research-drop
The Peak-End Rule
People don't remember experiences as averages. They remember the peak moment and how it ended. This changes everything about how you design employee experiences.
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.
think-piece
Stop Building Culture
Most culture initiatives add programs, events, values statements. But the best cultures aren't built through addition. They emerge when you subtract the friction that prevents good behavior.
behavior-hack
Habit Stack Your Recognition
Recognition intentions fail because they float in your calendar, unanchored. Attach them to something you already do, and they become automatic.
research-drop
The 70% Rule
Managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement. Not culture. Not perks. Not mission statements. The person running the weekly standup.
think-piece
The Unlimited PTO Trap
Unlimited PTO sounds generous but often reduces time off. Without a clear number, people guess wrong. And they almost always guess low.
behavior-hack
The 90-Minute Rule
Your brain cycles through 90-minute focus periods, then demands rest. Fighting this costs energy. Working with it is free leverage.
behavior-hack
The Ulysses Contract for Work
Pre-commitment devices work because they remove the decision point entirely. One calendar trick that locks in your best intentions.
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.
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.