Welcome to Gems & Gemisodes®

Easy-to-digest insights on workplace, personal, and leadership optimization

Dive into our most popular gems for actionable insights  to help you optimize

gem = standalone article | gemisode = two-part article

Ever wondered why you miss small errors in your work even after hours of perfecting it? It turns out, the brain's quest for efficiency is to blame—overworking leads to missed details and biases that hinder optimization, but with the right mindset and tools, you can train your brain for growth and success!

The Keys to Personal and Business Optimization are...

gem | Organizational Optimization

When you think of leadership, do introverts come to mind? This post challenges traditional views, highlighting how introverted leaders—like Charmaine—excel through deep listening, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making.

Quiet Strength: Embracing Introverted Leadership in Business

gem | personal optimization

Grief knows no timeline. Supporting grieving employees is essential for cultivating a compassionate and resilient workplace culture. This post delves into how leaders can create environments where grief is acknowledged, employees feel supported, and both emotional well-being and productivity are strengthened, fostering a more loyal and engaged workforce.


































Grief and What Every Leader Needs to Get Right

Productivity & processes | career optimization

Hello September! As you’ve come to learn, prioritizing wellness and well-being is core to the Chapter tOO™ business model. In alignment with this priority, we took a break from writing and publishing new Gems & Gemisodes™ in August to allow our minds time to rest, and we’re so grateful that we did because so much […]

AI in Business: Embracing Change and Capitalizing on Opportunities

Gems, Organizational Optimization, Productivity & Processes

computerized hand moving to touch computer chip
A small turtle on a wave close to shoreline with sky, trees, and sand in the distance.

Ah, summer— The season’s vibrant energy encourages us to break free from our daily routines, explore new horizons, and embrace the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. In the spirit of breaking from routine, this Gem post will be our last until September 2023, as we take a break to prioritize intentional wellness. But don’t worry, […]

Ride the Summer Wave: How to Build a Talent Pipeline that Makes a Splash

Gems, Organizational Optimization, Productivity & Processes

The sun’s rays have a remarkable ability to stimulate the production of serotonin, a hormone associated with enhancing mood, fostering calmness, and improving focus. So, as the summer season is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the perfect time for those who can, to get outdoors, soak up the sun, and engage in […]

Beaches to Boardrooms: Avoid the Summer Slide and Leverage the Sun to Build Strong Workplace Culture Instead

Gems, Organizational Optimization, Productivity & Processes

A computer, sunglasses and frozen coffee drink on a table with ocean in the background.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Stethoscope and Tie

Did you know that June is Men’s Health Month in the United States, and that this year, International Men’s Health Week is June 12-18th? These important periods aim to raise awareness about the health issues affecting men worldwide. Men face unique health challenges, some of which disproportionately affect them compared to women, ranging from Parkinson’s […]

The Hidden Cost: Men’s Health and its Impact in Business

Gems, Organizational Optimization, Research & Law

Pride Month, celebrated annually in June in the United States, holds deep historical significance for the LGBTQ+ community and community allies. Its roots trace back to the Stonewall uprisings that took place in New York City in June 1969, which ignited a transformative movement for equality and liberation. Beyond parades and festivities, Pride serves as […]

Pride: A Catalyst for Workplace Change and Inclusive Excellence

Culture, Gems, Research & Law

Close-up of rainbow flag in sunshine
close up of leaves against sunrise

A Gemisode™ Series – Part II As highlighted in Part I, workplace wellness is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, and organizations that fail to prioritize workplace wellness often experience significant impacts on productivity, innovation, revenue growth, retention, and workplace culture. Companies with strong cultures are more profitable because they understand the importance of investing […]

Workplace Wellness is Tied to Productivity – Part II

Gemisode, Productivity & Processes, Research & Law

A Gemisode™ Series – Part I May is a significant month in the United States for two important observances: Mental Health Awareness and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage. For those who may not be aware, AAPI Heritage Month is a yearly celebration that honors the vast contributions, achievements, and influences of Asian Americans […]

Workplace Wellness is Tied to Productivity

Gemisode, Productivity & Processes, Research & Law

close up of leaves against sunrise
people's hands on top of each other

Concerned about retaining and engaging your employees? You’re not alone! Shockingly, Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2022 report revealed that only 21% of employees are engaged at work. Factors contributing to this lack of engagement are numerous, and as we pointed out in our previous essay,  “Assumptions Impact Retention,” we believe that assumptions, specifically, organizations […]

Here’s How to Build a Culture of Engagement to Increase Retention

Gems, Organizational Optimization

of relationships and business. Why? Because assumptions can ruin relationships, reveal biases, and be perceived as a lack of care or consideration by the party on the receiving end of them.  Cambridge Dictionary defines assume as “to accept something to be true without proof or question”. When we assume, we actively erase the reality and […]

Assumptions Impact Retention…

Career Optimization, Gems, Organizational Optimization

Overhead view of empty communal wooden office desk with four yellow chairs.
Light trails of traffic at night

“Ma’am, this is your time, take it, you don’t have to rush” …. the words said to me by the check-out associate as the pressured feeling to pack my groceries quickly set in after glancing at the line behind me. As I left the store those 12 words began replaying in my mind and forced […]

Is Hurry Hurting You?

Culture, Gems

Left unchecked, these challenges are the difference between a highly engaged, innovative workplace and one that’s riddled with friction, disengagement, and unwanted turnover.

I’ve seen first-hand what happens when you master the art of people. Long-term success stems from those who are propelling it forward, so investing in yourself or your organization is the fastest way to drive growth.

At Chapter tOO, we’re bringing decades of experience, optimizing your career or organization. We put people first. And profit follows.

All business problems are rooted in people challenges.

Meet the Founder and CEO of Chapter tOO™  

Hi, I’m Charmaine Green-Forde

A NYC certified Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE)

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