Winning the Status Game

There are two things every human craves, according to science writer Will Storr, author of The Status Game. We want to get along and get ahead. In other words, we desire to be part of a group – a very basic human need – and we desire to be admired, to have status within the … Continue reading Winning the Status Game

Every Day is a Chance to Practice Being Who You Want to Be

“To stop talking about what the good person is like, and just be one.” —Marcus Aurelius,, If you’re just getting started with Stoicism, Matthew Van Natta’s The Beginner’s Guide to Stoicism: Tools for Emotional Resilience and Positivity is a great place to start. He starts out with some ancient history, but quickly goes on to … Continue reading Every Day is a Chance to Practice Being Who You Want to Be

Get Some Rest, Says – My Boss?

HR experts say that the trend we’ll be seeing in 2023 is something you might not expect: encouragement from your employer to get more rest. The most forward-thinking companies will help their workforce get “proactive rest,” down time that allows an employee to nap, get more sleep, or really shut down from business to refresh … Continue reading Get Some Rest, Says – My Boss?

Everything Must Go

In previous posts, I’ve been revisiting Stoic philosophy thanks to an excellent guide for those who might be new to Stoicism: The Beginner’s Guide to Stoicism: Tools for Emotional Resilience and Positivity, by Matthew Van Natta. If you’ve recently experienced a loss, the Stoic’s approach to life might be helpful. In fact, the Stoic approach … Continue reading Everything Must Go

Why You’re Labeled as Negative (and What to Do about It)

They hired you for your experience and expertise, after all. You’re the one closest to the issue. You’ve been on this project for close to six months. You should be seen as the expert. Instead, you hear through the grapevine after the meeting that your director thinks you’re just negative. You’re “dragging down the team … Continue reading Why You’re Labeled as Negative (and What to Do about It)

Focusing on Right Now

I’m re-reading some Stoic writings, and I highly recommend it for anyone who’s ready to make a change in the way they’re handling their emotions. If you’re just getting started with Stoicism, Matthew Van Natta’s The Beginner’s Guide to Stoicism: Tools for Emotional Resilience and Positivity is a great place to start. He starts out … Continue reading Focusing on Right Now

Keeping Your Cool at Work

“Losing your head in a crisis is a good way to become the crisis.”― C.J. Redwine, Defiance It can happen to anyone. A stressful week, problems at home, the guy who cut you off in traffic, the holiday rush – it can easily add up and make your nerves a little frayed. All it takes is a … Continue reading Keeping Your Cool at Work

Are You Really Sorry?

I’ve counted. About 10 times a day, if I’m out running errands. Some days, it’s the phrase I use often to start sentences when dealing with colleagues, especially those I don’t have a close relationship with. “I’m sorry.” Cross in front of someone browsing in the cereal aisle? I’m sorry. Answering an email an hour … Continue reading Are You Really Sorry?

Your Problem Solving Style May Have Some Blind Spots

In a previous post, I cited Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, the founder and CEO of Decisive, a decision sciences company. She’s studied how people make decisions for years, and has written a book called Problem Solver: Maximizing Your Strengths to Make Better Decisions. She’s developed five decision archetypes (find the descriptions here.) She says that each … Continue reading Your Problem Solving Style May Have Some Blind Spots

Micro may Signal Something Big

Micro is having a moment. Technically, the word means extremely small, too small to see, even. But when tiny gestures add up in the workplace, they can cause a big reaction. There are two micro terms you might have heard about. The first is micro expressions. Micro expressions are facial expressions that occur within a … Continue reading Micro may Signal Something Big