Posts in Leadership and Influence
The problem with positivity

Increases in life satisfaction and resilience have been linked to positive emotions. Other research suggests that there is a continuous and positively reinforcing relationship between positive social connections, positive emotions, and physical wellbeing. A social cognitive perspective of emotion highlights that emotional contagion - the spread of positive or negative emotional states from one person to another and throughout a group - is a very real phenomenon, and the overall affective tone of a group has been linked to performance. My own PhD research (in progress!) is exploring some of this, looking at how different emotions and affective experiences sit within leadership models and consequently relate to outcomes.

But in recent years I’ve definitely pulled back on the all-in-positivity. (Needless to say, I don’t use that sign anymore, either.)

The problem with positivity is not positivity itself. I think the issue is that, particularly in recent decades, we tend to have begun framing positivity as an isolated concept. But it’s not.

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You Should Read This… But it’s Up to You

…Alas, as much as this article seems to be heading towards big, deep topics, it will not get heavy. There’ll be no thoughts on governance or inherent human freedoms or cultural shifts or the best way to combat a virus. So, don’t worry about that.

Instead, I want to move us to a comparatively minuscule space; a theory in psychology that has probably been having a grand ole time playing in our brains this year.​

Because as restrictions rise and fall, our brains respond. And how people react to perceived threats to their autonomy can be pretty interesting…

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How to Remember Someone’s Name (and Why it's Important)

“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie.

Implicit egotism is the notion that people are drawn to things – people, locations, anything really – that we associate with the self.

As a teeny example, when I would play Mortal Kombat when I was younger, I would only play as the character Sonia.

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Kindness is a Tool of Persuasion

As much as the Greek Gods were divine, they also demonstrated very human traits. Case in point: Their relationship with humans wasn’t unconditional and all-loving. It was reciprocal.

Reciprocation is a known principle of influence today. In Robert Cialdini’s classic work, Influence, he describes it as one of the most pervasive human behaviours across history.

Reciprocity is at work when someone does us a favour or kindness, and we feel obliged to give something back in return.

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How the Paradox of Choice is Wasting Your Time

The paradox of choice is a paradox because we assume that more choices are necessarily a good thing. If I’m a business and I offer more options to my customers, I’d anticipate better sales results. If you’re staying in on a Friday night and want to watch a movie, you’d think that having thousands of movies available through streaming services would be a convenient and helpful service.

And while having choices can be empowering, having too many choices can be a hindrance.

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On Productivity: Decision Fatigue and Crappy Afternoons

We have a limited amount of energy for decision-making, so minimising the peripheral choices we would otherwise add to the mix can help us focus on more important things. Otherwise, by the time evening rolls around, we end up irritable and exhausted. You could find yourself at the tail end of the workday, making dumb concessions in a negotiation. Or, you could be so mentally drained that you give in to your impulse to order too much junk food from UberEats. Lowered inhibitions and stupid choices because our brain is done and over it.

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Panic Buying: What’s behind it?

Toilet paper. Who knew.

And with all the accusations of people being horrible and selfish, I felt the need to chime in with some potential behavioural science-based reasons influencing why panic buying is one of the many odd things happening since we hopped on this Coronacoaster in March of 2020.

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Leadership Reveals Itself in Times of Crisis

As we all navigate these – dare I say it? Has anyone said it yet? – unprecedented times, leadership is more important than ever. Leaders around the world in politics, business and life are being challenged to navigate through this very strange a lá plague period and keep the people who rely on them afloat. It is times like this, when we are in crisis, that leadership reveals itself: Who is actually demonstrating leadership, and who is trying to cover themselves until this whole thing blows over?

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My Dog is a Certified Life Coach (And Why It Matters)

As a trainer and facilitator, I work in an industry that’s largely unregulated. When it comes to coaching, there are different bodies out there, but ultimately it’s not really difficult for anyone – even my dog Ted, to call themselves a coach.

Did we cheat the system a little, Ted and I? Yes. And one hopes that most people would go through even these short courses with a lot more thoroughness than we did together. But the point remains the same. The regulations simply aren’t there.

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