Cutting-Edge Leadership

You encounter a particular smell, and it immediately transports you back to an earlier time and to a pleasant memory. Why is the connection between smells and pleasant memories so strong? Read More

Unknown to most of us, there are nonprofit organizations and leaders throughout the world who are working tirelessly to attack social problems and change the world. They engage in common practices that make them successful. Lessons from these social entrepreneurs are also useful for personal success in work careers and in life. Read More

After a heated political discussion, have you ever wondered, "how can someone see the world so differently?" Are liberals and conservatives from "different planets?" The answer may be "Yes!" Read More

A fascinating line of research has looked at how body posture, specifically "power poses" can be used to build a sense of strength and confidence in social situations. A very simple strategy can be used to increase your confidence in stressful situations such as job interviews, negotiations, or when meeting new people. Read More

The title is one of my favorite Peter Drucker quotes. What he is referring to is the fact that common wisdom (what the majority believes is true) is often false. Take for example, that the majority of Americans believe in paranormal phenomena... Read More

Steven Jobs was one of the most successful entrepreneurial leaders of the last half-century. He will likely be remembered as one of business's iconic leaders. Many of my students admire him. That is the problem. Read More

Even the most successful executives, professionals, leaders, and workers can suddenly "go off the track" and ruin their careers. Watch out for these in your own work career. Read More

We've all had bosses who are difficult to deal with. Bosses who are inconsistent or unprofessional, bosses who put you in a no-win situation, backstabbing bosses, or bosses who are downright bullies. Here are four strategies to use to deal with your difficult boss. Read More

All too often, I have heard people say, “Psychology is all common sense.” But here is the problem: For every piece of folk wisdom, there is typically a completely contradictory piece of wisdom. Is it "opposites attract" or "birds of a feather flock together"? Read More

People often mention that their bosses are jerks, but that they are completely unaware of how awfully they treat others. How can that be? How do the jerks get into the system? Why doesn't the company get rid of jerks? Read More

A common misperception is that body language, or nonverbal communication, is a true "language" - that certain nonverbal cues have specific meanings and definitions. Here are 4 common mistakes people make in interpreting body language. Read More

Being a college professor, I often am asked by students (and parents) about the employment possibilities - and salaries - for psychology majors. They are asking the wrong questions. Read More

Why do the rich and powerful, and many of our top-level leaders and the rich and powerful so often seem to screw up, break laws, and engage in outrageous behavior, including sexual escapades? How has abuse of power led to the Joe Paterno and Herman Cain fiascoes? Read More

Recent research evidence suggests that while extraversion is predictive of many positive social outcomes, it may not be extraversion itself that matters. Instead, it may be possession of social skills or competencies that are the better predictors of social outcomes. Let me explain. Read More