Some people become more confident and decisive when they step into leadership roles. Others become louder, less receptive, and harder to reach. Over time, I’ve noticed how power can subtly reshape how people lead and not always for the better.

Strong relationships grow from small daily interactions. Recognizing and responding to bids strengthens trust, engagement, and leadership.

Self-awareness is a critical skill for success, yet research suggests most people aren’t as self-aware as they think. According to Dr....

Many individuals struggle to find fulfillment in their work, often questioning whether jobs can provide meaning beyond financial stability.

Intrapersonal communication is more than just a stream of consciousness; it is the foundation of our self-awareness and emotional regulation

From an early age, many of us are taught to view career success through the lens of pay and promotion. This perspective, which is deeply ingrained in our cultural fabric, positions financial gain and hierarchical advancement as the primary objectives of professional life. Society, media, and even educational narratives have long championed this view, painting a picture of success that emphasizes ascending the corporate ladder and achieving monetary wealth as the hallmarks of

One of my favorite books when I was a child was The Little Engine That Could . I still have the worn-out copy my mother read to me, and I...

Many of my childhood memories involve some kind of competition with my older brother. From soccer in the backyard, to swimming races in...

My career is immensely fulfilling. I am able to engage with insightful students and colleagues, present at conferences, and empower professionals in their communication journeys. Yet, amidst these rewarding experiences, I often grapple with a distinct feeling: awareness of the scarcity of time. You might also struggle with the feeling of not having enough - be it time, money, love or opportunities. The psychology of this concept reveals that scarcity generates a sense of urge

At about the midpoint of the last semester, a student enrolled in one of my classes stopped by my office. After a few minutes of small talk, she said, “I’m really stressed right now because I’m failing your class.” After suggesting there must be some mistake, I checked the gradebook and confirmed that her average was a B. Then it dawned on me that, to her, B-level work was the equivalent of failing. Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, striving for exce

I recently met with a student who had a problem that most soon-to-be graduates would love to have: he had two job offers. He began by telling me a little bit about both opportunities. Offer A Offer B Well-known company Lesser-known company 80-90 hour workweek 50-60 hour workweek Above-average starting salary Average starting salary Competitive environment Supportive environment Four hours from hometown Close to hometown Unknown supervisor Supervisor known for mentorship

The idea of a bucket list - things a person hopes to experience before they die - was popularized in the 2007 film The Bucket List. In...

Think of an interaction that has gone well for both you and the person you were communicating with. Now think of an interaction that didn’t go as well as you would have liked. In the first interaction, you were likely communicating from above the line. In the second, you were likely communicating from below the line. When we communicate from above the line, we are open to new ideas, we ask questions, and we are committed to growth and learning. Conversely, when we communicate

My first 40 hour a week job was painting college dormitories the summer I turned 15. A combination of the manual labor and repetitiveness of the tasks reinforced my desire to go to college, but there were a few things about that job that I really enjoyed. In addition to interacting with a wide variety of interesting people and learning a useful trade, I learned a lesson about the rhythm of work. Being a painter involves more than painting. We could only paint after we moved t

Most meetings aren't memorable, but I recall attending one where an important topic was on the agenda, and I knew leaders within the organization attended with the intent to listen. However, when the dialogue headed in a direction that made one leader uncomfortable, he stopped listening and made a variety of statements I suspect he wishes he could take back. We’ve all been there. I’ve earned two degrees in communication, read books about listening, attended workshops on liste

Aligning your values with your work impacts your job satisfaction and health. Research from McKinsey has found that “people who say they are ‘living their purpose’ at work report levels of well-being that are five times higher than those of people who aren’t.” Not surprisingly, these individuals are also more engaged in their work. McKinsey developed a matrix based on nine personal values that are recognized across cultures. I recreated the matrix below. The horizontal axis r

Many of my students secure full time employment at highly respected companies when they graduate. Stable jobs with generous employee...

My career choice gives me the opportunity to speak in front of a wide variety of audiences from students to executives. After all these...

My favorite game when I was a young child was Candy Land. I’m told that I had a habit of cheating to ensure my gingerbread man was the...

Not knowing can be unsettling. Our tendency is to try to get through these times as quickly as possible, but as Danaan Parry suggests in...