--- title: ALULA Blog | Brian Cole, Ph.D. (2) description: Brian lives up to his reputation of making good on his promises—especially when it comes to creating business improvements. He helps leaders make changes by aligning behavior to results, measuring behaviors, and following up with training and coaching. All of this creates a work environment where employee engagement and discretionary effort become “business as usual.” With more than 15 years of experience in leadership training and executive coaching, Brian has repeatedly demonstrated that focusing an entire organization on a critical few behaviors can really change performance. Brian has a special talent for working with leadership to build strong teams and produce quantifiable improvement in management effectiveness. He designs behavior-based training and personal development courses aimed at improving communications, work processes, and team leadership. Brian has worked with clients in the telecommunications, healthcare, financial and accounting services, package delivery, cable television, energy, and airline industries. (2) image: https://alula.clg.com/assets/img/alula-open-graph-image.jpg --- [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/images/logos/alula-clg-logo-1.svg)](https://alula.clg.com/) - [Home](https://alula.clg.com/) - Solutions - [Change](https://alula.clg.com/solutions/change-management) - [Leadership](https://alula.clg.com/solutions/leadership) - [Performance](https://alula.clg.com/solutions/performance) - About - [Company](https://alula.clg.com/about/company) - [Team](https://alula.clg.com/about/team) - [Insights](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog) - [Blog](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog) - [Resources](https://alula.clg.com/insights/resources) - [Careers](https://alula.clg.com/careers) - [Contact](https://alula.clg.com/contact) - Search - [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/images/logos/alula-clg-logo-white.svg)](https://alula.clg.com/) - [PH: 1.800.887.0011 (U.S. Toll-free)](tel:18008870011) - [PH: 412.269.7240](tel:4122697240) - [Directions](https://goo.gl/maps/gjzMJte7JKo) ## Brian Cole, Ph.D. ![Picture of Brian Cole, Ph.D.](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog_2024hsALULA_Cole-Brian_1-1.jpg?width=100&name=blog_2024hsALULA_Cole-Brian_1-1.jpg) [View Full Profile](https://alula.clg.com/about/team/brian-cole) Find me on: --- ## Recent Posts ## [Proximity Bias: Recognize and Overcome Favoritism in a Hybrid Workplace](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/proximity-bias-recognize-and-overcome-favoritism-in-a-hybrid-workplace) By [Brian Cole, Ph.D.](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole) posted in [Leadership](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/leadership), [Hybrid Work Environment](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/hybrid-work-environment) [1 Comment](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/proximity-bias-recognize-and-overcome-favoritism-in-a-hybrid-workplace#comments-listing) [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/Remote%20and%20In-person%20Meeting_600x350.png)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/proximity-bias-recognize-and-overcome-favoritism-in-a-hybrid-workplace) In an ever-shifting hybrid workplace, diversity and inclusion may be even more relevant as new biases develop. One that we’ve already seen manifest is [Proximity Bias](https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210804-hybrid-work-how-proximity-bias-can-lead-to-favouritism), when leaders unintentionally favor those working *in the office* compared to those working *remotely*. But where does this show up, how does it affect business, and how can you put a stop to such biases? [Read More](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/proximity-bias-recognize-and-overcome-favoritism-in-a-hybrid-workplace) ## [Creating and Building Trust in a Hybrid Environment](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/creating-and-building-trust-in-a-hybrid-environment) By [Brian Cole, Ph.D.](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole) posted in [Hybrid Work Environment](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/hybrid-work-environment), [Trust](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/trust) [0 Comments](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/creating-and-building-trust-in-a-hybrid-environment#comments-listing) [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/Building%20Trust.png)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/creating-and-building-trust-in-a-hybrid-environment) *“Trust has to be earned and should only come after the passage of time.”                    –Arthur Ashe* Trust is fundamental in our daily interactions, but we don’t talk about it enough. We’re social animals, and the very foundations of society are built on trust. So it should be obvious why trust is critical to success in everything—including business. According to The Trust Outlook[\[1\]](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole/page/2#_ftn1), about [85% of people believe that a high-trust work environment helps them perform at their very best](https://trustedge.com/the-research/). Virtually all metrics improve when employees trust their employers and vice versa, and that is especially true in a hybrid working world. [Read More](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/creating-and-building-trust-in-a-hybrid-environment) ## [When Leaders Provide Volunteering Opportunities, It Benefits Everyone](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/to-leaders-providing-volunteering-opportunities-benefits-everyone) By [Brian Cole, Ph.D.](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole) posted in [Leadership](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/leadership), [Team Building](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/team-building), [Culture](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/culture) [0 Comments](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/to-leaders-providing-volunteering-opportunities-benefits-everyone#comments-listing) [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/shutterstock_318596240_originalsize.jpg)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/to-leaders-providing-volunteering-opportunities-benefits-everyone) With businesses continuing to work from anywhere, companies are more focused on efforts to ensure their people are engaged, no matter where they may be working. These days, many people seek employment with organizations that have environments and cultures that support their personal values. In the US, April is National Volunteer Month, so there’s no time like the present to start thinking about how and why you should support volunteering efforts in your company. [Read More](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/to-leaders-providing-volunteering-opportunities-benefits-everyone) ## [Motivating Your Teams When You Are in Different Locations](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/motivating-your-teams-when-you-are-in-different-locations) By [Brian Cole, Ph.D.](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole) posted in [Leadership](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/leadership), [Leading Remote Teams](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/leading-remote-teams), [Managing Remotely](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/managing-remotely) [1 Comment](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/motivating-your-teams-when-you-are-in-different-locations#comments-listing) [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/original_1725467707_Leader%20(002)-1.jpg)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/motivating-your-teams-when-you-are-in-different-locations) When I coach leaders, I often discuss how to keep people motivated. But COVID-19 has added a twist: “How can I motivate my teams—*both in-office and remotely?”* How do you keep people motivated when you’re not in the same building? [Read More](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/motivating-your-teams-when-you-are-in-different-locations) ## [Improving Turnaround Shutdown, Cleanup, Startup Performance](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/improving-turnaround-shutdown-cleanup-startup-performance) By [Brian Cole, Ph.D.](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole) posted in [Turnaround/Shutdown](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/turnaround-shutdown) [0 Comments](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/improving-turnaround-shutdown-cleanup-startup-performance#comments-listing) [![](https://insights.alula.clg.com/hubfs/Blog%20Images%20(Other)/Turnaround%20%232.jpg)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/improving-turnaround-shutdown-cleanup-startup-performance) Most turnaround work occurs during the execution phase—but key activities performed during the shutdown, cleanup, and startup phases (SCS) can make or break a turnaround’s success. These portions of the turnaround should require a fraction of the time to complete, compared to total turnaround time. But poor planning and execution of blind lists, procedures, permits, or chemical cleaning work scope quickly lead to longer durations and higher cost. [Read More](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/improving-turnaround-shutdown-cleanup-startup-performance) [Prev](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/author/brian-cole/page/1) [All posts](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/all) ### Conversation ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Topic - [Leadership (120)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/leadership) - [Behavior (46)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/behavior) - [Team Culture (30)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/team-culture) - [Culture (26)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/culture) - [Communicating with Teams (25)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/communicating-with-teams) - [Leading Remote Teams (20)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/leading-remote-teams) - [Managing Remotely (18)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/managing-remotely) - [Pharmaceutical Sales (17)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/pharmaceutical-sales) - [Change Management (16)](https://insights.alula.clg.com/blog/topic/change-management) - 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