How We Work

Productivity

Let Yourself Be Unproductive, at Least for a Little While

Peter Bregman on July 5, 2020

I have an impulse, a quiet voice, one that feels deep, profound, and even scary: Stay unproductive.

I have an impulse, a quiet voice, one that feels deep, profound, and even scary: Stay unproductive.

Relationships

Want a Better Life? Create Better Relationships

Peter Bregman on February 4, 2020

Nothing in our lives is more important than how we handle our relationships.

Nothing in our lives is more important than how we handle our relationships.

Education

Learning Is Supposed to Feel Uncomfortable

Peter Bregman on September 3, 2019

“I don’t want to be harsh,” I told her. “But honestly, I wouldn’t trust you as a leader if I didn’t see you learning as a participant.”

“I don’t want to be harsh,” I told her. “But honestly, I wouldn’t trust you as a leader if I didn’t see you learning as a participant.”

Leadership

Develop Leadership Skills In a Low-Risk Environment

Peter Bregman on April 5, 2019

Successful people rarely become better leaders because they know more. They become better leaders because they follow through on what they know.

Successful people rarely become better leaders because they know more. They become better leaders because they follow through on what they know.

Career

Why the Secret to Your Success Lies in Your Quirks

Peter Bregman on March 1, 2019

How successful entrepreneurs seamlessly integrate their quirks into daily life.

How successful entrepreneurs seamlessly integrate their quirks into daily life.

Rationalization

13 Ways We Justify, Rationalize, or Ignore Negative Feedback

Peter Bregman on February 15, 2019

Since feedback often uncovers our blind spots, it’s especially jarring because, in many cases, we thought we were doing a good job. So we don’t immediately agree with it.

Since feedback often uncovers our blind spots, it’s especially jarring because, in many cases, we thought we were doing a good job. So we don’t immediately agree with it.

Leadership

Discover Your Leadership Blind Spots

Peter Bregman on February 14, 2019

Geoff has a blind spot. His version of the world looks different than his team's. He doesn't see what the people around him sees. Which colors everything.

Geoff has a blind spot. His version of the world looks different than his team's. He doesn't see what the people around him sees. Which colors everything.

When I teach time management, I always start with the same question: How many of you have too much time and not enough to do in it? In 10 years, no one has ever raised a hand.

Leadership

Why the Best Leaders Don't Ignore Others

Peter Bregman on January 24, 2019

The discussion was impassioned and heated. And while I had not initiated the debate, I unconsciously slid into an old habit of jumping into the fray. 

The discussion was impassioned and heated. And while I had not initiated the debate, I unconsciously slid into an old habit of jumping into the fray. 

Leadership

The Best Leaders Aren’t Afraid to Ask For Help

Peter Bregman on January 23, 2019

Dazed, bloody, lying on the street, I couldn’t think. Some people asked if I was OK, but I didn’t know. They asked if I needed water, but I didn’t know.

Dazed, bloody, lying on the street, I couldn’t think. Some people asked if I was OK, but I didn’t know. They asked if I needed water, but I didn’t know.

Leadership

Want to Improve? Ask Yourself These Two Questions

Peter Bregman on November 12, 2018

I had coaching ideas, ways I could help him get faster. But I held back my feedback. That’s what he needed in that moment.

I had coaching ideas, ways I could help him get faster. But I held back my feedback. That’s what he needed in that moment.

Leadership

Why Leaders Need to Cultivate Complementary Strengths

Peter Bregman on October 11, 2018

Fear doesn’t bring out the best in people. It mutes their performance as they take fewer risks and make overly conservative, safe choices.

Fear doesn’t bring out the best in people. It mutes their performance as they take fewer risks and make overly conservative, safe choices.

Career

Ask This Essential Question Now to Save Time Later

Peter Bregman on August 6, 2018

How often have you put your heart and soul into something—a sales pitch, a presentation, a letter, or a conversation—only to find that it misses the mark?

How often have you put your heart and soul into something—a sales pitch, a presentation, a letter, or a conversation—only to find that it misses the mark?

Leadership

The Four Elements of Effective Leadership

Peter Bregman on July 16, 2018

No matter your age, your role, your position, your title, your profession, or your status, to get your most important work done, you have to have hard conversations.

No matter your age, your role, your position, your title, your profession, or your status, to get your most important work done, you have to have hard conversations.

Cognition

The Right Way to Respond When Someone Makes a Poor Decision

Peter Bregman on June 28, 2018

“What were you thinking making those trades?” He asked her. Everything after that went downhill. With that first question, it would be hard for it to have gone any other way.

“What were you thinking making those trades?” He asked her. Everything after that went downhill. With that first question, it would be hard for it to have gone any other way.

Fear

How to Lead When You’re Feeling Afraid

Peter Bregman on June 19, 2018

I’d known Jeff (not his real name) for many years, as a client and as a friend, but I’d never seen him so thrown. I could feel his fear and his sense of uncertainty.

I’d known Jeff (not his real name) for many years, as a client and as a friend, but I’d never seen him so thrown. I could feel his fear and his sense of uncertainty.

Career

The Next Time You Want to Complain at Work, Do This Instead

Peter Bregman on May 17, 2018

Why do we complain about other people? Take back the hours you've spend complaining and learn how to use them more productively.

Why do we complain about other people? Take back the hours you've spend complaining and learn how to use them more productively.

Discover your seventh sense for perceiving tipping points, why there’s no “second place” in the connected world of the future, and what you can do to prepare your business.

Discover the five essential qualities of an Extremer, how to tell if you’ve found the career you’re best suited for, and a practice to overcome your fear of failure.

Learn how to make your critical feedback land, navigate the perilous boundary between honesty and obnoxious aggression, and embrace the power of radical candor.