Selfie sticks should be banned for massaging our self-obsession
It is just over 100 years since Sigmund Freud’s polemical claim that narcissism is not only a normal, but also an ubiquitous, personality trait. “Loving oneself,” he argued, is the “libidinal complement to the egoism of the instinct of self-preservation”. In other words, we have evolved as selfish animals because our self-love is part of our […]
Gender as an asset and a liability in leadership
Following the September 16th GOP debate and the October 13th Democratic debate, political pundits praised the performance of the two female candidates, Carly Fiorina and Hillary Clinton. An online article published by The Atlantic noted that Carly Fiorina won the GOP debate “largely because she skillfully exploited the thing that is both her biggest liability and, potentially, her biggest […]
Donald trump is proof that authenticity doesn’t make you a better leader
Most people love the idea that authenticity is a key ingredient of effective leadership. They also can’t understand the popularity of Donald Trump, the most authentic politician in the world right now. This creates a considerable cognitive dissonance: are authentic leadership theories wrong, or is The Donald destined to be the greatest president of the […]
The scientific benefits of mind-wandering
Feeling distracted? Suffering from information overload? You’ve probably heard more than once that you need to “get in the zone” and stop juggling so many thoughts at once. To cope with it all, some people try social media sabbaticals, digital detoxes, or spiritual retreats. Others try yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. The assumption, at any rate, is that […]
Decision Maker: The Chess Player
If you’ve ever been in awe of someone who can put aside short-term gains in order to out-maneuver a strategic opponent in the long run, you’re not alone. As an ambitious, impulsive, hedonist who also enjoys a good big picture debate, it’s hard for me to imagine how my own insatiable interest in maximizing gains […]
Why Are Selection Assessments So Scary?
In June, an article in Time magazine delved into the use of assessments in employee selection. It wasn’t the first time the mainstream media has found a story in assessments, and it probably won’t be the last. The article added some interesting thoughts to the ongoing dialogue, providing examples of companies that use assessments and why they […]
Can Asian Leaders Have Both Authority and Humility?
What makes for an engaging leader, and why is the study of leadership so often misguided? These were the questions being asked at an event hosted by Sirotaand Hogan Assessment Systems last week, in which these two companies – arguably the pioneers of employee engagement surveys and personality profiling – discussed what is holding back Singaporean […]
Employee Development: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3
The two keys to success when it comes to running an effective business are money and people. Organizations tend to recognize that money is important to running a successful business, but often times they fail to focus on the people side of the equation. Unfortunately when companies do consider the people side they often get […]
Recruiting across Cultures – One Size Does Not Fit All
When scaling out a talent management program such as a wide-screening selection initiative, ensuring accurate interpretation of candidates’ assessment results across a team of recruiters is challenging in and of itself. That challenge is immeasurably amplified when these candidates hail from different regions and cultures, where expectations on an employee can vary wildly from those […]
Embrace the Negative
Anyone on the receiving end of negative feedback knows that it’s a blow to the ego. Although most of us say we want honest critique, what we really hope is for a “job well done” and a pat on the back. Unfortunately, constant positivity can distort your perception of your talents and, ultimately, derail your […]