structure with this serpentine wall, built just a single brick wide. An architectural trick, the wall’s curves provide stability through lateral support, making it need fewer bricks than if the wall were straight. Inside, the pavilion evokes the trees of the surrounding park with a series of brick columns—also a single brick wide—supporting a semi-transparent roof. Bricks also make up the floor surface, making the interior a thoroughly earthy experience. This single material’s dominance is only broken by its white-painted metal frame lattice roof, which bounces light into the space. Its curvaceous form creates niches within the pavilion while also forming portals to the park and to the Serpentine gallery nearby. The Serpentine Pavilion has been an architectural event for 25 years, serving as both a showcase and a creative outlet for emerging architects and artists. One of the highest-profile commissions in the field, the Serpentine Pavilion has been designed by an A-list of designers since its first iteration, including Pritzker Prize–winning architects Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Peter Zumthor, and Diébédo Francis Kéré, and artists Ai Weiwei, Theaster Gates, and Olafur Eliasson. The Serpentine Pavilion is a global stage for LANZA atelier, a small office founded in 2015. The firm’s built works include several private homes, a children’s community center, and minimal yet elegant public bathroom. The 2026 Serpentine Pavilion will open to the public June 6. View the full article

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday morning that banks should focus on the sweeping deregulation the administration has enacted as the industry pushes back on President The President's proposed 10% credit card interest rate cap. View the full article