If you’ve built a few pieces of IKEA furniture in your time, you might be amused by this quote from company founder Ingvar Kamprad, posted on their website: “IKEA[*] is not the work of one person alone. It is the result of many minds and many souls working together through many years of joy andContinue reading “What IKEA Furniture Does to Your Brain”
Category Archives: Weekly Tips
The Goodness of Humanity
For the last several years, a reliable highlight of the rhythms of my work year is the few weeks in the second half of June and early July. That’s when I run workshops and team building programs for students starting a Summer college experience – as researchers, interns, student leaders, or degree-seeking students. Many ofContinue reading “The Goodness of Humanity”
Stanislav Petrov, the Man Who Saved the World?
Have you heard of Russian lieutenant colonel Stanislav Petrov? Maybe not. Or do you recognize his name in Russian, Станислав Петров? Unlikely. His name is not widely known around the world, and yet he may well have saved it – by doing nothing! Or more correctly, by disobeying orders and choosing not to take action. Petrov’s monumentalContinue reading “Stanislav Petrov, the Man Who Saved the World?”
Workplace Takeaways from the World Cup
How many FIFA World Cup games have you watched so far this year? Do you have a particular team you’re rooting for, or do you just get caught up in the spectacle of the whole thing? More than quarter of a century ago, I studied at the University of Glasgow for my joint undergrad andContinue reading “Workplace Takeaways from the World Cup”
Power of the People > the People in Power
“Power to the People!” John Lennon sang in 1971, bringing music to a slogan that had been chanted and shouted by young people across the US to protest the Vietnam War over the previous few years. Meanwhile, “All Power to the People” was also being chanted by the Black Panthers to protest what they perceivedContinue reading “Power of the People > the People in Power”
The Anti-AI Revolution at 2026 Graduations
I might pay attention to graduation speeches each year more than the average person. Despite missing my own graduation to work overseas, and sitting in torrential rain during for my graduate degree commencement ceremony a few years later, I then had the joy of working at Harvard University’s commencement ceremonies for more than a decade,Continue reading “The Anti-AI Revolution at 2026 Graduations”
Stephen Colbert and the Art of Adjourning
As you might know, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ended last week, bringing to a close Colbert’s own 11-year run on the show, as well as The Late Show‘s 33-year run (which began with host David Letterman), and a history of TV variety shows in the same theater dating back to the early 1950s.Continue reading “Stephen Colbert and the Art of Adjourning”
Need a Little Eurovision?
Regarde! Have you been dancing on the tables to “Jalla” by Antigoni from Cyprus? Joining Akylas from Greece to “Ferto” (“Bring It”)? Or maybe you’ve learned Danish to croon along with Søren Torpegaard Lund on “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”)? If this means nothing to you, you might not be familiar withContinue reading “Need a Little Eurovision?”
Extracting Value When Things Go Wrong
Working with groups is never dull. Think of a time or twelve when a group you’re working with has surprised you in some way – for better or worse. Perhaps a person you wouldn’t have expected took charge, or the group came up with surprising ideas, or people had a strong reaction to something thatContinue reading “Extracting Value When Things Go Wrong”
Being a Mental Health Ally for Others (and for Yourself!)
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, each year millions of Americans (as many as 1 in 5) experience mental illness. In the past, many of us might have believed that mental health was a concern only for those with mental illness, but living through a lengthy pandemic, and all the stresses and repercussionsContinue reading “Being a Mental Health Ally for Others (and for Yourself!)”
Building Bridges Leadership 