People who build startups into successful larger companies are disruptors by nature. One doesn’t create new things without the intensity and drive to push through obstacles and overcome resistance to change. It’s especially difficult to successfully navigate the structural challenges of increasing scale. “Founder Mode” was coined by Paul Graham of Y Combinator, referring to […]

Careers develop from many decisions made over time. Some are made by default, and some are made by other people. The more of these decisions you can make, the more likely you’ll have a better outcome, as long as they’re based on good information and insights about yourself and about your fit with the careers […]

We’ve previously discussed the characteristics of good people and how to select them for your organization. Without the right people, you’ll never have a culture that attracts more of them and encourages growth and success. Although anyone can improve, some things take too long to change enough to make a difference in the business context […]

A CEO was known to tell candidates that there were two reasons he’d fire them: if they weren’t good at their jobs, or if they were jerks. That was a realistic job preview, one of the most effective ways to give prospective employees an idea of what life would be like with the company. And […]

Personality is not destiny but it has a strong influence on our experiences, reactions, preferences and behavior. Personality traits are long-term and enduring patterns of behavior that affect us consistently over time, and consistently in a wide range of circumstances. Our traits are our factory settings. They’re difficult or impossible to change, but we can […]

There is a critical shortage of people in the labor force with the “right” credentials. Many job descriptions list a four-year degree requirement when that’s not at all necessary for success on the job. At the same time, hiring managers can’t be certain that even candidates with elite credentials in fact have the skills and […]

Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon that has been extensively studied by social psychologists. It is widely recognized as a powerful force that influences human behavior and decision-making, often below our level of awareness. It refers to the discomfort we feel when confronted with information or ideas that contradict our own existing attitudes, beliefs, or values. […]

Agreeableness is one of the major Big Five personality factors. People scoring high on Agreeableness are likely to try to get along with others and to maintain harmonious relationships. They display emotional warmth and supportive social interactions. They may have difficulties making tough decisions regarding people. They don’t like conflict. They are typically approachable and […]