research-drop
The Alignment Gap Is Growing
Mentions of misalignment in employee feedback rose 149% year over year. The problem isn't engagement. It's that people are engaged in different directions.
Tareef Jafferi
A researcher and product builder dedicated to improving organizational outcomes. His work began during his time at MIT, where his research in people analytics revealed insights about how to improve employee wellbeing, happiness, and performance.
research-drop
Why "Great Job" Teaches Nothing
Specific praise ("The way you handled that client call") outperforms generic praise ("Good work!") in building motivation and trust. Here's the mechanism.
think-piece
The Most Productive Thing You Can Do Is Stop Working
Top performers don't outwork everyone else. They out-rest them. Elite violinists, writers, and scientists share one pattern: deliberate rest that lets their brains consolidate learning and solve problems unconsciously.
behavior-hack
The Three-Word Upgrade for Goals That Stick
People who add an if-then trigger to their goals are 2-3x more likely to follow through. The trick isn't motivation. It's offloading the decision to the environment.
research-drop
The Progress Principle
Teresa Amabile analyzed 12,000 diary entries and found small wins beat everything else for motivation. Not bonuses, not praise, not strategy. Progress on meaningful work wins.
think-piece
Your Annual Survey Is a Rearview Mirror
Annual engagement surveys tell you what people felt six months ago. By the time you act, the disengaged have already left and the engaged have started questioning. What if the timing is the problem?
behavior-hack
Use the Fresh Start Effect Before It Fades
New Year's motivation isn't just psychological folklore. Research shows people are 3x more likely to pursue goals on temporal landmarks. Here's how to capture that energy for your team before it disappears.
behavior-hack
The One Question That Replaces Feedback Anxiety
Instead of asking "do you have any feedback for me?" try this behavioral reframe. It removes the awkwardness and actually gets useful answers.
research-drop
The 90% vs 50% Problem
When retirement savings is opt-out, 90% participate. When it's opt-in, 50% do. The same people. The same plan. The only difference is which box was pre-checked.
think-piece
Annual Reviews Are Unfixable
We keep redesigning annual performance reviews hoping to find the right format. The problem isn't the format. It's the frequency.
research-drop
Your Manager Affects Your Mental Health More Than Your Therapist
Managers influence employee mental health as much as spouses do, and more than doctors or therapists. Most companies still treat management as a promotion, not a skill.
think-piece
Give People Fewer Choices
More options feel generous. They actually reduce satisfaction and action. The best HR programs offer less, not more.