Managing with Meaning

Resilience

Resilience Starts With a Story

David Weitzner Ph.D. on August 30, 2024

We talk a lot about resilience as an individual trait. But leaders know that navigating through turbulent times is a co-creative effort. And the best plan starts off as a story.

We talk a lot about resilience as an individual trait. But leaders know that navigating through turbulent times is a co-creative effort. And the best plan starts off as a story.

Mindfulness

How to Avoid Mindfulness Pitfalls

David Weitzner Ph.D. on July 1, 2024

Recent studies show that mindfulness can lead to negative feelings, undermine implicit learning, and negatively impact motivation. Here's how to avoid falling into those traps.

Recent studies show that mindfulness can lead to negative feelings, undermine implicit learning, and negatively impact motivation. Here's how to avoid falling into those traps.

Mindfulness

3 Strategies for Listening to Music Mindfully

David Weitzner Ph.D. on May 7, 2024

The act of creating music helps artist Tim DeLaughter heal—just as listening to music can help others heal, too.

The act of creating music helps artist Tim DeLaughter heal—just as listening to music can help others heal, too.

Ethics and Morality

Maybe We Need to Say Less About Ethics

David Weitzner Ph.D. on April 3, 2024

Let's empower people to work with simple principles that instill ethical commitments deep into their DNA.

Let's empower people to work with simple principles that instill ethical commitments deep into their DNA.

Mindfulness

Bringing Mindfulness to Difficult Conversations

David Weitzner Ph.D. on January 4, 2024

Leaders, teachers, and parents are asked to facilitate difficult conversations. If we're not mindful, it's easy to slip into rote talking points.

Leaders, teachers, and parents are asked to facilitate difficult conversations. If we're not mindful, it's easy to slip into rote talking points.

Leadership

Re-Imagining Interdependence

David Weitzner Ph.D. on October 6, 2023

Don't ever be content with a system that restricts who wins.

Don't ever be content with a system that restricts who wins.

Leadership

4 Steps to Creative Leadership

David Weitzner Ph.D. on September 11, 2023

Many leaders claim to value creativity while rejecting creative ideas and people when they encounter them. Here are four steps to take in support of more creative outcomes.

Many leaders claim to value creativity while rejecting creative ideas and people when they encounter them. Here are four steps to take in support of more creative outcomes.

Career

What the Jewish Rip Van Winkle Can Teach Us About AI

David Weitzner Ph.D. on July 6, 2023

Personal Perspective: Big Tech thinks all the future will remember is the AI product, not the people exploited to build it. It's an old mistake.

Personal Perspective: Big Tech thinks all the future will remember is the AI product, not the people exploited to build it. It's an old mistake.

Mindfulness

From Being Mindful to Mindful Living

David Weitzner Ph.D. on May 5, 2023

Frustrated by being told to "just breathe?" Mindful living is so much more.

Frustrated by being told to "just breathe?" Mindful living is so much more.

Mindfulness

Is Mindfulness a Trait, a Path, or a Process?

David Weitzner Ph.D. on April 24, 2023

Mindfulness can make you selfish! Mindfulness makes you healthy! Mindfulness is hard! When the media starts shouting conflicting messages, what should you believe?

Mindfulness can make you selfish! Mindfulness makes you healthy! Mindfulness is hard! When the media starts shouting conflicting messages, what should you believe?

Ethics and Morality

Algorithms Are a Poor Substitute for Human Decency

David Weitzner Ph.D. on April 20, 2023

Can the vast computational power of AI solve our biggest moral problems? Only if we value complexity more than decency.

Can the vast computational power of AI solve our biggest moral problems? Only if we value complexity more than decency.

Anxiety

No App Is Smart Enough to Help Navigate Anxiety

David Weitzner Ph.D. on January 18, 2023

Personal Perspective: Read this before you click on an app for anxiety.

Personal Perspective: Read this before you click on an app for anxiety.

Anger

The Danger in Not Trusting Our Moral Compass

David Weitzner Ph.D. on December 9, 2022

Has moral problem-solving gotten too complex for human brains to solve? Do we need to outsource our thinking to AI, or can we still trust our intuitions?

Has moral problem-solving gotten too complex for human brains to solve? Do we need to outsource our thinking to AI, or can we still trust our intuitions?

Productivity

Workers Name Mental Wellness as Their Biggest Challenge

David Weitzner Ph.D. on November 8, 2022

As many big firms retreat back to an instrumental focus on the bottom line, a new report highlights a misalignment between employers and workers on mental wellness.

As many big firms retreat back to an instrumental focus on the bottom line, a new report highlights a misalignment between employers and workers on mental wellness.

Ethics and Morality

Don’t Be Too Smart for Awe

David Weitzner Ph.D. on October 2, 2022

This transient sensation lessens the power of biases toward greed and selfishness.

This transient sensation lessens the power of biases toward greed and selfishness.

Spirituality

Perry Farrell: Three Steps to Fearless Spirituality

David Weitzner Ph.D. on August 9, 2022

Do you want more from life? Rock icon Perry Farrell is on a mission to educate us on making space for more spirituality, creativity, and joy in the day-to-day.

Do you want more from life? Rock icon Perry Farrell is on a mission to educate us on making space for more spirituality, creativity, and joy in the day-to-day.

Persuasion

Why CEO Efforts to Buy Their Way Out of Scandals Fail

David Weitzner Ph.D. on June 16, 2022

From Vince McMahon to Elon Musk, when will powerful CEOs learn that they can't flex their financial muscles to make embarrassing scandals disappear?

From Vince McMahon to Elon Musk, when will powerful CEOs learn that they can't flex their financial muscles to make embarrassing scandals disappear?

Teamwork

Privilege Checklists Can Be Toxic to Corporate Cultures

David Weitzner Ph.D. on May 13, 2022

Is your company normalizing privilege shaming in their corporate culture? Better think about the long-term implications before irreversible harm is caused.

Is your company normalizing privilege shaming in their corporate culture? Better think about the long-term implications before irreversible harm is caused.

Career

3 Reasons to Model Humility Instead of Shaming Privilege

David Weitzner Ph.D. on April 27, 2022

Turned off by being told to "check your privilege"? Here are three reasons why doing the work of developing humility is the better path to a supportive society.

Turned off by being told to "check your privilege"? Here are three reasons why doing the work of developing humility is the better path to a supportive society.

Teamwork

How Cooperation Becomes Transformative

David Weitzner Ph.D. on April 19, 2022

Under the right conditions and with the right people, reliable cooperation can take place in even the most trying of circumstances. Here's what you need to know.

Under the right conditions and with the right people, reliable cooperation can take place in even the most trying of circumstances. Here's what you need to know.