When you ask an organ grinder for feedback you don’t want to hear from the monkey in the workplace Feedback is difficult for many to process both in personal and work realms. For some managers, providing feedback is akin to getting a root canal. For many […]
Being an optimizer in the lived moment A while back I wrote about satisficers. Those are the individuals that do the minimum to get something over and done with. Now let’s think about optimizers. At a past event, a colleague noted to me that he […]
Is it ok for a smart, motivated, highly educated woman to drop out of the workforce? You are told growing up that it is a man’s world, but that you can overcome the cultural obstacles and glass ceilings if you just put your nose to the grindstone […]
The ruse of niceness in the workplace I will warn you right here. This ain’t no happy go lucky narrative. It’s a bit downtrodden. You have been warned. Carry on. As I grew in the ranks at work, I took my lumps on the chin and I fought […]
BS in the Workplace: The Psychology of a Hearty Laugh I drink a lot of coffee and a lot of Coke Zeros throughout my mornings. Consequently, no one is surprised when I have to excuse myself at a meeting to use the ladies room. It seems natural and […]
A little bit of charm can go a long way in social justice efforts On a recent trip, I got to meet with great community leaders with grand passion and commitment for empowering communities and improving overall health. Sure many community activists are wacky and hold unique […]
High heels, neat hats, and a large desk with a commanding presence: My wish for dinner with Vigdís Finnbogadóttir While in the old part of Panama City, Panama, I came across much graffiti of interest and note that keeps running through my mind. Immediately upon entering the […]
The psychology of when friendships go bad in the workplace When I worked at my first job after college, I was still learning about myself, my ideals and my realities. I was learning about what it meant to be an employee. I was a bit arrogant as I […]
Unmasking my masks on the way up the ladders of success Much research in the social sciences field has found that many successful ethnic minorities in the United States feel like impostors just waiting to be found out. It is a sad psychological phenomenon that when faced by […]
When your job weighs you down: the psychology of saying no to your boss Just last week two workplace colleagues were having an intense discussion where one said to the other “I can say no to you, but I can’t say no to my boss.” I flinched a […]