Launch Pad 101

 As HR professionals and leaders, we often look at burnout as a math problem: Too many tasks + Too few hours = Stress. But behavioral science tells a different story. Have you ever noticed how you can forget a task the moment you finish it, but you can’t stop thinking about a 5-minute email you intended to write three days ago? This is the Zeigarnik Effect . What is the Zeigarnik Effect? Named after psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik, this theory suggests that our brains are hardwired to remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones. Think of your brain like a computer. Every unfinished task is a "tab" left open in your browser. Even if you aren't looking at that tab, it’s still using up RAM (mental energy). When your team has 50 "tabs" open, their system starts to crash. That is burnout. The Anatomy of an Open Loop An "Open Loop" is anything that draws our attention but hasn't been brought to a resolution. In an office environmen...

 In the fast-paced world of business, we're constantly trying to get people's attention – whether it's for a new project, an important meeting, or a critical piece of information. But have you ever noticed that some things just naturally attract more interest than others? It often comes down to one powerful idea: Scarcity. The Scarcity Principle: What It Is and Why It Works At its core, the Scarcity Principle is a behavioral science concept that states we tend to place a higher value on things that are rare, limited, or difficult to obtain. Think about limited-edition products, exclusive club memberships, or even a sudden sale that "ends today!" Why does this happen? Our brains are wired to fear missing out (FOMO) . When something is scarce, we worry we might lose the chance to get it, and this potential loss feels more powerful than the simple joy of gaining it. This makes us act, and act quickly. A Real-World Example: The "Ignored Report" That Became...