Posts by Valerie Patrick
The Secret to Successful Leadership
The secret to successful leadership is using facilitation skills when the going gets rough. Leaders change things for the better. Leadership can be as simple as making a sign to guilt people into cleaning the office coffee cup rather than leaving it in the sink for someone else to clean. And leadership can be as…
Read MoreHow to Achieve Success in 8 Steps
If you are smart but frustrated with your career progress, then you are not alone! Others view me as “book smart” because I graduated second in my high school class, first in my college class, and I have a PhD in chemical engineering. But I interviewed for many jobs I didn’t get and I got…
Read MoreHow to Maximize On-Line Learning According to Neuroscience
The COVID-19 global pandemic is moving learning out of the classroom and online. But, according to the neuroscience of adult learning, there are three simple ways to maximize an on-line learning experience. First, find a space for on-line learning that provides very few distractions so you can have focused attention for the lecture portions of…
Read MoreUniversal Traits for an Ideal Subordinate
The Ideal Subordinate Universal traits for an ideal subordinate can be gleaned from science. The word “subordinate” implies a social structure. Scientists have found that there are predictable ways that human beings behave in social structures based on identified social needs. Specifically, if our social needs are being met, then our brain is happy and…
Read MoreWhy it is Hard to Manage Technical People
If you understand why it is hard to manage technical people, then you can get better at managing technical people. Technical people are people who have a degree in technology, engineering, mathematics or a lab-based science (STEM degree). People who are attracted to and earn STEM degrees share a set of traits. But, the traits…
Read MoreA Workplace Inconvenient Truth
A workplace inconvenient truth is that the persistence of a white male majority in leadership positions is simply a reflection of human culture. Human culture, in turn, is a construct of our brain. Our brain determines our behaviors. So, to dissipate the white male majority in leadership positions, we need to change our brain which…
Read MorePerform Differently
If your colleagues are stressing you out, then you’re not alone and it is time to learn how to perform differently! Research by ComPsych reveals that 59% of all employees describe themselves as “highly stressed” and while the number one reason is workload, the number two reason is people issues (https://thriveglobal.com/stories/top-causes-workplace-stress-how-to-avoid/, the survey results are…
Read MoreHow Justification and Mindset are Related
I got interested in how justification and mindset are related after learning about the power of justification to manage the mindset of a negotiation counterpart. The role of justification in negotiation was explored in my podcast interview with Dr. Margaret Neale (https://fulcrumconnection.com/blog/027-apply-psychology-economics-negotiate/), Professor of Management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and author of…
Read More027 – How to Apply Psychology and Economics to Negotiate Anything
In this episode, Dr. Margaret Neale, Professor of Management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and author of Getting (more of) What You Want: How the secrets of economics and psychology can help you negotiate anything, in business and in life, talks about the proven ways to get the most out of a negotiation.…
Read MoreCompetition as a Strategy to Engage Others
Because there are both benefits and trappings for competition, leaders need to be wary of using competition as a strategy to engage others. Sometimes competition engages others and sometimes not. There are times when competition can breed high engagement and excellence. I remember my husband and me deciding to enter a workplace photo competition –…
Read More