Looking back, haven’t there been unexpected moments where you met someone, or heard an idea, that positively changed the course of your life? Staying open to serendipitous moments increases the chances you’ll cultivate a flexible mindset, see more facets of a situation and discover more breakthroughs in your areas of strongest interest… Read More»
We are often oblivious to some of what’s happening around us, especially if we are focused on something else, as the startling invisible gorilla test demonstrated. The upside of this phenomenon is that we can “signal” others to act in their best interest and in ways that are beneficial to others. To become more aware of how you are influenced by what you see and hear, and to discover specific ways to nudge others, read the book Nudge (that has garnered over 300 positive reviews) and get four quick tips here… Read More»
Interestingness is the instigator, the hardy carrier pigeon that can carry your message most anywhere. Interestingness makes a message get heard above the noise. Money can’t buy interestingness, yet vivid comparisons can create them. To make your label stick it must be more interesting than others’ labels of your business, cause, idea or yourself…. Read More»
In the most fluid and high-performing workplace cultures, the differences in people, their cross-functional roles and department duties and the dynamics of hierarchy and rank are perfectly in sync.
Simply put, it’s about how the ‘dots connect’ within the workplace’s interconnected field of diverse personalities, capabilities and skills sets, competitiveness and expectations. Those leaders who can connect the dots become the Opportunity Makers with whom others most want to work. They enable colleagues to use best talents together more often, thus boosting performance, collective learning and a sense of meaning…. Read More»
“Diversity trumps ability” as a sufficiently diverse, large group of non-experts often outperforms a small group of experts,” found Future Perfect author Steven Johnson. In our increasingly complex, disruptive world, we will face more situations where we’ll benefit from calling on the so-called wisdom of the crowd.
Thus it behooves us to have colleagues with very different work and life experiences, and from diverse professions and industries…. Read More»
This headline, “Exec loses job after allegedly slapping toddler on plane,” is an anger-evoking true story that spread quickly. Understanding why can help you spread your ideas, piggybacking on certain kinds of momentous events. “High arousal” negative emotions such as anger or anxiety spur us to share messages with others, discovered Wharton professor Jonah Berger, author of Contagious…. Read More»
When I was an “on-air talent” on an NBC show, one of the first things they tested before I was hired was my likeability, what the TV industry and others dub the “Q” factor. Even though I tested high on that range I was keenly aware that it mattered more than my journalism experience, smarts, willingness to work hard or aptitude for this job. In fact, I believed that at least three other candidates were better qualified. Others call this effect the Mitt Romney mistake…. Read More»
→