Why It Seems to Take Longer to Go to Work Than to Go Home

The journey from home to an office or any other destination feels longer than the return trip, according to a series of studies by Priya Raghubir, Vicki G. Morwitz, and Amitav Chakravarti of New York University. In one experiment with 127 undergraduates, for example, participants estimated that it took them an average of about 22 minutes to go from home to the classroom, but just 17 minutes to get back. The reason, the researchers suggest, may be that people mentally define the destination "home" as a relatively large area and unfamiliar destinations as relatively small.

The Three Don'ts of Persuasion

Persuading people to believe in your idea is a critical leadership skill. But too many managers don't know how. Here are three things to try next time you need to gain consensus or secure a deal:
Don't make the hard sell. Setting out a strong position at the start gives opponents something to fight. It's better to present your position with reserve, so you can adjust it if needed.
Don't resist compromise. Compromise is not surrender. People want to see that you are flexible enough to respond to their concerns and incorporate their perspectives.
Don't assume it's a one-shot deal. Persuasion is a process. You'll rarely arrive at a solution on the first try. Listen, test your position, and then refine it based on the group's input.