Sebastian Dieguez, a researcher in neuroscience at the University of Fribourg, opposes those who criticize new technologies (The Lift Conference, 2013, 33:04 minutes) New technologies are often blamed for a variety of ills: intellectual laziness, loss of analytical and systematic thinking skills, narcissism, addiction, and even loneliness. However, Sebastian Dieguez, a neuroscientist at the UniversityRead more…

Lane Becker and Thor Muller divide businesses into two categories: companies that are lucky and companies that aren’t… just yet. According to them, luck doesn’t strike at random: it smiles first and foremost on people who are prepared for it. The authors’ advice to leaders is to develop their abilities to unearth new opportunities andRead more…

Prasad Kaipa, coauthor of From Smart to Wise and Roger Lehman, professor of entrepreneurship at INSEAD, share their vision of wise leadership in “The Wise Leader” (INSEAD, January 2013, 11:05 minutes). How can brilliant, effective leaders create truly global value? According to Navi Radjou and Prasad Kaipa, coauthors of From Smart to Wise (Jossey-Bass, MarchRead more…

Why is it so difficult to have a clear strategic vision? Nate Silver says information overload is a major obstacle to accurate prediction today. The challenge for you as a business leader is finding “the signal in the noise” by honing your critical thinking skills and leveraging the company’s collective intelligence. 1. More information meansRead more…

How do leading companies leverage social media networks to attract talent and boost recruitment campaigns? Starbucks: Promoting the work environment on Instagram Former head of employer branding Jeremy Langhans (now with Expedia) started using Instagram to attract job candidates in 2011. A firm believer in Instagram’s engagement potential, Langhans had in-house recruiters post pictures ofRead more…

Based on Zeronauts by John Elkington (Routledge, 2012). By the middle of the current century, there will be 9 billion people on the planet. This demands fundamental changes in perspectives, mentalities, behaviors, cultures, and overall paradigm. According to John Elkington, we have reached the end of an era characterized by rapid population growth. People’s aspirationsRead more…

On average, you spend a third of your workday in meetings. Meanwhile, “real” work piles up, leading to endless catch up and discouragement. According to an Epson study, in 2011 in the UK alone, unproductive meetings cost companies $41 billion dollars. Is there a cure for the “meetingitis” that continues to plague companies? 1. LackRead more…

Under the direction of Anne Vermès (Eyrolles, March 2013). Our selection: “I propose to design a castle where you will be able to show the best of yourself.” When Nicolas Fouquet, finance minister of Louis XIV, employed the architect Le Vau to build the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte, a masterpiece of sophistication and boldness, he managedRead more…

Habits may determine a considerable part of our everyday behavior, but it’s not impossible to change them. By identifying and deciphering your daily rituals and conditioned reflexes, you can learn to control them. It’s possible to change your habits to become more effective as well as inspiring the desired changes in behavior in your teams!Read more…

by Sheryl Sandberg (Knopf, March 2013) Our selection: Why are only 21 large American companies run by women, when they represent more than 60% of master’s degree holders? Find out why with Sheryl Sandberg, a Harvard graduate and the right hand of Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in her book Lean In (i.e., buckle down). AccordingRead more…