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Interaction Associates Blog

Our blog is filled with actionable insights on collaboration as well as practical approaches to implement these insights within organizations.

Jake Blocker

Jake Blocker
Jake Blocker creates and executes marketing initiatives for Interaction Associates (IA). He’s involved from initial ideation to the creative development and the analysis of the results. If you were to merge the left and right brain into a job, you would have Jake’s role at IA.
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Recent Posts

A professional workplace scene showing an HR leader actively listening to employees, with visual cues indicating active communication
Conflict Resolution Techniques for HR Leaders

Conflict Resolution Techniques for HR Leaders

Managing workplace conflicts is one of the most challenging—and most common—tasks HR leaders face.

by Jake Blocker

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Business professional analyzing ROI data charts with finger pointing at blue graph metrics while holding tablet, demonstrating effective meetings and preparation.
A Guide to Maximizing Meeting ROI

A Guide to Maximizing Meeting ROI

Most workplaces rely on meetings to discuss ideas, solve problems, and make decisions. But let’s be honest—how many of..

by Jake Blocker

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Are You the F1 Race Engineer of Your Meeting?

Are You the F1 Race Engineer of Your Meeting?

Meetings, Engagement
As I sit writing this, it’s March 2025, and the new F1 season is just weeks away.

by Jake Blocker

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Overhead view of diverse professionals collaborating at a round table in a modern workspace, sharing ideas and exemplifying facilitative leadership and team collaboration
The Power of Facilitative Leadership in Modern ...

The Power of Facilitative Leadership in Modern ...

The demands on leaders and teams are higher than ever. Without a collaborative approach, these pressures can lead to..

by Jake Blocker

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Guy working from home looking at a laptop screen during a virtual meeting
Building Trust Through Virtual Meetings

Building Trust Through Virtual Meetings

Leadership, Meetings
Let's face it—building trust in virtual work environments can be tricky. In this modern workplace, you're not sharing..

by Jake Blocker

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Happy workers huddled around a computer
Beyond Consensus: Achieving Informed and ...

Beyond Consensus: Achieving Informed and ...

Collaboration
Reaching consensus sounds great in theory—until it stalls decisions and waters down great ideas. The truth is that..

by Jake Blocker

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People in a meeting surrounding a table
How to Encourage Psychological Safety in ...

How to Encourage Psychological Safety in ...

Meetings
When people join meetings at your business, you want them to feel welcomed and comfortable collaborating with others...

by Jake Blocker

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Video display of diverse office team members wearing headsets for remote team bonding during remote meeting.
Team Bonding in the Remote Era

Team Bonding in the Remote Era

Virtual Working
It’s 8:30 a.m. You’ve made your short office commute across the house to your desk, carefully stepping over the dog..

by Jake Blocker

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Closeup of coworkers shaking hands after clearing up productive disagreement
The Art of Productive Disagreements: Building ...

The Art of Productive Disagreements: Building ...

Leadership
Disagreements are often misunderstood in the workplace. They’re seen as divisive, disruptive, or even personal. But..

by Jake Blocker

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Hand holding blocks spelling out IQ and EQ.
How Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Drives ...

How Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Drives ...

Leadership, Personal Development
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is more than just a buzzword your boss might toss around during performance reviews. It's..

by Jake Blocker

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One employee in a wheelchair sits at a table, meeting with two other employees.
How to Make Meetings More Accessible

How to Make Meetings More Accessible

Meetings
Ever feel like some voices get lost in meetings? It's often not intentional, but traditional meeting formats can leave..

by Jake Blocker

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Person giving thumbs up during virtual meeting, laptop screen showing grid of video call participants
Facilitation: The Must-Have Skill for ...

Facilitation: The Must-Have Skill for ...

Virtual Working
There's a lot to love about virtual and hybrid work arrangements. From increased flexibility to reduced commute times,..

by Jake Blocker

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A skilled meeting facilitator guides a hybrid meeting, ensuring all participants are engaged and contributing effectively.
A Guide to Virtual/Hybrid Meeting Facilitation

A Guide to Virtual/Hybrid Meeting Facilitation

There's a lot to love about virtual and hybrid work arrangements. From increased flexibility to reduced commute times,..

by Jake Blocker

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Screen displaying Zoom meeting with everyone's face visible
How Camera-Off Meetings Can Support All Team ...

How Camera-Off Meetings Can Support All Team ...

Virtual Working, Meetings
I'm sure we've all had those days where the last thing we want to do is turn our cameras on and attend yet another..

by Jake Blocker

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Employees sitting in a meeting intently watching a speaker in front of them.
What Bad Meetings Tell Us about Employee Burnout ...

What Bad Meetings Tell Us about Employee Burnout ...

Meetings
Meetings are meant to bring teams together, encourage collaboration, and drive progress. Yet, for many employees, they..

by Jake Blocker

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Woman on virtual meeting using AI tools to improve her meeting process
How AI Can Improve Your Meetings

How AI Can Improve Your Meetings

Leadership, Virtual Working
We have all attended meetings where we sit back and think to ourselves, “This really could have been an email.” Whether..

by Jake Blocker

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Time is Precious, Stop Wasting it in Bad Meetings

Time is Precious, Stop Wasting it in Bad Meetings

Collaboration, Meetings
I’ve written before on the good and bad of meetings. You know, corporate America’s favorite pastime. So, I thought I’d..

by Jake Blocker

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Lessons I Learned from RuPaul About Conquering ...

Lessons I Learned from RuPaul About Conquering ...

Engagement, Personal Development
Photo Credit: RuPaul Charles poses for a picture at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, September 19, 2021. (Mario..

by Jake Blocker

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4 Tips on Outwitting Your Imposter Syndrome

4 Tips on Outwitting Your Imposter Syndrome

Leadership, Personal Development
It was midnight on October 21, 2022, and I had just poured myself a cup of Tazo’s Glazed Lemon Loaf Hot Tea (highly..

by Jake Blocker

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An Introvert's Survival Guide to Meetings

An Introvert's Survival Guide to Meetings

Meetings, Engagement
Years ago in a previous role, I recall sitting in a meeting room (an ACTUAL meeting room, remember those?). There were..

by Jake Blocker

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Ask IA: How Do I Get Focus Back When Meetings Go ...

Ask IA: How Do I Get Focus Back When Meetings Go ...

Meetings, Engagement
As a project manager, I tend to lead 10-20 meetings each week. While I do make an effort to set my meeting up for..

by Jake Blocker

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Stop Stressing, Start Delegating

Stop Stressing, Start Delegating

Leadership, Engagement
How are you currently feeling at work? Overworked, stressed, and constantly feeling that you’re behind? For many, this..

by Jake Blocker

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What Baking Taught Me About Running Effective ...

What Baking Taught Me About Running Effective ...

Collaboration, Meetings
April 10, 2020. I was supposed to be a few days into a relaxing vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico but was instead in..

by Jake Blocker

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Six Insights from Working Together Across ...

Six Insights from Working Together Across ...

Collaboration, Virtual Working
Interaction Associates and Vantage Partners hosted The New Norm: Working Together Across Distances & Differences on..

by Jake Blocker

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IA Recommends: Overcoming Zoom Fatigue

IA Recommends: Overcoming Zoom Fatigue

Virtual Working, Meetings
It's 2:00pm and you're on your fourth online meeting of the day. The coffee that got you through the morning has worn..

by Jake Blocker

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Why Are We Meeting?

Why Are We Meeting?

Virtual Working, Meetings
A few years ago, I attended a meeting at my previous company entitled “Marketing Update.” This wasn’t our weekly..

by Jake Blocker

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Meeting Roles - Infographic

Meeting Roles - Infographic

Leadership, Meetings
Meeting roles define who will take responsibility for performing meeting functions. You don't need to use all the..

by Jake Blocker

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4 Tips to Productive Online Meetings

4 Tips to Productive Online Meetings

Meetings, Engagement
Picture this, you're in an online meeting and catch yourself checking your email or working on another project, you've..

by Jake Blocker

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Your Office Set Up Can Change Your Work Life

Your Office Set Up Can Change Your Work Life

Virtual Working
The desk. If my basic math calculations are correct, this is a place you may call home for upwards of 950 hours each..

by Jake Blocker

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