We can be better leaders if we understand that unconsciously, as humans we will always seek to increase our status in society.
This need has existed since prehistoric times. According to researcher David Rock, from the time that humans started living together in groups, increasing their status has been as important as getting food.
Modern research has identified a chemical relationship between increases or decreases in status and our neuronal network. When status increases, so do the levels of neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and positive emotions, and stress-related ones are reduced, augmenting our feeling of security and strength.
Far too often we dismiss Machiavelli’s legacy because we associate it with the idea of reaching power at any cost.
We feel we live in a society where competition is not so evident or brutal as in Machiavelli’s times. However, under the disguise of today’s good manners and civility, there’s a strong, and growing trend of competition and rivalry. As business become more global, competition becomes harder and fiercer, and we must deal with many dangers and challenges, developing a state of mind and strategies to succeed in a hostile environment.
"All human interaction involves negotiation, from children to relationships, from work to travel, from politics to diplomacy."
Stuart Diamond, of the Wharton School of Negotiation, explains that although negotiation processes are always present, almost everyone does not negotiate properly and we tend to create conflict rather than solve problems.
The professor shared with Bnet.com the best possible strategies to get what you want:
A list of seven signs to look out for in order to stop you, your boss and your peers becoming bad managers.
Bad managers are often blissfully unaware that they are underperforming. Steve Tobak writing for bnet.com suggests the following tips for identifying when you need to take a long hard look at yourself.
1. Your group is underperforming: very often can be traced back to a management issue.
Although many people feel uncomfortable with the concept, personal branding is becoming more and more important for professional success.
Many people feel comfortable with it, and practice the art of personal marketing and branding in an almost intuitive way. But there are many others who don’t like to stand out from the crowd.
However, personal branding is necessary, and not just on a personal level, as it is becoming very important in the corporate world.
Bnet celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Post-It Note and extracted tips from its invention.
Margaret Heffman remembered how the Post-It Note was invented, and how it went from an idea deemed without potential to a massive commercial hit. A pillar of this was Geoff Nicholson and his stubbornness in believing in the project’s potential while his bosses did not.
10 commandments for having a successful career in the media industry.
Phil Cooke, editor of The Change Revolution, shared 10 tips given by his friend, publicist David Morgenstern. They are not exclusive to the media industry, as they are useful to those who want to reach further, no matter their industry.
1) Return every call and e-mail quickly. Show up on time, even if you're the only one there. Dress like you deserve your salary…
Speaking in public can be an exciting experience. It is also a good way of increasing your personal reputation and helping your company.
Most independent professionals and small business owners must –either we like it or not- spend a substantial amount of time making commercialization efforts. To capture clients, we are constantly in the need of developing and promoting our brand and products.
A bad mood is a positive condition when we need think clearly or systematically persuade someone.
A study by the University of New South Wales, in Australia, found that a mild negative mood can help us think in more careful and systematic ways.
Professor Forgas, author of the study, explains: "Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, cooperation, and reliance on mental shortcuts, sadness triggers more attentive, careful thinking. People pay greater attention to the external world."
Even if we have the experience, qualifications and aptitudes for the job, some errors in the interview may quickly put us out of the race.
In her article in Bnet.com, Adriana Gardella lists 7 common - and fatal - mistakes made at job interviews.
1. Drop your guard in front of “the help.” Employers know that job seekers interact with receptionists and other support staffers — often with their guards down, so they routinely ask these employees for feedback.
Find out if your candidate has the required characteristics for the job even before they enter your office.
Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon, authors of the business book 'I Hate People!', assure you can learn a lot about potential employees just by watching them cross the street. The lesson here is that everything counts for determining a candidate's personality.
5 tips on how to write an email, and 5 mistakes to avoid.
We don't need a Literature Nobel Prize to communicate using e-mail, and, in any case, Shakespeare himself could make the mistake of YELLING to a friend, or incorrectly typing a word.
What to do
1 - Highlight important information in bold.
2 - If action is required, say so at the start of the e-mail.