Latest news with #Mercurio
CairoScene
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Husa & Zeyada Release Indie Electronica Single ‘Got It Bad'
The track is accompanied by a remix from Argentinian house maestros Hernan Cattaneo and Mercurio. May 30, 2025 Egyptian electronic duo Husa & Zeyada has recently released a new single, 'Got It Bad', a stirring indie electronica cut that peels back the layers of emotional struggle. The track, released under their newly-launched label Soundscool along with a remix by Argentinian maestros Hernan Cattaneo and Mercurio, might be the duo's most vulnerable offering to date. Zeyada's raw lyrics and ghostly vocals ebb and flow between her partner's sparse, stripped-down instrumentations in a delicate balance of tension and release, one that captures the complexity of letting go without ever tipping into melodrama. Hernan Cattaneo and Mercurio's remix of 'Got It Bad' flips the track's minimalist production into dreamy progressive textures with slow-burning melodic builds that are spacious and trippy.
CNBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
If you have this skill, you're a better boss than most, says workplace expert: It reminds employees 'that they're needed'
Plenty of people love company-wide pizza parties and generous workplace vacation packages. Just don't expect those kinds of perks to consistently motivate people to perform their best, says leadership and workplace researcher Zach Mercurio. To feel like they matter at work, employees — perhaps surprisingly — prefer one factor over just about everything else, Mercurio says: a boss who's good at making small talk. Not the superficial chatter that people use to cut awkward silences, but the meaningfully personal conversations that lead to small moments of connection, he explains. "We've studied people for five years in numerous occupations, and we've asked them this question: When you feel that you matter, what's happening at work?" says Mercurio. "Nobody yet has said, 'When I got a promotion, when I got a pay raise, when I got employee of the month' ... They've all talked about small interactions in which someone truly sees them, hears them, is there for them, and reminds them that they're needed."Questions that show a sincere interest in the other person can helping you build trust and a genuine workplace rapport, Mercurio says. This could be as simple as: "I know things are a little hectic this week. How are you holding up?" Or, "I heard your son graduated this week. Congratulations! How did you celebrate?" Without casual opportunities for personal interaction, remote workers particularly feel increasingly disconnected and insignificant at work, Mercurio notes. The same is often true of workers in underappreciated positions like janitors, delivery drivers and public transportation operators, he adds. "We've used technology to manage remote and hybrid work, so a lot of our interactions are more transactional than ever. We send updates via Slack or email," says Mercurio. "But what can't be an email is checking in on how you're doing because your parents are in the hospital. [Or] resolving a conflict in their ways of working or checking in on how a project is going." If you want to avoid superficial small talk, "ask clear, open, exploratory questions," Mercurio says. He offers these examples: Avoid inquiries like "How are you today?" and "How was your weekend?" that can result in autopilot responses, author and keynote speaker Lorraine Lee wrote for CNBC Make It in February. Instead, try "conversational threading," asking questions that encourage more substantial conversation, Lee wrote. For example: "What are you excited to be working on?" or "What was the highlight of your weekend?" If you're on the receiving end of an awkward small talk question, give an answer that prompts follow-ups. If someone asks where you're from, don't just say "California" — say something like, "I'm from Malibu, near the beach. My family and I used to go surfing on the weekends." Bosses especially should take advantage of these small moments to build connections with their employees, Mercurio says: As workplace trust dwindles across the U.S., the relationships you create at work can help you keep your employees productive and engaged. "I encourage [leaders] to track your interactions with your team, for example, over the week," he says. "When do you interact with them? Write down, what do you talk about? How much is this talk about what they do and what they can do for you, and how much of that time is spent talking about who they are and how they're doing?" ,
CNBC
15-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
3 toxic phrases the best bosses never use, from a workplace expert: They're 'really unhealthy'
Some bosses know how to motivate their employees with actionable feedback and advice. Others take a more passive-aggressive approach, which almost always backfires, says leadership and workplace researcher Zach Mercurio. Bad bosses may frequently use these three common toxic phrases, he says: "There's this old like trope that still goes around in management circles of like, 'Don't think you're irreplaceable. We can get someone else in here.' And I think that's really unhealthy," says Mercurio, author of "The Power of Mattering" and a senior fellow at Colorado State University's Center for Meaning & Purpose. When bosses use those phrases — or use different words to convey similar messages — they're probably trying to encourage their employees to work harder or go above and beyond to get the job done. In actuality, they come across as threatening and fear-mongering, Mercurio says. "When people feel replaceable, they tend to act replaceable. They don't show up, they don't come in ... they actually put in less effort," he says. "You actually deplete people's self-esteem and self-worth and sense of capability they need to improve their performance."To motivate a workplace, consider setting lofty goals for your employees — goals that may be challenging, but you know they'll be able to meet them. That's a tactic that Lisa Su, CEO of billion-dollar chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), uses to get the most out of her teams. "People are really motivated by ambitious goals," Su told Time in December. "[The] strategy of, 'Hey, let's just do a little bit better here and there' — that's actually less motivational." And if you see an employee struggling, sit down with them to discuss their productivity before doing or saying anything more drastic, Mercurio recommends. Sometimes, "HR will deploy a performance improvement plan to somebody, and they've never actually had meaningful conversations [with their boss], and they don't have the support to improve their performance," he says. Those meaningful conversations typically need to include an honest assessment of expectations and performance, rather than attempted motivation that can quickly turn toxic. If you hear that you're replaceable, or that your organization won't support you while you're struggling, you'll probably focus on that takeaway more than anything else, says Mercurio. If your boss uses these phrases, or phrases with a similar effect, Mercurio recommends documenting the words they've said, the contexts of the statements and how they've impacted you. Then talk to your boss about how they made you feel, saying something like: "When I heard that, I felt really discouraged. I want to do great work here, but it's hard to feel motivated when I feel replaceable," Mercurio says. If your boss' behavior doesn't change, you may need to consider going to HR, he adds. "I also think in the midst of this, finding and spending time working with people — colleagues, leaders in other areas — who make you feel that you matter can be helpful," says Mercurio.
New York Post
07-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
From Peter to Francis: How the pope chooses their name
As the world waits for the conclave at the Vatican to elect a new pontiff, another question remains at the back of everyone's minds: What will his new name be? Before he stepped out of the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in 2013 as Pope Francis in tribute to the saint of Assisi, the late pontiff was known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. That's because for nearly 1,500 years, the leader of the Catholic Church has opted to change his name following his election, a tradition born out of humility and commitment to his flock. 5 Cardinals gather at the Vatican on Wednesday to elect the new pontiff to succeed the late Pope Francis. VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Images While every pope is free to choose their own name, many opt to either honor their predecessor or pick from one of the favorites that have come up throughout the centuries. Whoever is elected during Wednesday's conclave will have a wide range of options, but there are some unspoken rules and restrictions. 5 Pope Francis was the first pontiff in centuries to pick a name that did not already exist in the papal registry. Getty Images How do popes pick their papal names? There is no written set of rules dictating how the pope chooses his name, with the elected pontiff generally given free rein on the matter. Many popes choose the name of their predecessor, which is why several are repeated in the long list of pontiffs, such as 16 Pope Benedicts and even more Pope Johns. Francis was among the leaders who opted to name himself after a saint, his entry being the first in centuries to add a new name that had not previously appeared on the papal registry. 5 Popes are generally free to pick any name, but they often choose to honor one of their predecessors. VATICAN MEDIA/AFP via Getty Images When did popes start picking names? Experts generally agree that the first documented instance of a pope changing his name came in the year 553, with the election of Pope John II. It's believed that the pontiff, who bore the name Mercurio after the Roman god of the planet Mercury, felt it was inappropriate to keep the name of another deity while heading the Catholic Church. Instead, Mercurio opted to humble himself and take the name John, after Pope John I, starting the new tradition that would not fully catch on until another 1,000 years. 5 No subsequent pope in history as opted to take the name of the first pope, St. Peter. Rení¡ta Sedmí¡koví¡ – What's the unwritten rule? While the pontiff can name himself whatever he wishes, there is one name all the popes have avoided thus far: Peter. In the history of the church, there has only been one Pope Peter, the saint and first pontiff charged with leading the original followers of Jesus. While it isn't strictly forbidden, it would likely be seen as sacrilege for a new pope to name himself after such a central figure in the Catholic Church. 5 Pope John Paul II chose his name to honor his immediate predecessor, who died just over a month following his election. Arnie Sachs – CNP How many Pope Johns are there really? In the long list of popes who have served the Catholic Church, there is one name that comes up more than any other, John. How many Johns there have been, however, is a bit confusing given the existence of Pope John XXIII despite the name only appearing 21 times in the official papal registry. The first anomaly comes with Pope John XVI, who is not officially recognized in the Vatican's registry over his role as an anti-pope, a man claiming to be the leader of the church in direct opposition to the one elected by cardinals. The second comes from the fact that there was never any Pope John XX, with scholars believing a recording error occurred in the 200 years between the 19th and 21st John.
The Age
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Food fight: Albert Park locals call for Hare Krishna kitchen to move out
'The ends are laudable. They're to be congratulated. But the means don't make sense in a residential zone,' Mercurio said. 'It's a large industrial-scale production kitchen.' Planning approval for the kitchen was granted in 2010 with the condition that staffing levels were limited, but this was later found to be unenforceable by the council. The residents' petition also complains about increased traffic, waste in a rear lane and 'pungent smells from the large-scale food production pervading the environment'. It also said that 'very loud chanting and drumming' can be heard from the temple, which opens at 4.30am. Dasa argued the group was doing its best to manage the 'Hare Krishna explosion' and had moved major events away from Albert Park. It now has chapters in Casey, Wyndham and Craigieburn. 'We've been here for 50 years. It's hard to remove the spiritual significance of the location. We're taking steps to manage a transition. It takes time, and it's expensive,' Dasa said. 'But this notion that there's all hell breaking loose in Albert Park is – I would suggest – a little overdone.' In response to the petition, council officers said two tests done at recent temple events found 'noise emissions were within legally acceptable limits'. No food or public health law breaches have been reported after 30 council inspections, although a 'significant waste management breach and liquid spill' occurred in August 2022. A council spokesperson said ISKCON claims its kitchen has prepared food for at least 15 years, but complaints increased around 2020. 'If the kitchen is found to not have existing use rights, ISKCON would need to apply for a planning permit for it to continue operating there,' the spokesperson said. 'We are very sympathetic to residents' amenity concerns and are doing everything we can within our powers to investigate or address amenity issues. We also value what the temple brings to our community.' Dasa, however, said the kitchen could not be separated from the temple. 'The kitchen is a fundamental part of Hindu devotional culture. The deity is worshipped with offerings,' he said. 'To move the kitchen would kill the temple.' ISKCON Australia's most recent public financial report said the national charity's revenue was $24.4 million, including $11 million in food sales, contributing to a $3.5 million surplus in 2023. Dr Angela Burt, an expert on the Hare Krishna movement, said religious leader A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founded ISKCON to spread his strand of Hinduism throughout the West. The Beatles' George Harrison was an early convert. Burt said ISKCON had since evolved from Western followers living in ashrams to a congregational religion. The migration of Hindu Indians looking for familiar temple communities spurred its recent growth in the West, she said. Hare Krishna Melbourne's annual Sri Krishna birthday events attract thousands of people, but Dasa said the celebrations would now be held across four locations. .
