The Leadership Professor

Research, published in the new book The Emotional Life of your Brain by Richard J. Davidson (with Sharon Begley), has good news. We can change our emotional styles and become more self-aware, attentive to context, and resilient – core skills for surviving and thriving in the rough-and-tumble leadership world. All it takes is systematic mental [...]

We know successful leaders lead from the heart – and that organizations benefit from the transparency and authenticity of their leaders. We also know that stress and long hours on the job can take a toll on a leader’s heart, literally. Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the United States. [...]

I’m having a Yo Yo Ma day – and wish you one as well: a day of enjoyment for the work, passion for the purpose, and pride in the contribution. If you need a little inspiration to elevate your work day, click here for a tiny desk concert. Friends of The Leadership Professor know her [...]

The most recent Hay Group newsletter continues its series on the World’s Most Admired Companies. This edition focuses on PepsiCo and its drive for innovation and a healthier portfolio of products.  Take a read. The Leadership Professor calls your attention to two key issues:  1.  PepsiCo’s belief in the importance of personal development: “You can’t [...]

I love the Jeremy Lin story – the humble, smart, sudden NBA superstar for the Knicks who until a few weeks ago was sleeping on his brother’s couch and wondering his future with the sport he loved. [If you need to catch-up on Lin-sanity, check out the Washington Post story on how his talent went [...]

A respected colleague (and my former professor) Richard J. Light (Carl H. Pforzheimer Jr. Professor of Teaching and Learning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and author of the book “Making the Most of College”) names five things that successful people say they need to advance their work and careers in today’s global world. [...]

For those who don’t follow my tweets ( http://twitter.com/#!/JoanGallos ), this is exciting enough for a full write-up so please read on. [Check me out on Twitter if you want links to the articles reporting the story.] The world of business and commerce has finally learned what women and micro-finance enterprises (like my personal favorite, [...]

I’ve heard it said That people come into our lives for a reason Bringing something we must learn And we are led To those who help us most to grow If we let them And we help them in return Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true But I know I’m who I [...]

Our Bloch Executive Education Center is offering a course on “Creating Witnesses.”  I must admit, on first glance I thought it was training on giving a good deposition. (After all, leaders can never be too prepared.) The blurb on the session told otherwise and reminded me of two important pieces of advice for effective career [...]

I just finished Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul for a chapter on compassionate leadership that I’m writing.  And I’ve fallen in love with the leadership of Howard Schultz. His philosophy — leadership is not just about winning, but about finding a right way to succeed that brings hope for [...]