It is rumored that in the late 1800s the famed psychologist William James was invited to speak at a conference about the history of psychology and its role as an emerging science…
Read More
Ryan Stelzer sits down with the Seize the Moment Podcast to discuss toxic workplace environments, how they relate to depression and anxiety, the step by step process of creating more effective communication, the necessity of fostering psychological safety for innovation, how philosophy can be used practically to create better leaders and team members, how embracing your ability to be proactive can positively affect your work culture, the negative financial affects of limiting beliefs and the importance of shifting thinking to one’s aspirational beliefs, how building rapport can contribute to the desire to receive feedback, and why the fear of letting someone down is more effective than the fear of punishment.
Read MoreSee Dr. Brendel on the Seize the Moment video podcast where he discusses the significance of slowing down your thinking process to make better choices, how your mindset can prevent you from being an effective leader, and embracing new models of thought.
Read MoreRyan Stelzer earned a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago. He is now cofounder of Strategy of Mind, a consulting firm that improves business performance using the tools of philosophy. He is the author of “Why I Left Management Consulting to Start a Philosophy Company,” for which he also delivered a TEDx. His book on the role of active inquiry in professional life will be released by PublicAffairs next year.
Read MoreThere has been an explosion over the past several years in the number of individuals identifying themselves as professional coaches. The International Coach Federation (ICF) estimated that the number of coaches worldwide increased from 47,500 in 2011 to 53,300 in 2018. Approximately 1/3 of those coaches (over 17,000) work in the United States.
Read MorePsychological safety is the interpersonal dynamic in which each team member feels encouraged and empowered to share ideas and insights proactively, without trepidation or worry about negative judgment or disparagement…
Read MoreEver thought about working four days a week?
Here’s why you might consider it: The Four Day Workweek
Read MoreIn Venezuelan folklore there is a story of a wealthy man who takes his family on vacation to a tropical island. Once they arrive, they make their way down to the beach and are met by a smiling sunburnt local holding a guitar. The man with the guitar asks the wealthy out of towner: “What do you do?” “I work in business in the city,” the foreigner replies. Unmoved, the man on the beach continues, “and why do you do what you do?” Confused for a moment, the businessman tells him honestly, “well, so I can make a lot of money.” “And why do you want to make a lot of money?” asks the man with the guitar. “So I can sit on the beach with my family,” responds the businessman. Smiling, the man on the beach then looks back at the man from out of town and says, “well that’s what I do.”
Read MoreUS companies spend over $70 billion annually on training and development expenses, ranging from in-person seminars to online programs. Only a small percentage of individuals, however, have access to the customized services of an executive leadership coach. The costs of individual coaching are so high (up to $3,500 hourly) that only a select few can access and benefit from the service for their leadership development and career growth.
Read MoreDuring a recent dinner I had the good fortune of sitting across from a successful Founder/CEO in the biotech space. The company, less than a decade old, was enjoying its second round of funding and growing at an exponential rate. Despite this overwhelming success, the CEO seemed a bit flustered having just come from a meeting with prospective investors. “I know what we do, what we make,” he said, “but I’m not sure what I do; I don’t know what my role is.”
Read MoreTwenty-first century leadership training can benefit from a comprehensive framework rooted in emerging scientific knowledge. The Human Quotient (HQ) is an overarching model with three interwoven components. The “quotient” can be defined as “proactive” divided by “reactive,” as manifested in three key areas of human experience and performance: cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal...
Read MoreLeadership training programs aim to foster a broad range of cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal skills that executives and managers must master to help their companies thrive and grow. The list of skills that managers and leaders must develop can be daunting and overwhelming. Among others, they include strategic thinking, priority-setting, delegation, executive presence, nonverbal communication and collaboration.
Read MoreThe Human Quotient (HQ) is a metric for workplace success that is useful in executive coaching and leadership development programs. HQ is an evidence based model for leadership development that is defined as “proactive” divided by “reactive.” The numerator and denominator both have critical cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal components. Leaders with high HQ are far more proactive than reactive in all three domains.
Read MoreThere is little evidence that corporate mindfulness training improves business results.The outsize growth of mindfulness training in workplace settings over the past few years is perturbing and unjustified, given the dearth of clear and convincing evidence that such programs propel business growth. In fact, in many instances, applying mindfulness strategies at work may be counterproductive—even if credentialed experts deliver the training.
Read MoreGlobalization and technology have changed the way the world works, as jobs are increasingly consolidated or digitized. Despite improved technologies and efficiency enhancements, more work is not getting done. Of the myriad of data points from Deloitte’s 2017 Bersin Report, which analyzes global business trends and makes predictions for the future, one passage perfectly summarizes the lengthy document for HR professionals. The strategy for the future, according to Deloitte, should be to “move HR from a ‘personnel department’ to a new role as the ‘consultant in human performance.’”
Read MoreAs we near the end of Black History Month, I would like to share a recent experience I had while visiting the District. After a December business meeting, I decided to walk over to the National Gallery to visit a favorite exhibit. On the way over, I passed the newly constructed Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which was still under construction when I moved from the D.C. area to Boston...
Read MoreMy first day working in financial services began in a familiar fashion: impostor syndrome. I didn’t belong there, and by the end of the day somebody would surely figure out that I in fact knew nothing (something my philosophy degree continually reinforced). I remember walking into my very first meeting and perfectly articulating in my mind why I was most certainly in over my head...
Read MoreWhen individual contributors are tapped to manage large-scale projects, oversee direct reports, or participate in strategic planning, they need to develop new skill sets on the fly — skills such as interpersonal dexterity, emotional agility, and communication savvy. As important as these leadership skills are, just as important to the leadership transition is learning to let go of old ways of thinking, and relaxing into the role.
Read MoreA daunting challenge facing many workers is developing the skills necessary to function as effective managers and strategic leaders. Success at task-oriented work in nearly any kind of company may lead to promotion into a leadership position, where the skills needed for success are very different. Hard work and mastery of technical skills no longer suffice and, in fact, may impede success in leadership roles that depend on social intelligence, collaboration, trustworthiness, persuasive communication, and a capacity to present oneself as confident, poised, and relaxed.
Read MoreMy long and winding road to a career in executive coaching almost never happened.
College at Yale was beyond the means of my family. Having grown up in a Jewish family on Long Island, assumptions were that money was not an issue for someone like me. In my senior year of high school, after my acceptance to Yale, I dragged my mother (who at the same age had lost the opportunity for a college education after her parents died) to New Haven to meet with the head of financial aid about a better package of scholarships and loans. I knew that I'd have to enter that meeting with confidence, clarity, and poise...
Read More