Author: Susan Fowler

Procrastination is more than a symptom of bad time management. You might not be surprised that procrastination is linked to depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness and reduced life satisfaction. But a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s (JAMA) online network in January 2023 relates procrastinating with severe mental health problems, disabling pain,… Continue reading Proof that procrastinating is bad for your health

If you’re exhausted heading into the new year, join the crowd. Ask most people what’s to blame for their depleted energy, physically and mentally, and they point to one major category of ills: profound change. This is where I ask you to depart from the crowd. Change isn’t the culprit zapping your energy — change… Continue reading Strategies to experience a positive difference in the new year

You might consider me a member of the correctness police. Your disdain might be justified, for I know my advocacy for certain ideas can come off as over-the-top. I may drive my team nuts, for example, when I ask them to eliminate the term “drive” from their vocabulary. To be fair, I only request it… Continue reading How leadership language can drive employees nuts

A high-level manager from a Fortune 500 company created a game based on one of my motivation books and reached out for feedback. I love games and wanted to support her efforts. But we ran into an early roadblock when I asked her the game’s purpose. She stated her intention: I want to teach people… Continue reading Gamification: Before you play, know what experts say

This headline caught my attention: The Great Resignation turns to the Great Regret as worker needs are not being met, expert says. Suddenly venerable business sites are reporting on the Great Regret and its cousin that’s gone viral, the Quiet Quitting. McKinsey & Company claims the Great Attrition has become the Great Renegotiation. But no matter how many trendy names we assign to… Continue reading How companies can help employees avoid the “Great Regret”

I’m a fierce opponent of the reward culture permeating today’s organizations. I rail at the idea of motivating people by throwing monetary rewards, tokens, badges, trips, prizes and incentives at them. When speaking or training, I come armed and ready with scientific proof for the answer to the inevitable question: Are rewards ever appropriate? But recently,… Continue reading Are rewards ever appropriate?

The pushback was swift against WeWork CEO’s bold claim that only the “least engaged” people want to continue working from home.  Sandeep Mathrani had an ulterior motive for people not to work from home and instead rent office space from WeWork, which he acknowledged in an apology of sorts. For me, his statement was also… Continue reading Is Motivation Science the Answer to Leading a Hybrid Workforce?