People Skills

Co-opting the Power of the Toxic Boss

I just read a great article by Richard Boyatzis detailing the brain science behind “emotional contagion.” I find this particularly interesting in the context of corporate culture, having observed some pretty toxic bosses “infect” their staffs and encourage cultures where competition, backstabbing, emotional abuse and just plain incompetence were so rampant that you could feel the powerlessness and despair when you walked in the door.

The good news is that the ability to emotionally infect your staff and teams can be used for good by leaders who understand their responsibility to foster a positive environment and culture where others are in their power and able to perform at their best. To be a good leader, then, you need to…

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Do You Confuse Emotions with Emotional Intelligence (EQ?)

Key Takeaways: Emotional intelligence isn’t about suppressing feelings—it’s about understanding them. EQ isn’t the absence of emotion; it’s the skill of recognizing emotions (yours and others’) and responding to them in a way that’s constructive, not reactive. Strong emotions don’t mean someone’s...

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How To Deal With A Jerk At Work

Key Takeaways: Jerks at work are energy vampires—don’t let them drain you. They’re out there slamming doors and yelling, but your power lies in how you respond, not react. Don’t take it personally (yes, really). Their behavior is about them, not you—and when you stop buying into their opinions,...

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The Upside of Office Politics

Key Takeaways: Feeling like a victim of office politics is more common than you think—but staying stuck in that mindset keeps you from recognizing your power and learning the rules of the game. Office politics isn’t evil; it’s just human dynamics in action—who gets to decide what, how praise is...

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Feedback Coaching: How to Get Results with “Tough Love”

Key Takeaways: Balance empathy with clarity: While empathy is crucial, over-empathizing can prevent leaders from delivering clear feedback. Leaders need to ensure their feedback is understood without being overly soft or accommodating. Effective leaders use a spectrum of management styles: Great...

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How to Deal with Annoying People

Key Takeaways: Choose your battles wisely: Sometimes staying silent is stronger than reacting, especially when the situation is petty. Not every conflict deserves your energy, so reserve it for the things that truly matter. Silence can shift the energy: When confronted by a jerk, resist the urge...

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Can you get to the top without playing office politics?

Office politics is as much a part of work as drawing a salary. And yet, I don’t know anyone who wants more of it. In fact, many clients come to me because they feel stymied in their career advancement goals because they perceive “office politics” to be getting in their way. People blame office...

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How to Delegate: 3 Tips for Letting Go Of Control

One of the first leadership and management lessons most of us learn is how to delegate - and battle that old "control" instinct. Why is it first? Because leaders don't scale unless they delegate well and you have to scale if you're going to have a big impact. Andria has some great advice for...

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The Impact of Poor Leadership on Burnout & Job Satisfaction

Burnout is a work-related process of chronic stress and disengagement and has been called the occupational hazard of the 21st century.  The formula for job burnout is simple:  too many job demands, too few job resources, and not enough recovery or time to re-charge your batteries.  Burnout impacts...

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