ARTICles
How to cultivate optimism in others
The way we explain the events in our lives, our personal storytelling, and thus how we envision the future, has a huge impact on our resilience and wellbeing. BetterUp’s research finds that people who start out low on optimism see a 68% increase in 3-4 months of coaching. James shared with me how rewarding it is to see this kind of growth amidst crisis. “As they start to recognize how they think of their situation and challenge it, they are in more control. They get back some sense of control, despite the chaos. This allows for optimism to bloom.”
How self-compassion strengthens resilience
Practicing self-compassion may not be second nature to you (and you’re not alone if it doesn’t). But with the right focus and guidance (hint, hint: use those tips above), you can quiet that inner critic and begin not only being nicer to yourself but also turning those things that would’ve flipped you upside down into opportunities to celebrate your humanity and thrive.
The Role of emotional regulation in life (and work)
Happiness. Sadness. Disgust. Fear. Surprise. Anger. Emotions come in all shapes and sizes, don’t they? At times like these, when you’re being asked to flex and bend in new and challenging ways, emotions can vary greatly. And it’d be easy to get stuck in a rut of negative emotions, letting uncertainty dictate your thoughts and actions.
Why cognitive agility matters
In recent years, there’s been a lot of talk about cognitive agility. But, if you’re like many, you may still be scratching your head as you wonder what exactly is it, and – more to the point – are you good at it? And, if you’re not, are there ways to get better at it?
Spoiler Alert: Yes, there are ways to strengthen your cognitive agility… at any time, even during a crisis.
Featured Whitepapers and Reports
This white paper explains how leaders can evaluate AI automation opportunities through a practical, human-centered lens. It explores why many AI pilots fail, how to separate meaningful operational use cases from low-value automation, and what it takes to align AI adoption with governance, workforce readiness, and measurable business outcomes. Using examples from compliance and workforce research, it offers a framework for using AI to expand capacity, improve decision making, and support long-term organizational change.
True star performers drive disproportionate organizational value in a heavy-tailed performance distribution. Because star performance relies heavily on firm-specific ecosystems, external hiring carries a high portability risk that often causes temporary declines.
To unlock exponential value, organizations must look beyond compensation to strategically deploy talent and remove situational constraints. Additionally, leaders should utilize "Psychological Ergonomics™"—a framework addressing human needs for security, growth, and significance—to reduce widespread workplace angst, prevent hidden risks like toxic behaviors, and optimize star retention.
Most AI transformations fail because leaders mistake adaptive human challenges for purely technical ones. Success requires aligning agile processes, quality data, and human capacity. The Human-Centric AI Maturity Model provides a roadmap for building adaptive capacity, enabling organizations to effectively integrate technology, redesign workflows, and foster cultures of continuous learning.
This paper introduces a stage-based framework for intentionally designing, measuring, and evolving organizational culture during business growth. It outlines how scaling leaders must navigate polarities like innovation versus efficiency. By purposefully creating "adaptive space," companies can successfully balance entrepreneurial agility with necessary operational discipline.