
Mainspring Insights: Will "robots" take my job?
We have noticed numerous articles written about the general concern that jobs will soon be replaced by robots and automation, but how much should we really be concerned? CNN brought up an interesting point: nearly 100 years ago, the United States horse population hit an all-time high at nearly 23 million. Soon, the mass production and availability of the automobile soared. The population of horses have since steadily declined over the years. However, horses used for means asi

Mainspring Insights: "Generation Z"
Millennials, millennials, millennials. Everyone has heard the term, read the articles: how to work with these people, how to keep them happy, how to market to them, etc. But before our eyes, millennials are getting older, and the next generation, Gen Z, is inbound. This growing group of individuals in the United States, from ages 7-21 years old, comprise about 25% of the population (23 million people). These people are often referenced online as the iGen or Centennials. Resea

Employee Onboarding: The Right Way
Many business leaders will tell you, if you do not properly introduce a new employee into your organization, both from a skill and culture standpoint, they will not last long. Statistically, those who claim they do not feel like they were properly onboarded do not last past the first 90 days of their job. But what is onboarding exactly, and how does this differ from training? As mentioned before, this 90 day period is critical to properly enculturate an individual to your org

Lunch & Learn
Over the past decade, many firms have integrated Lunch & Learn sessions into their employee training programs. Synonymous with "brown bag" sessions (in reference to the food), lunch and learns are a great tool to engage employees in a subject matter that is prevalent to their industry when time is in a crunch. Many employees have bought into this monthly/bi-weekly event as they simply substitute their lunch break for a free meal and an educational opportunity. So what do thes

Mainspring Insights: Remote Workers
Over the past 5-10 years, the concept of "working remotely" has continued to entertain the minds of more and more employees. Something about the idea of being able to kick back in the comfort of your own home in your pajamas and get your work done really resonates with people. However, does this always make for a productive and happy employee? Unfortunately, there isn't a clear cut answer and is really dependent on a case by case basis depending on the employee. It takes plen

Mainspring Insights: Boosting Productivity
We all try to work as productive as we can. "Work smart, not hard" many say. However, what does that exactly mean? The New York Times defined the three main contributors to what it truly means to be productive in a recent article. 1) Accountability for your KPI, whether personal or for your projects, must be met and all of your effort should go into actions that help meet these metrics. 2) Trust the process of time. Small, incremental chances pay off in time, whether if this

Mainspring Insights: Digital Business
Every industry no matter how conventional including medical, education, and agriculture will be forced to adapt their business to the digital world in order to survive. The twenty first century is experiencing a digital revolution, relying on a world based on automation & computerization. This revolution is allowing opportunity for businesses to make millions off new technological business strategies. According to Gartner, “By 2020, more than 7 billion people and businesses,

Mainspring Insights: Gamification
Gamification: the application of game mechanics to non-game environments to motivate people and change behavior. For years, the concept of playing a game was typically intended for leisure or entertainment; detached from the professional world. However, a recently growing trend within businesses is the concept of gamification. The predecessor of this idea was contests within the office; i.e. a chart tracking individual performance that would eventually award something to the