We've all worked hard to polish some pretty useless skills. “Skills” like perfectionism, excuse-making and a deep expertise in controlling everything we can. These are not skills we’re born with, but we sure do get excellent at them over time —and that’s not a good thing. On Lifehack, there was an interesting piece about the eight skills … [Read more...]
8 steps to handling negative feedback
Can I give you a little feedback? Just curious how that phrase makes you feel. “Does your pulse spike just a little bit? The ability to take constructive criticism is essential to our professional success. If you can’t take it, you won’t evolve . So how do you get good at being criticized? The HR website Human Resources offers … [Read more...]
The Power of Vulnerability
“Connection is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” So says qualitative researcher Brené Brown. Perhaps you’ve seen her famous TED Talk “The power of vulnerability”? In it, Brown talks about human connection and its relationship to vulnerability and shame. Interesting, but what does it have to do with business? Tons, actually. … [Read more...]
Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are
Right now, what’s your body doing? Are you hunched over, curled up, scrunching your shoulders? Body language is a meaningful form of nonverbal communication. Mute a video, and you can still guess how someone feels by their hand gestures and facial expression. But would you be surprised to hear that your own body language can have a profound … [Read more...]
6 Reasons We Make Bad Decisions, and What to Do About Them
You’ve perhaps heard of the study that proved that a judge is more likely to approve prisoners up for parole earlier in the morning, than after he returns (sleepy) from lunch? Decision fatigue is a real thing, and it affects everyone — not just justices. Over the course of the day, our decision-making gets worse. And considering that another … [Read more...]
How our Brains Decide When to Trust
Trust: It’s not just a warm, fuzzy word. It’s the hallmark of high-performing organizations. So it stands to reason that understanding how trust works would be important to company leaders. Turns out, there’s a biology to trust. According to Paul J. Zak, founding director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies, it has to do with … [Read more...]