Being able to apologize sincerely, without getting defensive or huffy, is a sign of maturity and strength. It shows that you're not too big or important to be vulnerable, too.
There are infinite ways to be authentic. And organizations need to make us all feel safe to be ourselves. But we should also take an honest look at the impact of our authenticity
We weren’t friends with him. He was still our boss. But we all saw his empathic and supportive behavior in action. It brought us together as a team – firmly behind him as our leader
I used to spend a lot of time with leaders. In my previous career as a political reporter, I followed prime ministers and presidents to various corners of the globe. I asked them questions and wrote down their answers. On occasion, I sipped champagne in their gardens. Some of them dazzled me with their power […]
Have you ever received the career advice: "just be yourself"? We’re often told to bring our "whole selves" to work, and to be authentic in order to achieve satisfaction, improve productivity, create diverse and inclusive workplaces, and feel happier. Yet most of us would probably admit to being "Great Pretenders" sometimes. I asked my colleagues […]
You'd think that respect is a timeless value that needs no explanation. But there have been large shifts in what it looks like in the workplace over recent years. For example, not so many years ago, male managers would likely have expected to be addressed as "Mr.," while their team members might have accepted sexual […]
Career Skills, Communication, Expert Interview, Learning Skills, Uncategorized
There are lots of reasons why talented people move from one job to another – more money, better opportunities, greater responsibility. But one key reason that is often forgotten is the appeal or "magnetism" that senior managers have to prospective employees. This is the idea behind Roberta Chinsky Matuson's new book, "The Magnetic Leader." In […]
Unlike a lot of expert negotiators, Corey Kupfer doesn't believe in using persuasion techniques or clever wordplay when he enters into a negotiation. You won't find him mirroring his opponent's gestures to lull them into acquiescence, or inventing competing bidders to gain an advantage. That's because, during his 30 years as a professional negotiator, he's observed […]
Are we born with certain abilities or can we acquire them through deliberate practice? Myles Downey has a theory about this nurture/nature question of genius. For him, the debate points directly to a tradition of powerful people seeking to retain their authority. A keen tennis player himself, he explains this with a metaphor from the world […]
All Posts, Career Skills, Creativity, Expert Interview, Uncategorized
"Managers are people who do things right, leaders are people who do the right thing." – Warren Bennis, author and leadership expert. Chances are, you've experienced working with both good and bad leaders. You may have been inspired by a great leader's vision, and been motivated by his or her passion and commitment to achieving […]
