Harvard and MIT negotiation experts: How to say 'no' without making things awkward
"Never Settle" authors John Richardson and Attia Qureshi share their best advice for how to say "no" and still keep the door open on your terms. Source link
I’ve studied highly creative people for 40 years—4 phrases they never say
All of us are imaginative as kids. But as adults, when we wrestle with issues that demand innovation, it can feel like that spark of creativity has disappeared. I’ve studied creativity for over 40 years as an educator, writer and consultant. I’ve written over 180 books, including two about how to navigate the obstacles that […]
Stop saying ‘how was your weekend?’ Do this instead, says public speaking expert
I was standing at a hotel coffee station last month, holding a tiny porcelain creamer shaped like a cow, when a stranger walked up next to me and said: “Hello.” My brain went completely blank. I couldn’t even summon a “how about this weather?” level of reply. If you’ve ever had that moment, you’re in […]
This body language move makes you look ‘closed off’—how to do it right: Stanford communication expert
If you’ve ever read a negotiation book or taken a communication workshop, you’ve likely heard of “mirroring”: subtly copying another person’s body language to build rapport. They lean in, you lean in. They smile, you smile. The idea is intuitive. We like people who are similar to us, and physical synchrony signals connection and shared understanding. […]
How to tell if you have AQ, the new ‘non-negotiable’ skill highly successful people have
More than 100 years ago IQ, or intelligence quotient, established what it means to be intelligent. Then came along EQ, which broadened the meaning with emotional intelligence. Both were helpful frameworks for the time and context which they emerged, but now our world in-flux demands something new: AQ (Agility Quotient), which I define as the […]
5 signs you’re overparenting—and how to raise resilient kids
It’s a familiar scene: Your kid is stuck on a problem or upset about a situation. Before they’ve even finished explaining, you swoop in with solutions. That’s what good parents do, right? But when rescuing becomes routine, it undermines the skills kids need to build confidence and resilience. As a clinical psychologist who works with […]
These ‘powerful behaviors’ make a big difference
Certain people seem so effortlessly influential, they make you wonder if they were born with some magical quality. But after researching human behavior for 15 years, I have good news. Influence is a set of learnable actions, not a fixed personality trait. In my book, “Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the […]
Stop asking ‘How was school today?’ To raise successful kids, ask 7 questions instead
“My child won’t tell me anything about their day!” It’s a common concern I hear from parents in my psychotherapy office. They’re hoping to gain a glimpse into their child’s world. But asking “How was school today?” usually leads to a one-word answer. As a therapist and the author of “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents […]
How to say ‘no’—and get them to listen
Saying “no” is essential in parenting. But setting limits shouldn’t start and end with that one word. As a certified child life specialist and licensed therapist, I know that saying “no” is meant to help kids feel safe, supported, and understood. I often help kids understand: “Your parents aren’t saying ‘no’ to control you, they’re […]
How to handle bad chemistry in a job interview
You’ve prepped, practiced, and put on your best blazer. But within minutes of walking into your job interview, something feels off. The energy is flat, the conversation stilted, or the interviewer seems distracted. Bad chemistry happens. The good news is that while you can’t control the interviewer’s mood, you can control how you show up. […]