Why do we admire celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer and Bill Clinton? They make you feel like you’re the most important person in the room. They excel at listening—a skill that separates great personalities from the near-great. (photo courtesy Michal Marcol / … [Read more...] about Be A Better Listener
personal skills
Confidence: Get It and Keep It
Having confidence is a huge advantage in careers, life, and relationships. It's the key to attracting the right job, the right people, the right decisions from others, and getting what we want. Like money, everyone wants more confidence. Some people naturally seem to have it; perhaps they were … [Read more...] about Confidence: Get It and Keep It
8 Strategies For Success: Build A Better Brain
You can build a better brain at any age. With the advent of fMRI brain scanning techniques, we now know that brains are continually learning and growing new neurons. Because of centuries of ignorance, however, many people view our brains as a mysterious structure incapable of change. We've been … [Read more...] about 8 Strategies For Success: Build A Better Brain
The Lure of Procrastination: 6 Things to Ignore
Given the results of procrastination – hurried work, mistakes, stress, missed deadlines – it's a wonder why anyone would put off what can be done right away. And yet who doesn't let projects slide, especially ones we don't like doing? If you find yourself procrastinating on a task, try thinking of … [Read more...] about The Lure of Procrastination: 6 Things to Ignore
Executive Wisdom: The 8 Traps of High Achievers
“Many high performers would rather do the wrong things well than do the right thing poorly.” ~ Thomas J. DeLong and Sara DeLong, “The Paradox of Excellence,” Harvard Business Review, June 2011 Leaders are high achievers who continually grow as professionals. But in many organizations, there are … [Read more...] about Executive Wisdom: The 8 Traps of High Achievers
Are You Bored—or Boring? The Brain Science Behind Boredom at Work
It’s no wonder that so many people count themselves among the zombies who show up for work each day. When two-thirds of people report feeling tired or bored at work, it’s time to ask why—and what can be done. If you feel as though you’re going through the motions, without experiencing any real joy … [Read more...] about Are You Bored—or Boring? The Brain Science Behind Boredom at Work
Information Overload: 45,276 Ways to Stop It
How many times have you screamed to yourself: “There is too much information online! Make it stop! Argh!” According to a 2009 study conducted by the University of California, San Diego, Americans consume on average approximately 34 gigabytes of information a day. This translates to about 100,000 … [Read more...] about Information Overload: 45,276 Ways to Stop It
What’s Your Story?
“The most important story you will ever tell about yourself is the story you tell to yourself.” ~ Jim Loehr, The Power of Story, Free Press, 2007 Stories that don't work happen to everybody. Each of us operates with a variety of organizing principles, or “stories,” that swirl around our brains. … [Read more...] about What’s Your Story?
The Power of Empathy and Focus
Without empathy and focus, you’ll never be able to communicate effectively and relate well to others. People who lack empathy are sure to face interpersonal difficulties that lead to inferior performance, negative outcomes, and poor relationships with coworkers and customers. As a competency skill, … [Read more...] about The Power of Empathy and Focus
How to Be Happier – 3 Proven Steps
Why are some people happy, and others not? Is happiness associated with a better life, greater luck or fewer worries and upsets? Or, is it a question of character? People who are highly satisfied with their lives are less likely to have psychological or social problems, less likely to get sick or … [Read more...] about How to Be Happier – 3 Proven Steps