by David Ryback, Ph.D.

Our brain is a complex organ. The headline on how it works is that there is the old brain that deals primarily with emotions. The emerging news is the discovery of the importance of a small structure residing in both sides of the head - the amygdale - where we process new perceptions that might be threats, for example, all new people we meet, including new clients and customers. When the threat is great enough, we have “amygdale hijack,” when the threatening information goes directly to the amygdalae, short-circuiting the thinking frontal cortex and resulting in “thoughtless” or irrational impulsive reaction.

by David Ryback, Ph.D.

Is there a danger that the optimist overlooks the harsher aspects of reality in order to stay optimistic? Only under the most dire of circumstances, as we’ve seen. Otherwise, the optimist realizes what is and takes charge of a situation, giving it meaning as a controllable enterprise. Are optimists overwhelmed by unhappy circumstances that interfere with rose-colored vision? Optimists are human and prone to being stressed by overwhelming misfortune but are less prone to such events than are pessimists. Take charge and fix a situation to the greatest extent possible. In business it means seeing what is in terms of what can be done to remedy a situation, not resignation to failure. Optimism gives positive meaning to challenges by the control that can be manifested in changing things for the better.

by David Ryback, Ph.D.

Developing the authentic qualities inherent in relationships involves overcoming the dissembling style of early teenage years. For some this style extends into adulthood. As early as age three, we begin to understand the consequences of our emotions. When something forbidden is done, we fear the subsequent punishment. When we yell in a quiet room, we fear rebuke. When we fear the bogeyman in the closet, we know running to our parents will assuage that emotion.

by David Ryback, Ph.D.

Take a moment and reflect on your communication skills. Just being aware of how you communicate is not sufficient; individuals must also be able to use this knowledge to achieve an outcome. Communication skills include self-presentation, the ability to express one’s ideas effectively, influenced by listening to – and hearing – responses, plus agility skills. Agility skills involve the combination of knowing how to communicate differently with different people and knowing how to adapt to evolving conditions. Some might be great at getting along with people of all types but unable to cope with change, which means they’ll be handicapped in such relationships. Likewise, we can be good at adapting to change but inflexible in dealing with certain people, therefore encountering many obstacles to success.

by David Ryback, Ph.D.

One quality every project manager must possess is the ability, or more to the point, the agility, to “roll with the punches,” to be flexible enough to land on your feet, no matter the challenges you’re confronting as they change, more quickly than ever, given the speed of communication in our digital age. That makes great demands on our performance skills, what we call the Performance Factor.

By David Ryback, Ph.D.

The emotion of happiness is such a personal concept and one that is prone to unique interpretations. Whenever I ask individuals what they want out of life, the answer is typically happiness. It is such a global term, meaning everything and nothing at the same time. I then ask what specifically would make them happy. The answers run the gamut, but one theme that stands out is the experience of connection to family, friends, and colleagues at work.

Our focus here is whether or not understanding others and facing those aspects of yourself that are most appropriate to share make for increased happiness or sense of well-being at work. Sharing your best public self means being in touch with your feelings. You can’t be your best self if you’re not in touch with your feelings. What is there to express authentically if not your inner feelings?

Certainly, actions based on personal principles mean being true to yourself, but being your real, authentic self involves feelings as much as actions.

Just as the ability to read faces gives us information about others’ feelings, we must read our own embodied sensations as we echo others’ feelings. Perhaps it’s easier to read others’ faces than to become cognizant of our own subtler, deeper feelings. But some of us are better at it than others.