June 2017 – Melissa Williams-Gurian

23Jun 2017 by melissa No Comments

Three Engaging Summer Reads On Current Workplace Topics

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Looking for a beach (or back porch) read for summer that is thoughtful as well as entertaining? I recommend the following three books because, while they aren't business books, they address topics that are currently buzzy workplace issues with wisdom, while also being engaging. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn Many businesses are incorporating mindfulness into their workplace culture. Perhaps more of us are searching for how to be in the here and now and be connected with one another in this hectic era? Kabat-Zinn’s book, published in 1994, has sold over 750,000 copies, and today there is a lot of research supporting the benefits of mindfulness meditation as a way to increase focus, lower stress, and otherwise benefit our lives. Kabat-Zinn’s…

13Jun 2017 by melissa No Comments

Do You Need to Be Liked As a Leader?

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Machiavelli posed the question several centuries ago: is it better to be loved or feared? Leaders have debated the issue ever since. The Florentine politician himself came down on the side of fear. It is very difficult, he said, to be a leader who is both loved and feared, so if you have to choose one, fear is the safer choice. I don’t believe that fear-based leadership is successful long-term. On the other hand, I find that a need to be liked—or loved—can impede a leader’s decision-making. In fact, some research indicates that the most highly-successful leaders don’t invest much energy in being liked. These individuals can withstand criticism and even bold resistance if they believe they are making the right decision. In a January 2017 article in Entrepreneur, Do…