The blog for all things Apochromatik.
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8 Tips to Fit More Reading into Your Schedule
There are plenty of reasons reading more is important for professionals, from improving brain functions to keeping up on trends and developments in your industry, giving you something to talk about and think about outside work and family, to just feeling like you are using your brain. But when was the last time you sat down with a novel or any other book you didn’t have to read for work? In fact, 31% of Americans report that they have read just 1-5 books in the last year.
Team Transformation: Employee Engagement
This article from Law.com has prompted a lot of discussion among our team.
'Be More Intentional': How GCs Are Building Camaraderie Amid Hybrid Work
"It is so much easier to trust someone at work when you know the whole person and trust them with your whole person," said Theresa Shea, general counsel of Utz Brands.
The Cross-Generational Challenge: How Teams Can Unlock Their Hidden Potential in a Five Generation Workplace
“If they want their job, they better get themselves back in the office. The office is where work gets done and if they aren’t here, they aren’t getting work done.” These were the first words from an octogenarian senior law firm partner in response to our recent question, “How do you feel your firm will respond to the desire for a hybrid work model?” Ironically, the conversation eventually moved to the current difficulty in hiring.
Apochromatik's Holiday Guide
The holidays are here! With the combination of work parties, family activities, an expanded to do list, and all the end of the year craziness, you may not have been sitting at your desk, hitting refresh on the Apochromatik blog. We’ve rounded up some of our resources on the holidays, both articles that have quoted us as experts, and our own blog posts that can help you end December with deepened work relationships, having advanced your career, and with time and energy left for your most important relationships.
ApochroMinute 70: Network Now
Sick of Zoom happy hours?
We get it.
This week’s ApochroMinute discusses networking on Zoom and invites you tan APO-versary celebration.
Presence: A key element of leadership
When you think of leadership skills, executive presence may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
ApochroMinute 66: Focus
Can you believe we are almost half way through the year?
When you have big goals, progress can feel insurmountable.
That’s why this week we invite you to take one minute to watch the power of Niagara Falls eroding away the rock below. Progress doesn’t happen over night; it’s the result of small steps (or drops of water) over time.
Then go to www.aposignup.com/goals and join us to commit (or recommit) to your goals for the second half of 2021.
ApochroMinute 65: Distraction
If you’re overwhelmed by a constant barrage of notifications, this week’s ApochroMinute is for you.
ApochroMinute 64: Summer Goals
This week’s ApochroMinute features summer advice from Calvin and Hobbes.
ApochroMinute 63: Rewards
You’ve probably heard that rewards are an important part of goal achievement. If you’ve struggled with rewards, this week’s ApochroMinute will help.
What if you're in a cocoon? Career lessons from butterflies.
“Are you sure she’s ready?”
“Open the lid, Amy.”
“But what if she’s not ready?”
“She’s ready. Open. The. Lid.”
A few months ago, I found myself having this exchange at a butterfly park. As family members stood waiting, the tour guide kept nudging me to open the lid of what appeared to be a takeout soup container. Inside the container, a rare butterfly had emerged from the cocoon she had made on the underside of the lid. As she sat there, I kept wondering – what if she isn’t ready? And what I would see if I had a microscope? To my untrained and unenhanced eyes, this butterfly looked less like a runner at starting blocks, ready to launch, and more like a creature clutching the remnants of her old life.
ApochroMinute 61: Butterflies
What do butterflies have to do with your career? We’ll share the answer Thursday. But for now, this week’s ApochroMinute brings you a moment of calm to take a breath and maybe even reflect.
Shift Your Mindset
For today’s post, we wanted to dig a bit deeper into ways you can look forward rather than feeling as though you’re stuck where you are.
ApochroMinute 60: Dare Greatly
Teddy Roosevelt gave his “man in the arena“ speech 111 years ago this week. What can job seekers learn from it? Find out in this week’s ApochroMinute.
Recently Published: Why engagement should top your to-do list in 2021
Apochromatik’s Amy M. Gardner and Keith R. Sbiral recently authored an article for The Bottom Line, the newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Law Office Management and Economics.
In the article, "Goals Only Go So Far: Why Engagement Should Top Your To-Do List in 2021,” they discussed strategies to engage employees and the benefits for morale, productivity, and the bottom line.
How a Mastermind Can Change Your Career
*OK, so maybe I’ve never had a direct conversation with TV character Leslie Knope of “Parks and Recreation." Or with Amy Poehler. But I’m pretty sure if I could, they’d both be in favor of masterminds. And, as we know, waffles.
Amy M. Gardner appears on The 1958 Lawyer
Apochromatik’s Amy M. Gardner appeared on The 1958 Lawyer podcast recently. Check out her episode entitled, “Law Firm Partner Turned Law Practice Development Expert.”
You are More than a Worm
Have you ever heard the Howard Moskowitz quote, “to a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish”?
If you haven’t, it may take a minute to process. (My first reaction was “why would a worm be in horseradish? Is it like having a worm in tequila?”) Another way to think about it is that when you’re in the thick of a situation—whether temporary or long-term—it can be impossible to see more than what is immediately in front of you. That can be a reasonable perspective; if a bear is charging you, it’s a huge asset to be able to focus on getting out of the way without being distracted by thoughts of a long-term crisis. But putting your head down and focusing on the things right around you it is not a good long-term strategy.
9 Career Lessons from Leslie Knope
In honor Galentine’s Day (the creation of the fictional Leslie Knope, everyone’s favorite “Parks & Recreation” character) and the ubiquitous Galentine’s Day memes, this week we’re sharing nine of our favorite career lessons from Leslie Knope.
6 Tips to Keep Clients Happy
Landing clients is one thing. Keeping them happy is another. Last week we addressed what to do when you’ve disappointed a client. This week, we’re sharing six tips to help you keep clients happy in the first place.Here are seven tips to turn around a disappointed client, and to make sure even those who leave say good things about you.