Best-Practices Leadership

Reinvigorate leadership with this out-of-the-box question

December 8, 2017
Although the spirited year-end holidays are long gone, I’m still hearing a festive jingle … except, this time the sound is coming from my dog’s tags. Eager myself for the mental exercise of calmly planning the upcoming workday, we step out into the early-morning world.

The future is now

December 5, 2017

Understand that our knowledge of disruptive technology is not really about what’s going to happen in the future. It’s happening now.

Influencing the world in a tiny way

December 1, 2017

Think emojis aren’t very important in the grand scheme of things? Consider Jessica Morrison’s view of them. She’s editor of Chemical and Engineering News and co-author of a plan to introduce nine new science-themed emojis to the existing 1300 Unicode-approved characters we all know better day after day.

6 ways to create and keep a top-notch leadership team

October 20, 2017
“The whole is better than the sum of its parts.” Aristotle said this an eon ago and it still holds true today. This is particularly important when putting together a high-functioning leadership team.

Does this shirt make me look unmotivated?

October 20, 2017
Q: When we’re up against a crunch deadline, our CEO tries to bolster our confidence by giving us a T-shirt with “YGT” on it. It stands for “You Got This.” I don’t need to be told I can tackle a tough challenge. I do need better support—more resources, more time, more cooperation from the CEO. Can I rip up my shirt?

Don’t let bigwig use personality test as an excuse

September 20, 2017
Q. I work closely with the owner of a consulting firm. He’ll only let people ask a question, not explain what’s going on. He says that’s just his personality (he says he’s a “D” and an “I”) and his style is normal for his personality type. It’s driving me crazy. What good is it to have me here if I can’t provide information on the status of projects or situations?

Startup fever: Undone by ambition?

September 18, 2017
A recent spate of trouble for high-profile startups may have the business world rethinking Silicon Valley’s magic.

Welcome dissent from everyone

August 25, 2017
The highlight of engineering firm Burns & McDonnell’s Principals Day is when the CEO presents a specific business problem to the 120-year-old company’s top employees and gives them one hour to come up with five potential solutions.

12 inspirational bumper stickers about innovative thinking

August 14, 2017

We guarantee that you’ll feel emboldened to think more creatively and ambitiously when you get a look at these bite-sized reflections on innovation.

One man’s bold push for recognition

August 14, 2017
In the late 1800s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture under James Wilson was setting up scientific research stations all over the country. George Washington Carver put in a bid for a black research station.