Author: Miranda Lloyd

Changing Management for Hybrid- Empathy and Connections

Miranda Lloyd

When developing as a leader, the focus is typically on improving skills and qualities to enhance job effectiveness and team running. These leadership values generally are things like creativity, decisiveness, and expertise. 

However, in recent years, we are beginning to realize that empathy is one of the most essential leadership qualities. Especially in a hybrid workplace, empathetic management can contribute to connection for an employee base that longs for understanding and deep connection. 

Historically, empathy was considered a “soft” leadership skill. Businesses viewed it as something nice to have in a leader but unnecessary. As more research is done, we are beginning to realize just how vital empathy is for effective leadership.

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11 Ways to Send Farewell Messages to Colleagues

Miranda Lloyd

Many people spend more time with their work colleagues than with their families. So much time away from home means our coworkers make an impact on our lives.  A friendly coworker can make all the difference in how we experience work. They can provide support, laughter, and empathetic listening when days are hard. If we are lucky, we develop friendships and build a “work family.”  

Unfortunately, when a colleague decides to leave, it can feel like a loss. It is bittersweet when a coworker decides to retire, move, or change jobs. The change can be scary for both of you. Their departure means that the company environment you both are used to evolves and so will your relationship. 

Emotions can be high. In times like this, the best thing you can do is give a proper farewell. Saying goodbye can be done in various ways, but in its simplest form, a well-thought-out farewell message is an excellent start to provide closure, gratitude, and best wishes. 

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Everything You Need to Know About A Healthy Company Culture

Miranda Lloyd

About 63% of US companies find it harder to retain than hire workers. Why is this? One of the major reasons is due to company culture. Whether intentional or not, every company has a unique culture. A company’s culture is the personality of your business. It plays a vital role in how employees behave and how the public perceives the organization. It can determine employee retention, productivity, and quality of service.

What is Company Culture?

Company culture is defined as a shared set of company goals, practices, and general attitudes. It is something outside of a formal program but rather the environment and feel in the workspace. 

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What is a Goodbye Card?

Miranda Lloyd

Today, people are more transient, especially if they are younger. As the workplace becomes more virtual or hybrid, more and more people are not tied down to one specific location. Because of this, more people are taking their life “on the road.”

Additionally, in recent years, people no longer see themselves staying at the same company for years to come. As the dynamics of society's personal and professional life change, so does the frequency of change. 

Whatever reason they may have for a change, when someone leaves a company or decides to move, it is an excellent idea to celebrate the role they played. One great way to do this is through a group goodbye card. 

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What is an Online Tribute Board?

Miranda Lloyd

Funeral guestbooks and newspaper obituaries only tell one angle of the story. These avenues miss the heart of the person and are not always an accurate retelling of who the person was, the memories they shared, or the lives they impacted. 

While nothing will ever be able to adequately describe a lost loved one, a tribute board can paint a better picture of who they were than a simple guest book or obituary.

What is an online tribute board?

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12 Ways to Mark Juneteenth in the Workplace

Miranda Lloyd

In recent years, more companies and organizations are emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. ‘Since Juneteenth recently became a federal holiday, recognizing Juneteenth in the workplace can be a vital way to strengthen these endeavors. 

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth commemorates the day slaves were notified in Galveston, Texas of their freedom two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Until the General arrived with the announcement, many Southerners moved those enslaved to Texas, hoping to evade the executive order.  June 19th, 1865, was the day more than 250,000 Black were freed. 

The following year, the now-free people in Galveston celebrated the end of slavery and their freedom. Since then, celebrations continued and spread across the country. 

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How to Celebrate Juneteenth

Miranda Lloyd

On June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. While this holiday may seem new, Juneteenth celebrations have been an important holiday with historical significance in many African American communities. 

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth commemorates the day a union major general notified slaves in Galveston, Texas of their freedom two and a half years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Until the General arrived, many southerners moved those enslaved to Texas in hopes of evading the executive order.  June 19th, 1865 was the day more than 250,000 Black were freed. 

The following year, the now-free people in Galveston celebrated the end of slavery and their freedom. Since then, celebrations continued and spread across the country. 

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Top 16 Graduation Gifts

Miranda Lloyd

Most of us began attending school at the age of four. From that moment forward, we spend decades learning with the hopes of acquiring a diploma. Whether for high school or college, graduating is a significant milestone in anyone's life. 

What better way to commemorate the graduate's hard work than through a gift? Whether it is sentimental, functional, or monetary, the perfect graduation gift can bring a smile to the graduate's face or make life easier moving forward. 

Here are a variety of graduation gift ideas bound to please any graduate:

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5 Challenges Facing Healthcare in 2023

Miranda Lloyd

The United States Healthcare system has experienced challenges for decades now. Despite efforts taken by the U.S. to improve the problems in healthcare over the last decade, most individuals believe that it has a host of issues in need of repair. 

According to a study by Public Agenda, only 7% of Americans are satisfied with the current healthcare system. 6 out of 10 people, despite political affiliation, believe the system needs changes or a complete overhaul. 

To improve healthcare in America, we must understand the challenges it faces this year. Here are five challenges facing healthcare in 2023:

1. High Costs of Healthcare

In comparing the median prices paid by private health insurance companies for specific services among nine countries,  The Health Care Cost Institute found costs for healthcare were substantially more in the U.S. than the other countries. Healthcare costs increased due to staffing shortages, supply change problems, and rising inflation rates. 

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8 Ways to Combat Burnout in Healthcare

Miranda Lloyd

Healthcare has had higher rates of burnout for years. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, these rates only worsened.
In a survey led by Brigham and Women’s Hospital Investigators of physicians, nurses, and clinical and non-clinical staff from 206 healthcare organizations, 50% reported burnout. The highest levels were among nurses (56%) and other clinical staff (54.1%).

These numbers demonstrate a need for healthcare organizations to identify and then take action to figure out how to fix burnout in Healthcare. 

Identifying Burnout

To combat burnout in healthcare, you must first identify when your workforce is suffering from it.

Burnout is a “psychological state marked by exhaustion, a lack of enthusiasm, and an inability to cope because of stress.” In the workforce, this can present itself as exhaustion and feelings of apathy due to prolonged workplace stress.

The feeling of burnout can present itself in the following ways:

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