Want to improve your thinking? Use metacognition
"How often do you think about your thinking?" For years, I tried to avoid answering this question. It sounded weird and made me uncomfortable. However, now that I’ve learned more about metacognition in my role as a brain-based coach and Master Neuroplastician, I’ve...
Why I now trust NILES, the brain-based AI coach, more than a fellow alum
You can’t read a book by its cover – or by the prior experiences you’ve had with its author. This sentence describes my recent experiences with the authors of two new nonfiction books: Harry M. Jansen Kraemer, Jr., author of From Values to Action: The Four Principles...
Want better thinking? Pay more attention to how employees use their brains
Reading the January 2026 report The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI developed by the McKinsey Health Institute in collaboration with the World Economic Forum was "déjà vu all over again" for me. All the report’s buzzwords (such as “brain capital” in...
How well-being is evolving from an employee benefit to a performance boost
Well-being is no longer a nice-to-have at work; it's a must have to prevent burnout, overwhelm, stress and other issues. To improve our well-being, we've got to do way more than provide more employee benefits. We've got to stop pretending that the brain is a machine...
3 big leadership benefits of upgrading your internal operating system
“Vertical leadership development” is an arcane, awkward and even patriarchal term. Yet this coaching approach is well-suited for today’s world. And if you’re interested in becoming a better leader – and human being – it’s useful to know what it is and how it can help...
How distrust of others is making us insular, which hurts health and innovation
Between January 2025 and 2026, we’ve moved from feeling aggrieved to becoming more insular, according to the recently released 2026 edition of the Global Edelman Trust Barometer, “Trust Amid Insularity.” This year’s report, Edelman’s 26th consecutive one, shows that 7...
Why humans and AI bots work better with clarity, curiosity and care
Are you noticing how many of us are being more considerate in our interactions with gen AI than we are with our fellow humans? With AI, we carefully and thoughtfully provide prompts to AI. With our fellow humans, we often open our mouths and think out loud. In other...
Want to be more empathetic? Practice the platinum rule
For this year, I’ve selected the value of empathy to support my focal phrase, chameleon leaders, as explained in this early January blog post Why and how to be an empathetic chameleon leader in 2026. My aim as an empathetic chameleon leader is to practice the platinum...
Why and how to be an empathetic chameleon leader in 2026
As context, this marks the sixth year I’ve chosen a focal word/phrase and the first time I’ve selected a value. Here’s my thinking around these two choices, including their immediate relevancy. First, chameleon leaders. Chameleons are the ultimate connectors and...