To: 4-D Network Providers I was recently working on a Learning Tool for the Assessment Dashboard that we provide free to 4-D Network Providers. (We have chosen to replace the term "Network Members" with "Network Providers.") I found a number … Continue reading →

4-D Network Providers

Let’s be honest. Sometimes the summer work routine can drag you down. You are at the office grinding, while you longingly stalk your colleagues on social media - sailing in the Caribbean or camping in Yellowstone. Summer vacation jealousy rears its ugly head.So…how do you deal?  Use the summer as a reason and time to explore different ways you can work. It is a great time to take advantage of more daylight, and other people’s vacation time to get ahead.Here are five routine shifts to try: Change your hours. Experiment with when you work. Perhaps the sunshine in the morning makes it easier for you to wake up. Go to the office early, so you can leave and enjoy more of the afternoon sunshine. If you can’t change your hours, run errands or pay bills early in the morning, so you can play after work.Work somewhere new. Change your surroundings. If you can work remotely, find a coffee shop (if you want stimulation) or a public library (if you want quiet) to change your work environment. If you can’t work remotely, explore where you can work in different areas of your office. Perhaps your out-of-town colleague will loan you their corner office.Regulate your Facebook and Instagram use. During your work hours, restrict your social media use to only work and business. The jealousy factor will continue to go off the charts if you keep living vicariously through others. Focus on being present with your colleagues and current work.Meet new people. Attend some fun summer networking events. Summer is a great time to connect with people and go outside of your comfort zone. Have a colleague or friend attend the event with you.Take mini-vacations. If you can’t take two weeks off in the summer, make sure to take a day or two. The benefits of truly disconnecting are profound. Make plans to explore or do something that will make your mini-vacation memorable. In fact, a Twitter study found that 94% found traveling during the vacation to be more meaningful than a "staycation." How can you switch it up in the next month?The post 5 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Summer Work Routine appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

Master Dashboard

This week’s Fierce resource was originally published on Training Industry and offers simple tips to help leaders create an uplifting work environment.In the summer time, it’s easy to get caught up in the office grind, especially when your colleague’s "fun in the sun" vacation is only a mouse-click away. But instead of fantasizing about life outside of work, it’s time to take charge of your own happiness and change the way you look at life. Attitude Check at the Office? Look to the Top finds it is critical for organizations to create cultures that inspire a positive attitude amongst employees. Either way, attitude is contagious. If you let a negative attitude take hold, it can spread like wildfire breeding blame and cynicism.When was the last time you had a temperature check with your team?"Attitude is a way of looking at life. It’s why some folks see opportunity when things don’t go as they’d hoped or expected, and others see obstacles. A positive attitude helps us rise above cynicism and negativity. It leads to solutions, whereas the opposite drags down morale while breeding blame and dead-end thinking."Read the article.The post Fierce Resource: Attitude Check at the Office? Look to the Top appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

2011 4-D Detailed Calendar

Yesterday was National Talk in an Elevator Day. Considering it was a Sunday, use this week as an opportunity to talk with someone new in an elevator…or anywhere else for that matter.At Fierce, when we say "talk", we mean CONNECT. To have an exchange. To walk away from the conversation with new insight. There is a lot at stake for us to truly understand and engage with one another.In Fierce Leadership, Susan Scott shares a poem that highlights the importance:A Ritual to Read Each Other by William Stafford   If you don’t know the kind of person I am   and I don’t know the kind of person you are   a pattern that others made may prevail in the world   and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.We don’t want to miss our star. We can’t. This week’s tip is to show up in your conversations with intention to really understand and connect.Perhaps even share the poem with someone.  The post Fierce Tip of the Week: Talk with Intention appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

WARNING: Failing to heed this warning and reduce or reorganize this assessment will likely diminish both you, and 4-D Systems, in the eyes of your clients. The biggest mistake you can make in setting up a Team Development Assessment ("TDA") … Continue reading →

Here at Fierce, we honor a person once a month with the coveted title of Fierceling of the Month. The qualification for a Fierceling is someone who has been nominated by peers for exceptionally exhibiting the fierce values and the 7 principles of our work. There are some great internal perks including choosing your favorite restaurant to catering a company-wide lunch. Each month, I look forward to interviewing these amazing people.This month, I had the honor to connect with Margaret Weeks.Why did you come to work here? At the time, I was ready for the next step in my career. Fierce is an amazing company with opportunities to learn and grow professionally. I was excited to do what I do best (detail-oriented tasks and staying organized) for the life-changing work we do here.What are some responsibilities for your role? I make our Client Solutions team look good by taking care of all the behind-the-scenes tasks: creating sales orders and invoices, ordering workshop materials, coordinating workshop logistics, etc. I also manage the contract process with new and existing clients and help with sales operations.What’s the coolest thing you are currently working on? We are working on a case queue in my department, which will ultimately make us even more efficient at what we do. My colleagues and I came up with the idea, pitched it, and it was approved. It’s so great to work at a company where our input is valued, and we are allowed to create new and better processes.What is your favorite thing about working at Fierce? I’m going to cheat and say my favorite TWO things about working here. The people are amazing, hands down. I have never worked with a more passionate group of individuals in my life. Secondly, I also love working at a small company, because it allows us to be so agile. We all end up wearing a ton of hats, because there just aren’t very many of us. It keeps me sharp, and I learn something new every day.When you’re not at Fierce, what are you most likely doing? My husband was diagnosed with brain cancer in January 2015, so much of my "free time" is spent on that - taking him to doctor’s appointments, coordinating his care, and taking care of things at home. We are planning a trip to Europe in December. He has always wanted to go to Germany, and since we don’t know how many years he has left, we’re making it happen now!What fierce principle are you working on this month? Be here, prepared to be nowhere elseWhat inspires you? I have a personal and professional mentor who has taken me under her wing the past few years. I have learned so much from her and she has encouraged me and challenged me in so many ways. Recently, we were talking about my career and she told me what she envisioned for me - it completely blew the doors off what I thought was possible for my career.What else do you want to ask Margaret? Tweet @fierce_inc #fiercelingofthemonth to ask any other questions.The post Meet Our July Fierceling of the Month: Margaret Weeks appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

A practicum provides supervised practical application of a previously studied theory. 4-D Systems offers a new event to reinforce post-workshop application of 4-D processes. Repetition powerfully reinforces learning and enhances ability to use these processes. These are very high-leverage events, … Continue reading →