Meetings Make Us Dumber

A study to be published in an upcoming Journal of Consumer Research shows that “When a group gets together, they can miss out on good options.”

Apparently people have a harder time coming up with alternative solutions to a problem when they are part of a group. Scientists exposed study participants to one brand of soft drink then asked them to think of alternative brands. Alone, they came up with significantly more products than when they were grouped with two others.

This sheep-like flock mentality most certainly extends into corporate boardrooms.

The researchers speculate that when a group of people receives information, the inclination is to discuss it. The more times one option is said aloud, the harder it is for individuals to recall other options, explained Krishnan, associate professor of marketing at Indiana University.

Increase Energy Levels by Putting Your Employees to Sleep

Tired of employees falling asleep in your meetings? The answer to low energy levels could be power naps.

Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say a brief nap could be just the trick for staying alert in the afternoon. A 20-minute bit of shut-eye when you're at your lowest energy level can give you a boost for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, our culture doesn't allow for habits like these, but maybe it's time for a change. Instead of coffee breaks, we could take nap breaks and be more productive.
LINK

In one study, pilots working on long flights were allowed a 40-minute nap, while others got no nap. When compared to the flyers who got no sleep, the nappers turned in a 34-percent higher performance level and scored 100 percent better in terms of alertness.
LINK

At Yarde Metals, napping rooms are just one of many perks. "We can't say directly that allowing napping increases sales, but we can say without question that napping contributes to higher sales, earnings, productivity, and efficiency," says company president Craig Yarde, who notes that the firm has "almost zero turnover.
LINK

A nod to Pzizz.com for collecting this list of links and a lot more on the subject of nodding-off.