ALTITUDE MEDIA ATTEMPTS TO BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF articles, videos and quotes from a variety of sources, with an intention of either introducing new perspectives in business and life or remind us what we already know.
The Power of the Parasympathetic Nervous System: by Robin Sands, Stress News October 2002 Vol.14 No. 4
“The most important point to remember about stress is that it is literally a nervous reaction. It occurs within the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).” … “The ANS divides into two distinct systems: the ‘Sympathetic’ Nervous System and the ‘Parasympathetic’ Nervous System. To put their functions simply, read ‘stressed-out’ and ‘chilled-out’ respectively.” … “Health and vitality are the natural result of the harmonic interchange between the Sympathetic and the Parasympathetic. Unfortunately, in our world this tends to be the exception rather than the rule. In this culture, with all its inherent struggles and strains, people’s Sympathetic systems very often stay on guard, unable to give in to the softer, more gentle flows of the Parasympathetic. And if this condition becomes chronic, it can lead to a whole variety of stress-related symptoms and, later, illnesses.” …”For many people the business world is something of a war zone. A place where dogs eat dogs, and sharks rule the waves. A competitive environment where only the financially fittest survive. This is the jungle that we find ourselves in, trying to sidestep the booby traps and dodge the arrows of misfortune.” … “In their high-flying and sophisticated ways they do not see the simple truth that for a man to work well he must rest well. They do not seem to realize that health requires balance, harmony and equilibrium between body and mind.”
Goofing off can bring serious workplace benefits – A little levity helps strengthen teams and stop burnout: Financial Times, December 20th, 2012
“Online retailer Zappos actively encourages staff to “goof off”. This, explains the Las Vegas-based company’s “culture evangelist” Jon Wolske, “is a chance to take your attention away from your duties for a short time to do a fun activity”. This could be anything from taking time out for a coffee and a chat to elaborate practical jokes where 100 ping-pong balls fall out of the ceiling on to unsuspecting employees. The point, explains Mr Wolkse, is to bring levity to the workplace. “By allowing team members to participate in non-work activities and have fun, the office keeps a positive vibe and people are much happier. Also, they don’t burn out as they are free to take time away from their duties.” ”
Coaching Urged for Women – Inadequate Career Development Holds Back Female Executives, McKinsey says: Wall St Journal, April 4th, 2011
“Inadequate career development has kept women from reaching the top ranks of the corporate ladder, according to a report set to be released Tuesday by management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.” …. “To crack the upper echelons of corporate America, McKinsey says companies must groom a deeper bench of female middle managers for advancement.” … ”Joanna Barsh, a McKinsey senior partner who co-wrote the report, said companies need to spend more time coaching women and offering more leadership training and rotation through various management roles before their ambitions sour. The paucity of such assistance partly explains why women’s ambitions decline over time, said Ms. Barsh. “Barriers become insurmountable,” especially for working mothers, she added.”
To Succeed, Forget Self-Esteem: Harvard Business Review Blog Network, September 20th, 2012
“… recent reviews of the research on high self-esteem have come to the troubling conclusion that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. High self-esteem does not predict better performance or greater success. And though people with high self-esteem do think they’re more successful, objectively, they are not. High self-esteem does not make you a more effective leader, a more appealing lover, more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle, or more attractive and compelling in an interview.” … “A growing body of research, including new studies by Berkeley’s Juliana Breines and Serena Chen, suggest that self-compassion, rather than self-esteem, may be the key to unlocking your true potential for greatness.”
Investment Banks Now Turn to Psychologists for Help: CNBC, October 26th 2012
“The classical models of economics make this assumption that we are all completely rational, all the time and all of finance theory is based around that,” Greg Davies, head of behavioral and quantitative finance at Barclays, told CNBC. “But we don’t have to look around us too far to realize that we’re not entirely rational all the time and, in fact, markets are driven to a very large extent — particularly in the short-term — by issues of anxiety, stress and enthusiasm.”
Merging Spirituality and Clinical Psychology at Columbia Published: New York Times, August 9th 2012
“Mainstream psychology programs traditionally exist in the realm of academic language and empirical fact, keeping the supernatural at arm’s length. But in January, Columbia began a spirituality concentration in its clinical psychology master’s program, and last month, the university created a broader program, the Spirituality and Mind-Body Institute, to conduct research and host colloquia.”
