Still not sure what to get the boss--or your assistants--for the holidays? Help is only a click away. For an expanded gallery of our gift guide, click here.
"Picture your work-life balance issues as a fast-food restaurant. A cheery associate in a paper hat chirps, 'May I take your order?' That Tossed Priorities Salad looks yummy. It has all your basic balance food groups--a few deep breaths, turning off the phone, scheduling alone time with your spouse--and they're all served on a bed of bumping the supposedly life-or-death PowerPoint nonsense until tomorrow."
"Tell the truth: Do you look forward to filling out and responding to surveys? They are one of the most invasive forms of one-way communication. From the exit interview to the 'How did we do?' after your car has been serviced, surveys seem to be the only time a company explicitly requests your opinion--when you're on your way out. What if instead of having surveys we had conversations? Would the attrition rate improve?"
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