In this article the concept of transference is discussed—a psychological phenomenon characterized by the unconscious and inappropriate redirection of feelings transferred from one person to another—a pattern of interaction that influences most human behavior in organizations. Transferential...

Starting with a fairy tale (sparked by the Brexit experience), this article explores the phenomenon of stubbornness. Although it describes how a leader's stubbornness can be a force for the good—Charles de Gaulle being a prime example—it's main focus is on how this behavior pattern can turn...

Choosing a partner is a critical decision. This article seeks to unravel the enigma: What makes partners click? What chemistry makes a partnership work? It examines the complaints made about partners and the reasons why partners make a commitment. Taking an evolutionary point of view, it...

Many CEOs earn more in one workday than the average worker makes in an entire year. The question is whether these extremely high CEO compensation packages undervalue the contributions that other employees make to the success of the company. What will the effect of excessive CEO pay have on...

Starting with a case study, this article examines shame, a taboo affect that is rarely consciously acknowledged. It makes a distinction between the experiences of guilt and shame: guilt makes us feel bad about what we have done; shame makes us feel bad about who we are. While a person who feels...

Death anxiety is a primary motivational force that drives much of our behavior. It puts our defenses on high alert, and we make strenuous efforts to repress or deny the unwelcome truth of our inevitable end. The way each of us denies death not only affects life in its broadest sense but also...

This article deals with a rather taboo subject: the consequences of prolonging life into extreme old age, now possible with advances in medical procedures. It poses the existential question about the quality of life in the final stage of the human life cycle. I suggest that most of us are more...

When a leader's psychological make-up is problematic, it can have a serious contagious effect. If that is the case, the organization itself is in danger of becoming a mirror image of the leader's troublesome behavior patterns. Leadership coaches who have a deep understanding of personality...