Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

Good morning, this is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast Podcast.

Today's tip comes from Lindsay Pollack, who's an expert on generations in the workplace.

Her new book, The Remix, looks at how smart managers work with diverse teams.

One productivity strategy she suggests.

Hold office hours.

You might remember this idea from college. Many universities require professors to hold office hours.

The professor hangs out in his or her office ideally with the door open.

Students can come to ask questions or discuss topics during this time.

Sometimes professors grumble about this,

but there's an upside, even for people who would prefer to spend all their time in the books or in the lab.

When students know there's a time they're completely free to come visit.

They may be less likely to stop by at times when the professor would prefer they not visit.

Scheduled availability allows for other periods of focus.

Pollack suggests bringing the same practice into the corporate world.

In fact, it's probably even a better idea in the corporate world

than at universities.

Wise managers realize that everyone craves feedback,

and often just attention in general from their bosses. Ideally, you'd be able to give feedback and attention every day to everyone who works for you.

Unfortunately, in the real world, people sometimes find themselves in charge of groups that are large enough that daily individual feedback

would leave zero time for anything else.

...