Brian de Haaff's Blog, page 30

It Is Not Your Fault You Are Miserable at Work

You can probably spot the signs. Sunday night blues. Feelings of “am I really making a difference.” I am not talking about the occasional bad day. No, this is an everyday pit-in-your-stomach malaise. You are miserable at work. Thankfully, it has been a while since I felt that way.

But when I did have that feeling, I knew I had to make a change. I started by taking a hard look at myself. I considered my co-workers and the different organizations I had worked at. I asked myself some hard quest...

Our New Book for Company Builders — Lovability

You do not write a book to make money. That’s true for most people unless you are already famous. And I am not. You write a book because you believe a story needs to be told. And you are willing to struggle to tell it. I definitely have had stories to tell, but I never wanted to write a book. That contradiction makes sense if you understand the backstory.

I wrote a thesis my last semester before graduating from the greatest university in the world — The University of California at Berkeley....

How to Feed the Office Parrot

“Sort of like a walk in the wilderness, just not as refreshing.” That was just one of the hundreds of comments on my recent post about rude “animal” bosses. But I thought it perfectly captured the essence of a wild workplace. Many folks recounted their own experiences with beastly bosses. One reader made an especially salient point — that these animals can only thrive when the proper conditions exist.

“It’s one thing recognising that many managers exhibit these behaviours, but the real issue...

Successful People Ignore the "Rules of Body Language"

Do you know the “rules” of body language? Maintain eye contact but not for too long (otherwise, creepy). Shoulders back, chin up, no slouching. Do not fold your arms — that reveals discomfort or boredom. Keep your face composed in a perfect mask. Never let ’em see you sweat.

And the number one rule: Whatever your true feelings are, make sure that no one knows. Conceal, conceal, conceal. Emotions are the enemy.

I am not sure who decided that we must follow these rules. Body language is a comp...