The 7-day, science-backed experiment that can spark a culture of kindness

Cultivating kindness at work boosts productivity, motivation, and even retention, according to recent research. Use these simple strategies to inject some good vibes into your team interactions. As one of the first lessons you learned in life, being kind to others may be something you take for granted. But research shows that kindness has tangible […]

Is life really that complex?

Can an algorithm forecast the site of the next riot? In this accessible talk, mathematician Hannah Fry shows how complex social behavior can be analyzed and perhaps predicted through analogies to natural phenomena, like the patterns of a leopard’s spots or the distribution of predators and prey in the wild.

The mathematics of love

Finding the right mate is no cakewalk — but is it even mathematically likely? In a charming talk, mathematician Hannah Fry shows patterns in how we look for love, and gives her top three tips (verified by math!) for finding that special someone.

How to stay calm when you know you’ll be stressed

You’re not at your best when you’re stressed. In fact, your brain has evolved over millennia to release cortisol in stressful situations, inhibiting rational, logical thinking but potentially helping you survive, say, being attacked by a lion. Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin thinks there’s a way to avoid making critical mistakes in stressful situations, when your thinking […...

Why you think you’re right — even if you’re wrong

Perspective is everything, especially when it comes to examining your beliefs. Are you a soldier, prone to defending your viewpoint at all costs — or a scout, spurred by curiosity? Julia Galef examines the motivations behind these two mindsets and how they shape the way we interpret information, interweaved with a compelling history lesson from […]

20 team meeting ideas that will help your team bond in 2023

Did you know that your team meetings can be a great opportunity to build psychological safety? Why does that matter? It turns out that psychological safety is a key factor in boosting team performance. In a recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers stated the importance of psychological safety like this: Psychological safety is [&hellip...

Sh*t happens! Use the 5 Whys analysis to make sure it happens less often

Listen, nobody’s perfect. Sometimes mistakes are made. Goals go unreached. Big swings turn into big duds. It’s painful. And it can be especially painful when it happens to your team. As a leader, it’s important to know how can you help your people recover, regroup, and refocus. That’s where the 5 Whys root-cause analysis exercise […]

What Wikipedia teaches us about balancing truth and beliefs

Even with public trust at an all-time low, Wikipedia continues to maintain people’s confidence. How do they do it? Former CEO of Wikimedia Foundation Katherine Maher delves into the transparent, adaptable and community-building ways the online encyclopedia brings free and reliable information to the public — while also accounting for bias and difference of opinion. […]

The likability dilemma for women leaders

When women lead, bias often follows. Documentarian Robin Hauser dives into the dilemma between competence and likability faced by women in leadership roles, detangling the unconscious beliefs and gendered thinking that distort what it means to be a good leader.