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Cal Wilson / October 13, 2021

How to cope with colleagues quitting.

2021 has seen a record number of employees across North America leave their jobs. While many businesses are understaffed and desperately searching for qualified workers, those left behind might have trouble adjusting to the loss of their colleagues.  

In this issue of the Pulse, we look at advice from Harvard Business Review and executive business coach Nihar Chhaya about what to do when your colleagues are leaving, but you plan to stay.  

A ‘turnover tsunami.’  

Chhaya describes the economy as experiencing a ‘turnover tsunami’ – over 40% of the global workforce has reported that they have left or are planning to leave their jobs in 2021.  

If you’re among the 60% planning to stay in your current situation, it may be inevitable that you experience some changes in workplace culture as well as the added stress of a shifting workload. Chhaya, whose clients are experiencing culture shock from all of the turnover, recommends a few strategies to cope with this transitional period.  

You may feel pushed out.  

One of the issues workers are facing is a dichotomy between tenured and new employees. For longtime employees, there is the insecurity of being perceived as less innovative, strategic, or forward-thinking as newer hires. Likewise, some employees may feel like they have been quickly given more responsibility or seniority than they expected.  

Chhaya recommends giving yourself the space to process the changes in your workplace. If you’re on the fence about staying or leaving, you may be going through something called “affective forecasting.” 

Chhaya explains that when “you see others leaving your company, you may feel an urge to start looking for new opportunities as well. Their departures can trigger a feeling of social exclusion as you feel left behind.” 

This exclusion, paired with the feeling of being out of place in your new situation, could lead to a very overwhelming time in your career.  

Reflect on your place in the company culture.  

If this sounds like something you’re struggling with, Chhaya recommends reflecting on yourself, your workplace, and your career goals.  

“Start by reflecting alone, or with the help of a trusted partner, on your intrinsic values and goals,” he recommends.  

“Then do an honest inventory of your current capabilities and reputation, as well as where you still need to develop, to achieve your ideal work life. At the same time, explore whether your values and goals are aligned with what your employer defines for success in your role. You may find that you’re motivated by a different set of criteria than your company, or that with a bit more adaptability you could find a way to be fulfilled by staying.” 

Don’t act with haste. Figure out what will be the best for you, not what was the right choice for your other colleagues. 

Be involved with new employee onboarding.  

When appropriate, participate in onboarding activities and get to know new staff members in a reciprocal way. Be helpful and a mentor when needed, but also be open to learning their ways of doing things.  

Chhaya says, “The best strategy is to simultaneously teach and learn. Share your experiences as a wise mentor but be willing to invite their input with a beginner’s mind. You will not only stay relevant as things change, but your openness will help you cultivate greater influence with your colleagues.” 

If there’s a company onboarding playbook to follow for new employees, it’s never a bad idea to take another look to see if there are steps in it you can take to help adjust to the new workplace dynamic.  

In conclusion… 

The ‘turnover tsunami’ of 2021 may have thrown your workplace culture and career plan off track, but it doesn’t have to be a total loss. Even when others are leaving, if you make the choice to stay, it could be a positive thing for you and your company.  

Nihar Chhaya is an executive coach to senior leaders at global companies, including American Airlines, Coca-Cola, GE, and Dell. You can read the rest of his advice in the original article on Harvard Business Review here.

Cal Wilson / October 4, 2021

North American Small Business Debt is Soaring

Across Canada and the United States, small businesses are hurting from the financial ramifications of COVID-19. Even while businesses open back up, many are still struggling.  

Canada’s small business debt hits $139 billion.  

As of September, The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) estimates that small businesses owe a collective $139 billion. Furthermore, the average business owes close to $177,000 due to restrictions and closures. In the hospitality and tourism industry, that number is closer to $333,174.  

With the economy not yet back to pre-pandemic conditions, it seems unlikely that many businesses will be able to pay down their debts.  

The CFIB reports that: 

  • 76% of businesses believe it will take them more than a year to pay off their debt.  
  • For hospitality and tourism companies, the number jumps to 86%.  
  • A quarter report fearing they will never manage to pay off the debt.  

How are Canadian business owners staying afloat? 

The rise in debt has also revealed what methods owners are using to continue financing their small businesses through these difficult times. The CFIB found: 

  • Almost one-third of business owners say they use credit cards to make ends meet.  
  • Almost one-third have been using their personal savings.  
  • 78% are making use of government assistance programs, which cover roughly 31% of the shortfall in expenses.  

Small businesses in the U.S are facing similar problems.  

American small businesses are not exempt from the debt problems that plague Canadian business owners. The Federal Reserve reported 95% of businesses were affected by the pandemic, and 91% sought emergency assistance funding.  

Small business lending is a multi-trillion dollar industry in the United States. Likewise, in 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loaned out over $800 billion to businesses. In March, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package was released to businesses across the country.  

Although the data is not as clear about small business lending in the United States, all evidence suggests that American small businesses are in the same trouble as Canadian ones. For businesses in states like Louisiana or Mississippi, the additional blow of Hurricane Ida at the end of August has only exacerbated the issue, as property damage and power outages have caused significant downtime.  

American businesses are struggling to employ at full capacity.  

A record level of vacant positions across the United States is also contributing to rising business debt. Bloomberg reported that as of August, 50% of small businesses had job openings they could not fill. The numbers have not been this high since 1986.  

To combat this unemployment crisis, 41% of small businesses have raised compensation to attract workers. Likewise, 32% intend to add to payroll in the next few months.  

Understaffed, it may be hard for small businesses to perform at a level where they can begin paying down their debt.  

What can small business owners do?  

If you’re one of the small businesses experiencing a surge in debt due to the pandemic, there are steps you can take to improve your financial situation, even in a small way.  

Most businesses that fail do so because of cash flow management issues. If you’re struggling with cash flow management, here are some things to keep in mind: 

  • Don’t jump to raising prices – while underpricing goods means you won’t have enough incoming cash, overpricing may mean you won’t make enough sales and risk turning away customers. You want to find a sweet spot where you’ll remain competitive without undervaluing yourself. 
  • Offer time-based incentives – if you have lots of cash tied up in unpaid invoices, it can be hard to stay on top of your expenses. One strategy to increase your liquidity is encouraging clients and customers to pay on time via time-based incentives. 
  • Choose your credit wisely – using credit isn’t inherently bad, especially when done with planning and caution. However, it is important to do your research and find a line of credit that makes sense for your business. Traditional banking options may not be the best choice. 
  • Implement saving techniques – there are many saving strategies businesses can utilize to manage their cash. Among them, opening a separate business checking account, using accounting software, and investigating each expense to see if it has a positive return on investment (ROI) stand out as quick, effective options.  

It is also never a bad idea to work with external professionals, such as bookkeepers and cost reduction specialists, who can help you save money while growing your business.  

In conclusion… 

The pandemic has launched an unprecedented debt and employment crisis for small businesses across Canada and the United States. While recovery is projected to be years away, there are steps business owners and CFOs can take to give themselves a financial boon.  

Related articles: 

Cal Wilson / September 20, 2021

Waste across industries, No. 5: How to save your business money while recycling

 

Does your business recycle? Although this has been common practice in residential homes since the Great Depression, many businesses do not have the knowledge or incentive to properly recycle some of the waste they generate. So, what is the incentive? Can recycling save you money?

Part five of Schooley Mitchell’s five-part series.

Over the past few months, we have looked at the cost of waste across several industries. Business waste disposal comes with a hefty cost to your bottom line, as well as the environment. In the final issue of this series, we look at one of the biggest strategies to reduce waste: recycling.

Can recycling save your business money?

The best way to reduce waste disposal expenses is to simply reduce waste. For many businesses, reducing paper and purchasing reusable materials can eliminate a significant source of waste, regardless of whether that waste is being recycled or headed to a landfill.

In areas where you cannot eliminate waste, commercial recycling is a viable alternative. Recycling reduces transfer and landfill costs associated with waste disposal. Separating the relevant materials into recycling bins also reduces the frequency of garbage collections.

According to sanitation solutions provider Clean River, companies can see annual savings of up to $4,000 by just making the transition to recycling their cardboard and paper waste.

Likewise, depending on where in North America you are located and what kind of organization you are, there may be grants to help you establish a recycling program, making the transition even more cost effective.

Some recyclables can be sold.

Contractors, construction companies, manufacturers, and other businesses that generate recyclables like scrap metal can sell these materials and earn back some of the money that would have otherwise gone to waste generation.

So how do you start a commercial recycling program?

If you’re looking to save money on waste disposal by starting a commercial recycling program, here are some tips for planning internally:

  • Assess your office’s recycling needs – how many work spaces or lunch rooms will need recycling bins?
  • Assess your materials – are you recycling mainly paper and cardboard, or will you also need to account for plastic bottles and containers?
  • Will you want to include an option for organic waste?
  • Plan for one recycling bin per 50-75 people, depending on staff density. High traffic areas may need more.
  • Plan for an outdoor bin if you have outdoor spaces where staff or visitors congregate.
  • What does your current waste management schedule look like? If you have less frequent bin emptying, you may need more bins than if they’re emptied daily.

You will also want to look externally to your waste hauler. Some haulers aren’t set up to collect all waste streams, but others won’t charge for recycling, or may even give you a rebate. Explore your options, and if necessary, work with a third-party expert who can help find you the best solutions.

What about composting?

If your workplace generates a substantial amount of organic waste, it may also be worth looking into a commercial/industrial composting solution. Commercial or industrial composters often collect compostable materials directly from your business and then use the latest technologies to put this to good use.

In conclusion, don’t let waste expenses eat into your profits.

Over the past five issues, we have investigated various sources and solutions of commercial waste, as well as the heavy cost associated with it. While waste costs can be overwhelming, there are ways to reduce and manage the impact they have on your bottom line.

If you think you’re spending more than you need to, contact an expert who will help you optimize your waste disposal process and bill.

Related articles:

Cal Wilson / September 15, 2021

Business leaders can learn from school teachers, too.

Most of us can remember one or more great teachers we had, whose kind guidance positively impacted our life’s trajectory. Learning from dedicated educators is not limited to students, though. Business leaders can benefit greatly by employing a teacher’s viewpoint and expertise into their decision-making process.

In this issue of The Pulse, we examine the ways in which an educator’s experience could help expand a business leader’s skillset.

Teachers are trained in knowledge sharing.

Teachers are specifically trained in taking their existing knowledge, paired with new information, and passing it on to their pupils. They are trained in explaining, demonstrating, and leading with the goal of building skills and confidence in others.

This is a skillset business leaders, whether executive or middle management, could greatly benefit from having on their toolbelt. The higher up and more skilled you become in your company, the more you will need to delegate tasks and pass on knowledge to staff below you. Even if you’re the top expert in your field, teaching can still be challenging, and not everyone is a natural.

Looking to classroom educators and college or university professors for guidance is one way you could strengthen your skills and receive excellent insight.

Teachers must adapt to different learning styles.

No two employees – or students – are the same. We all learn and process information differently. If you’re ever struggling with an underperforming employee, or in training a new program or ability, it might be worth asking a teacher for tips.

What is the best way to help a hands-on learner through a written or auditory training activity? How do you customize training materials for an individual to a larger group? Teachers tackle these challenges every day, and often with fewer resources than many businesses have access to.

Teachers create engaging content.

Especially for those that teach younger children, teachers must know how to make digesting information interesting.

Educational success business School Growth says “leaders would be wise to tap into the expertise of educators in order to utilize modern approaches to curriculum design to build engagement internally (with employees, managers, etc.) and externally (with clients and communities). Understanding how people learn and how to craft instructional experiences that strengthen relationships offers a unique marketing advantage.”

Teachers have an unwavering work ethic.

The best educators are the ones who are chronically optimistic about their students’ potential. They believe in and inspire their pupils to perform at their best. Teachers demonstrate this by:

  • Setting big, but possible, goals.
  • Investing time and emotional energy in their students.
  • Planning purposefully and executing that plan to benefit every student in the classroom.
  • Taking feedback and improving their skills.
  • Working relentlessly despite obstacles.
  • Having compassion and empathy for their pupils.

These are all things you, as a business leader, can be doing for your employees.

In conclusion…

The ability to teach and learn make you and your business highly competitive. There are no better role models for this than the educators who may have inspired you or your children to believe in yourself, work hard, and reach for your goals. If you have an educator in your life, it may be worth asking them for advice on how to improve your own leadership in the workplace.

Cal Wilson / September 7, 2021

Waste Across Industries, No. 4: Can exorbitant medical waste costs be avoided?

Medical waste is an incredible burden on the healthcare industry. In the United States alone, between $760 billion to $935 billion is wasted every year through overtreatment, poor coordination, and other factors leading to waste generation. This issue has only grown worse with the advent of COVID-19.  

If your hospital, clinic, or healthcare practice is suffering under the financial stress of medical waste disposal expenses, there are steps you can take to optimize your procedures, reduce waste, and cut costs.  

Part four of Schooley Mitchell’s five-part series.  

In the previous edition of Schooley Mitchell’s series on waste across industries, we took a deep dive into the gargantuan amount of waste generated by construction and demolition projects. This week, in our fourth issue, our focus is the healthcare industry.   

Some staggering medical waste statistics. 

Waste may or may not be a significant issue for your practice, but if we zoom out and look at the problem at an industry level, it’s a goliath. Here are some facts about medical waste:  

  • Research has found that an average of nearly $1,000 in unused supplies is wasted during every neurosurgery procedure. 
  • In hospitals, operating rooms account for a quarter of a facility’s overall expenses – and half of operating room expenses are waste-related.  
  • The United States generates four billion pounds of health care waste annually, 70 percent of which comes from the operating room.  
  • Hospitals generate around 30 pounds of waste per patient per day, which amounts to about 14,000 tons of waste daily. 
  • Single-use plastics make up at least 20 percent of medical waste. 
  • Only 15 percent of medical waste is hazardous.  

Where is waste generated?  

When you think of medical waste, you probably think of a lot of single-use and hazardous items. However, it’s not all used syringes and tongue depressors. While some waste is inevitable, others are generated from oversights, poor planning, and lack of knowledge.  

Much of the waste generated in hospitals, especially during surgery, comes down to an incongruity between supplies requested versus supplied needed and used. This can cost a hospital millions of dollars every year, depending on how many operations they perform.  

Likewise, a lack of recycling awareness in hospitals contributes to waste generation. The Mayo Clinic conducted a study of more than 500 hospital staff members and found that 57 percent did not know which items could be recycled; 39 percent said they sometimes or never recycled; and 48 percent said “lack of knowledge” was the greatest barrier to recycling at their facility.  

Some materials can be rethought. 

Medical isolation gowns are a big source of waste. In the United States, more than 80 percent of isolation gowns are single-use, rather than launderable. Of course, the COVID-19 outbreak has stalled any progress of improving that number. However, evidence shows that disposable gowns are not safer for disease control than launderable gowns.  

UCLA Medical Center is a perfect example of how this source of waste can be rethought. In 2012, it switched to reusable isolation gowns, which diverted 300 tons of waste from landfills and saved over $1.1 million in purchasing costs over a three-year period. 

Reduction strategies.  

One of the obvious ways to reduce your medical waste expenses is to cut back on the amount of waste your practice is generating. Supply shortages during the pandemic have led to innovations and strategies to cut back on waste and reuse supplies; decontamination and reuse is one such strategy. 

While many medical materials and supplies cannot be reused, some that are often thrown away after a sole use are actually completely reusable. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said surgical instruments such as clamps and forceps can be decontaminated, reprocessed, and reused.  

The pandemic taught healthcare workers a lot about sterilization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has granted many hospitals approval to use ethylene oxide and vaporized hydrogen peroxide – which were used to sterilize N-95 masks – to sterilize other previously single use items as well. This method could go a long way in reducing waste generation and expenses.  

Another step to take is auditing your own waste. A San Francisco hospital asked its surgeons to reduce waste, and just by studying and understanding how waste was being generated in the operating rooms, they were able to cut back by 6.5 percent. Some of the measures hospital administration and practitioners can take includes rethinking packaging, working with suppliers to reformulate your facility’s surgical packs, and take better inventory of what items go to waste without ever being used.  

In conclusion… 

Medical waste is a huge issue and has spiked in the past year and a half. A lot of the waste-related expenses come down to single-use disposable materials and supplies that are ordered, but never used. Luckily, there are concrete steps that can be taken to reduce costs. 

Next week… 

In the final installment of our five-part series on waste across industries, we look at how your business can save money by recycling.  

Related article:  

Cal Wilson / September 2, 2021

How to demonstrate that your small business is professional and competitive

Small businesses make a real impact on our communities and our lives. However, they often struggle to appear as competitive or professional in the larger market, no matter how excellent the quality of their services. Corporations often have more resources to spend on branding, appearance, and other factors that lend to this appeal.

If you’re looking to boost your business’ credibility and demonstrate your service excellence to the larger market, here are some tips that will ease the process.

You need a website.

In 2021, a business without a website can appear amateurish or unreliable. If your only online presence is limited to a Google My Business listing or a Facebook page, potential customers may not take you seriously.

While you’re at it, you’ll want to make sure it has a legible, aesthetically appealing, and modern design – that’s formatted for mobile as well as desktop.

Invest in a private email domain.

It may be time to ditch Gmail or Yahoo! for your business email address. Dedicated email addresses (e.g. [email protected], rather than [email protected]) lend credibility to your business, especially if any part of your job includes prospecting to potential clients or partners. In an age where many emails are redirected to spam and deleted before even being opened, this is an easy way to appear more professional.

If you don’t want to pay for email hosting, or quit using an email provider you’re comfortable with, you can always find a domain provider that offers free email forwarding.

Consider a toll-free business number.

If your business has a lot of phone traffic, or expects potential customers to be calling in for information, a toll-free business number might be a worthwhile investment. Not only do toll free numbers, like 1-800 numbers, appear more trustworthy those who may not know your business yet, they’re also affordable, and suggest that you are taking calls from around the country. Likewise, if you ever did open more locations or franchise your business, the toll-free number can remain the same.

Build your company’s LinkedIn presence.

While many small and local businesses utilize Facebook and Instagram to connect with their customers – which is great – LinkedIn is a particularly effective platform for building credibility, networking, and engaging on a more professional platform.

LinkedIn also lets you write and publish articles that establish yourself as an industry leader. Depending on what products or services you provide, this could go a long way in establishing your credibility.

In conclusion…

We know small businesses don’t always get the recognition they deserve. However, with a few strategic steps, you can present your company as the legitimate, professional competitor that it is.

Cal Wilson / August 23, 2021

Waste Across Industries, No. 3: The true cost of construction waste

Construction projects generate a lot of waste. In many cases, this waste in inevitable. However, it does have a significant cost.

In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the waste from construction sites was roughly double that of municipal waste from households and businesses in the United States. That amounted to 600 million tons!

As we have already explored in our first issue of this series, those waste costs can really add up and put a strain on a business.

Part three of Schooley Mitchell’s five-part series.

In the previous issue of Schooley Mitchell’s series on waste across industries, we looked at some of the surprising truths about business food waste. This week, in our third issue, we focus on the construction industry.

So, what is the true cost of construction-related waste, and what can companies do to reduce this expense?

What are the facts about construction waste?

Construction and demolition debris, or C&D waste, is no small problem. C&D waste includes concrete, asphalt, wood, and other building wastes. To put this waste category into perspective, here are some of the numbers:

  • In the United States, C&D waste accounts for nearly one quarter of yearly waste.
  • Globally, construction waste is projected to reach 2.2 billion tons annually by 2025.
  • C&D waste generation increased 342 percent between 1990 and 2018.

Construction related waste is a growing problem, with no slowdown in sight.

Where is C&D waste generated?

The purpose of construction projects is to take materials and turn them into something, not to put anything to waste. So where in the process is waste generated?

Here are some of the common areas where C&D waste in generated:

  • During material procurement — it’s easy to overestimate the materials needed, thus creating a surplus, which may end up being wasted.
  • While building — damaged or scrapped materials often end up in the waste. Especially with more fragile materials such as glass or wood.
  • Demolitions — demolition waste accounts for almost 95 percent of C&D waste, due to destructive methods like explosives.

Likewise, some construction materials are more likely to generate waste than others:

  • Concrete — according to the EPA, concrete accounts for about 67.5 percent  of all C&D waste by weight.
  • Bricks — while a brick in good condition is good for reuse in a later project, brick waste often includes contaminants like mortar and plaster, which reduces the reusability.
  • Ceramic and tile — while these materials are more easily damaged, they can likewise be easily recycled if they are still intact.
  • Wood — wood is used in so many aspects of construction, from roof beams, to wall supports, to hardwood floors. Construction sites often end up with leftover wood, shavings, and scraps.
  • Insulation — a potentially hazardous material, this is a big source of waste that cannot be reused or recycled, and must be disposed of properly.
  • Drywall — while most unused drywall ends up as waste, it can also be recycled and reused to make products such as fertilizer.

How is construction waste disposed?

Depending on the material, some C&D waste is easily recyclable, such as steel. Others end up filling landfills the majority of the times they are disposed. Here are some C&D waste disposal facts:

  • Up to 30 percent of all building materials on a typical construction site can end up as waste.
  • More than 75 percent of construction waste, including wood, drywall, plastics, asphalt singles, and bricks, end up in landfills.
  • In the United States, concrete and asphalt concrete make up 85 percent of C&D waste.

What is the cost of this waste?

As you can imagine, the price of disposing all this waste is not cheap. More than just a weekly or biweekly garbage pickup, construction sites are looking at regular truckloads of waste being removed. Depending on the provider you work with, the material you’re disposing, and your reuse and recycling options, your bill might look different from project to project. However, the average price to remove a truck-full of waste from a construction site is $600 per truckload. For a large project, your expenses can rise very quickly.

Reducing waste and waste-related expenses.

If you’re worried about waste in the construction industry, you’re not alone. Many innovative methods and solutions have been brought to the table to solve this growing problem.

One such solution is called ‘lean construction’, a method developed out of the Japanese process of lean manufacturing, practiced by companies like Toyota. The aim of the lean method is to achieve sustainability via management, improve problem solving, measure success, and view morale. Reducing waste and expenses is a natural part of this goal.

Developing a construction waste management plan is also a viable strategy to begin reducing the cost of C&D waste. This can include developing ways to use more recyclable materials, using technology to monitor and optimize supply chains, and slowly progressing your company towards a zero-waste model.

Can we change our waste culture?

There are cultural shifts North America can take to reduce the cost and impact of C&D waste. In other parts of the word, the industry has turned this burden into an opportunity, creating thousands of jobs. In the United Kingdom, approximately 90 percent of C&D waste is recycled locally.

Of course, one business cannot be solely responsible for this change. However, it is important to remember that jobs created by recycling and reuse outnumber traditional waste disposal jobs 9:1. This shift in waste disposal practices would benefit everyone.

In conclusion…

Construction and demolition related waste accounts for much of landfill waste in North America, and across the globe. The amount and cost of this waste is only rising. There are steps individual companies can take to reduce waste and its associated expenses.

Next week…                    

Next week, in part four of our series on waste expenses across industries, we do a deep dive into medical waste disposal.

Related articles:

Cal Wilson / August 18, 2021

Rudeness in the office can damage critical thinking skills

Critical thinking is an undervalued but crucial skill in many workplace situations. You want employees who make good judgement calls, conduct risk analyses of their decisions, and fact-check their information before believing it. Just like anything else, critical thinking is a muscle that needs building and maintenance, and can be damaged as we experience the world around us. Recent studies suggest that one risk to critical thinking is being on the receiving end of rude behavior.

In this issue of The Pulse, we look at the new evidence that suggests rudeness can damage your employees’ critical thinking and job performance.

What exactly is critical thinking?

Simply put, critical thinking is objective analysis of an idea, situation, fact, or argument before making a judgement or choosing a side.

This is important in many workplace related situations. In fact, professionals such as doctors, researchers, and advertising specialists rely heavily on this skill in their everyday work.

How can you train your critical thinking skills?

There are plenty of ways to build this skill, and many of them begin in childhood. The reading, playing, and basic problem-solving we learn at a young age help us build our critical thinking skills. It’s the reason philosophy, arts, and other humanities are critical in a world increasingly geared towards business and technology.

Something as simple as playing a board game or video game where you must come up with and test a strategy to win helps strengthen critical thinking. If you’ve ever had to deliver a proposal or pitch at work, that was an exercise in critical thinking too!

With so much available to help us flex this muscle, how can something as simple as rudeness damage it?

Bad experiences hurt our objectivity.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that being on the receiving end of many smaller, rude acts can create what is called an “anchoring bias.” Although that may sound unfamiliar, the concept is quite simple. An anchoring bias is a subconscious bias that causes a person to disproportionately value the first piece of information they are given about a topic.

This is a root issue in anxiety. For example, if you experienced seasickness on your very first time on a boat, you might go forward believing that travel by boat is very unpleasant without really rationalizing those thoughts. The same logic can be found in courtroom decisions, sales and promotions in retail, and, as recent studies have shown, conspiracy theories.

Trevor Foulk, one of the lead researchers on this study, explains it like this:

“If you go into the doctor and say ‘I think I’m having a heart attack,’ that can become an anchor and the doctor may get fixated on that diagnosis, even if you’re just having indigestion. If doctors don’t move off anchors enough, they’ll start treating the wrong thing.”

So how does rudeness come into play?

The study found that even “minor rude events” have a significant effect on our decision-making capabilities. They found that when supervisors are rude to their subordinates, their perspectives were narrowed, anchors were formed, and critical thinking was therefore reduced.

On top of this, rudeness in the workplace is associated with lower work engagement, lower effort, decreased output, less commitment to the organization, increased stress, and even increased absenteeism.

In some cases, this issue is life-threatening. The researchers found that, in simulations, surgeons were more likely to make a fatal mistake because someone insulted them before they started operating.

How to prevent this?

As a leader, it’s your responsibility to create a productive environment where your employees thrive.

Some ways to counter the impacts of rudeness in the workplace, and protect your employees’ critical thinking skills, include asking your employees’ perspectives on situations or choices, information elaboration and explaining your decision-making process in a broader way, and taking actions against rudeness and insulting behavior in the workplace.

In conclusion…

Protecting your employees from rudeness will not only help maintain a healthy workplace environment, but can prevent the breakdown of critical thinking skills and job performance.

Cal Wilson / August 9, 2021

Waste Across Industries, No. 2: Your business can take steps to reduce food waste expenses

Any restaurant, grocer, care home, or other food services provider knows food waste is a big problem. In the United States alone, between residential, commercial, and institutional avenues, from 30—40 percent of all domestically produced food goes unsold or uneaten.

In 2018, that meant 61.3 million tons of wasted food. That number is so gargantuan, it’s hard to picture what all that wasted food looks like. One thing is for certain: if your business deals with food, all that extra food waste is money lost.

For businesses and consumers alike, there’s something to be done.

Part two of Schooley Mitchell’s five-part series.

Last installment, we answered the question, ‘why is waste removal so expensive?’ This week, we look at the true cost of food waste, and how your business can find savings.

Who’s producing the most food waste?

According to ReFed, almost 85 percent of food waste happens towards the end of the supply chain, at consumer-facing businesses and homes. This includes supermarkets, restaurants, manufacturers, distribution centers, among other facilities.

Restaurants alone generate 14 million tons of food waste every year, due to overpreparation, surplus product, and a ton of other reasons. Grocers are estimated to collectively waste $15 billion of edible produce per year because of “cosmetic flaws” — or, fruits and veggies that are perfectly safe to eat, but look off in some way.

Food waste is a multilayered issue. Blame can’t be put solely on the business or the consumer. However, everyone has a part to play.

What is food waste costing you?

On top of the often exorbitant cost of frequent waste removal, food waste represents a significant loss of product. On average, the annual value of uneaten food is $408 billion.

Whether or not this cost impacts you depends on your business model. Food waste might represent a higher price for a grocer or care home compared to a restaurant, where guests are paying regardless of whether they eat everything on their plate. In either case, for business and for consumer, this is a significant amount of money down the drain every year.

It’s worth noting, this is before accounting for all the resources used in food production and transportation. Between 2018 and 2019, for example, U.S. businesses are estimated to have lost $74 billion on the cost of growing, processing, and disposing uneaten food.

The environmental cost.

When we think of waste as a pollutant, food waste might seem more innocuous. After all, food is biodegradable.

However, food waste also includes a lot of byproducts, like packaging, stickers, boxes, and a fair amount of plastic. Likewise, much of that waste — biodegradable or not — ends up in landfills and in incinerators. In 2018, for example, more than half of American the waste generated from food products ended up in a landfill, while only four percent was composted. Even though food waste can be disposed of more naturally, it often is not.

Health and safety regulations add to the problem.

Health and safety regulations save lives and are critical components of public wellness. However, some food related regulations have the unintended consequence of creating food waste.

Due to liabilities and the public backlash that go along with the perception of having broken food safety regulations, many businesses would rather throw out food that might be considered perfectly edible in a private home, rather than take any chances.

Likewise, facilities that have extra food they might want to donate are often restricted due to health regulations, preventing food that has been touched from being donated.

What can your business do to reduce food waste?

Reducing food waste is going to some regulatory and cultural shifts. A lot of that is outside of your control as an individual business owner. However, you can choose to start implementing solutions, rather than continuing to eat the costly consequences.

Ways to get started include:

  1. Create a food waste reduction task force. Ask individuals within your organization who have the initiative and drive to identify where in your business model food waste is a problem. Offer them the authority to spread awareness, educate employees, and help build and enforce waste reduction strategies.
  2. Set concrete goals and benchmarks to reach those goals. Eliminating food waste entirely might not be possible, but you can certainly take a look at what you’re wasting and make specific reduction goals. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has excellent tools for measuring and tracking food waste within your organization.
  3. Audit your waste expenses. Do an internal or external audit of your waste expenses to make sure your services are optimized. Resolve any billing errors and ensure your collection frequency is cost efficient, so you know that you’re not wasting money elsewhere.

Once you understand the food waste situation within your own organization, there are plenty of external ways to make a difference.

  1. Donate when possible. In 2020, 50 million Americans suffered from food insecurity, largely due to the economic ramifications of COVID-19. That’s one in six people. Businesses can help combat food insecurity and reduce food waste by donating unspoiled food to food banks, soup kitchens, and other such organizations.
  2. Connect with a food waste recovery program. These programs work with organizations to collect food and redistribute it to those in need. You can locate one in your region, here.
  3. Or, create your own. If you know of a way you can create a food waste redistribution/recover system in your community, a little initiative goes a long way. This is also a great way to connect with and give back to community members.
  4. Be proactive with dining services and food vendors. Collaborate on all ends to reevaluate portion sizes, what foods and materials you buy in bulk, menu sizes, etc.
  5. Establish a composting program. Composting is a great way to reduce food waste while making a positive environmental impact.

In conclusion…

Food waste is a big problem; a billions-of-tons and dollars problem. It’s bad for the environment and bad for business.

It’s not up to any one business to entirely eliminate food waste or singlehandedly change our regulations and culture. However, there is still a lot you can do to save money, reduce waste, and even possibly combat food insecurity.

Next week…

Next week, in part three of our series on waste expenses across industries, we explore the shocking statistics behind construction and demolition related waste.

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Cal Wilson / August 4, 2021

Why toxic positivity can be detrimental to workplace culture

Maintaining patience and optimism throughout difficult situations is an important part of any professional’s mindset – indeed, any human being’s mindset. However, this can become problematic when a rigid commitment to remaining positive means dismissing any genuine negative emotions. This phenomenon has been dubbed toxic positivity, and bringing it into your workplace culture can be damaging to your staff’s morale.

In this issue of The Pulse, we explore how toxic positivity manifests in a workplace setting, as well as its potential consequences.

What’s the difference between toxic positivity and regular positivity?

Being hopeful and optimistic are good for your overall health. But how much is too much?

Positivity should never come at the expense of acknowledging, processing, and healing from difficult situations and emotions – or acknowledging those in others. It’s okay to be disappointed, angry, or sad when a boundary has been crossed, for example. Ignoring or invalidating these feelings can have ramifications on mental and physical health, as well as impacting one’s home, work, and social life.

Regular positivity leaves room for all emotions and growth, but toxic positivity minimizes hurt or sadness, and encourages everyone in a workplace to behave happily all the time – regardless of the circumstances.

What does toxic positivity look like?

Chances are, you’ve been on the receiving end of toxic positivity rhetoric before. Think of such helpful phrases as “just look on the bright side” or “find a silver lining” as a response to genuinely upsetting situations, like a missed sales target or a personal injury. Sometimes cheering up right away is for others’ benefit, not yours.

Verywell Mind puts it best when it says: “toxic positivity denies people the authentic support that they need to cope with what they are facing”.

This is a dangerous management style.

You can have the best team of employees in the entire world, and still, they will face difficulties. That is a part of the human experience. When you or a member of your team is struggling, rather than being told to grin and bear it, you should be able to trust that you’ve got a strong support system behind you. That is a big part of creating a workplace environment that people can believe in.

If you think you might manage from a place of toxic positivity, here are some of the consequences you are risking:

  • A culture of shame and guilt among your staff.
  • A lack of authentic human emotions and connections in your team, leading to poor teamwork and less loyalty.
  • A lack of employee growth.
  • A lack of trust between you and your employees.
  • An increase in employee burnout.

Set a good example.

As a leader, you can model the kind of workplace emotional honesty that is appropriate at the office. These include:

  • Do not deny your negative emotions, but manage them responsibly.
  • Be realistic about how you feel and what you can take on.
  • Accept that feelings aren’t always straightforward and can often be conflicting.
  • Demonstrate active listening and showing support to your employees.

When an employee is going through a difficult situation, rather than focus on “good vibes”, there are several helpful ways you can show support:

  • Listen when your employees need to vent.
  • Support them through difficult periods and offer to help when appropriate.
  • Express honest empathy.
  • Do not be overly critical of honest failures.
  • Let them know their feelings are valid.

In conclusion…

Optimism is a virtue, to a point. When trying to build a positive workplace culture, avoid toxic positivity, and keep its subtle but damaging signs on your radar.