Whitepapers

The ability to manage your emotions and remain calm under pressure has a direct link to your performance. TalentSmart has conducted research with more than a million people, and we’ve found that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. If you've followed my work, you’ve read some startling research…

What does success mean to you? For many of us, success at work used to mean a cushy six-figure salary, a fancy job title and a corner office. The goal was to climb the corporate ladder and lie low until you collect your retirement benefits. These days, employees can’t count on a “job for life.” Few companies promise job security and generous benefits packages. Employees don’t…

It’s often experience that helps a professional get their foot in the door at a new job. But it takes more than skill alone to be truly impactful at most organizations. Companies across numerous industries are looking for candidates who are tactful, communicative, reliable and generally pleasant to work with — they’re looking for professionalism. The way you appear and behave…

Whether you call it a grin, smirk, beam or smile, there’s no denying the feel-good power of this happy facial expression. We are born with the ability to smile, yet as we age, we smile less often. Research shows that children smile an average of 400 times per day, compared to the average happy adult who smiles 40-50 times per day and the typical adult who smiles only 20 times per day. Why…

Modern "professionalism" should be defined by strategy, execution, and honesty.   In the workplace of the past, professionalism was closely associated with prestige, tenure and inside-baseball. But nowadays, we tie professionalism directly to the competence or skill expected of a professional. At least, we do in Silicon Valley. I learned early on at PeopleSoft and even more so…