Some say intense pressure for results caused Volkswagen to install software that covered up diesel emissions during testing by the EPA. This raises the issue of how we make moral choices when under pressure. When under pressure, we sometimes lose connection to…
We all want to be engaged in our work, but too often our basic psychological needs aren’t met and…
While good stories always have meaning, our lives are not automatically meaningful—especially in real time. We don’t always live…
Job stress is by far the leading source of stress for US adults, it's steadily increasing, and it negativley…
In this guest post, Dr. Paul White shows how we can help others overcome discouragement by showing appreciation.
All too often we put teams together based on subject matter expertise and hope they somehow gel, but this…
Sandra Levy-Achtemeier started her career as an academic psychologist at a major university. She was enjoying a good measure…
We typically think of emotions (particularly negative ones) as a disruptive force and believe the best we can do…
Grief doesn't respect the personal vs. work boundary we erect in our hearts to cope with the pain of…
When there are no bonds of trust at work, our collective energy for compassion, creativity, and productivity is drained.…
One the foundational jobs of a leader is to create a secure base for employees and the team. A…
With the pressures of building a career and, for some, raising a family, we often drift into becoming unintentional…
We’re often so focused on “what’s next" that we miss the opportunity to connect with people in the here…
Sometimes things happen in our work environment that cause pain and confusion. When this happens our first instinct is…
Have you ever ignored your intuition and later regretted it? I know I have. But over the years, I’ve…
Have you ever worked on your weaknesses and felt like you were beating your head against a brick wall?…
Steve Garber, in his recent book, Visions of Vocation, explores a fundamental challenge we all face: once you come…
A few years back I was on vacation on a train heading from Germany to Poland with my wife,…
Where does your authority as a leader or influencer come from? There is one type of authority that comes…
The pressures of profits and hitting goals often crowd out any desire to focus on creating a culture of…
Awhile back I met with several leaders who had been shaken up by various experiences—being let go from a…
A manager I’ll call Tom reached out to me recently because he was overwhelmed with administrative minutia and was…
This week, I posted over at ConnectionCulture.com. Here’s a peek; click through to check out my 7 reflections on…
Last week I had a conversation with a manager who was feeling disconnected from her work. Why? As she…
An Insecure Leader Recently I worked with a team that had a particularly insecure leader. As I observed him…
These past two weeks have been filled with graduations for me. Several of my students completed their PhD degree…
Over the years, I’ve encountered jerky leaders who somehow managed to achieve solid business results. We’ve also seen plenty…
As I reflect on my life, I realize there are moments when I feel happy in the sense of…
The emotional and relational culture of the workplace drives organizational effectiveness to a significant extent. Because it’s hard to…
Work is hard. But it’s even harder when you feel misunderstood, disconnected, alone, and unlovable. These common feelings are…
Have you ever felt hurt, even crushed, by feedback from someone? When I was training to become a clinical psychologist,…
Imagine this scenario. You get an email from your boss saying: “It’s time for your annual review. I had…
We tend to view love as a static thing. Something that remains true about ourselves and relationships. That’s been…
Have you ever felt like various parts of your life don’t quite fit together into a meaningful whole? I…
Next fall, my oldest son will go off to college. This will be a marking point in a life…
We all want to do meaningful work—work that contributes to the well being of others in a way that…
“All you need is love,” the familiar Beatles chorus goes. Well, maybe you need more than love to thrive…
Last week I wrote about 8 ways suffering can help you grow. I reflected on lessons I’m learning through my wife’s recent…
On December 11, 2013, my wife’s life, and mine, were marked. My wife had been to the doctor, and she told…
Recently I was on a flight heading home from a trip to visit relatives. As we were approaching LAX,…
You’ve probably been there at some point in your life—working in an environment where people treat each other rudely, betray trust,…
Frustrated and Conflicted About WorkRecently, I met with an executive, Richard (a pseudonym) who works for a large health…
I was meeting with an executive recently. A team of his was struggling, due to a manager with a…
To do the present thing, I want to do something else, be somewhere else, or feel something else. I’ve…
What kind of people do you want to be around? What kind of person motivates you to do your best?…
Have you ever been so pressured on a project that you focused solely on the tasks and forgot that…
Relational ruptures are inevitable, so it's important to learn how to deal with them effectively. In this post, we…
