Author Archives: Daniel

Workplace Power Dynamics: Part 3

Hidden Sources of Power at Work By Daniel Robin Many of us hold archaic assumptions about power … and there are precious few new archetypes or role models. To me, the greatest power comes from collaboration … from skillfully going inside our differences and working cooperatively toward building something better than we had at the start. The key here will be to use those forms of power that Continue Reading ...

Workplace Power Dynamics: Part 2

Fun Things to do with Power By Daniel Robin Last article kicked around the dynamics of interpersonal power; this one applies these dynamics in some sticky situations. Because power is a central issue in working out disputes, this theme will culminate some loose ends that when mushed together can be used to gain leverage, cooperation and results. Two of the toughest situations are when the other Continue Reading ...

Workplace Power Dynamics: Part 1

Power Plays With People By Daniel Robin In a workplace mediation session, one employee set a powerful boundary with their manager, saying: "I'll never let you tell me what to do. I'll listen carefully to your request, and then I'll let you know how I'll do it, and by when. You have a problem with that? Try joining the Army; then you can order people around and get away with it." Somebody had Continue Reading ...

Initiating and Sustaining Change at Work: Part 3

Organizational Pathways:  Strategies for Leading Change By Daniel Robin This is the third installation in a three-part series on dealing with workplace change. So far we've explored personal strategies (Part 1) and interpersonal strategies (Part 2) to help make transitions less stressful and more humane; this article dives into how organizations can use the change process to effectively manage Continue Reading ...

Fear: Part 3

Three Faces of Fear in the Workplace By Daniel Robin The previous article brought workplace fear into the spotlight – not so we could keep a watchful eye on it while getting paranoid, ambulance but so we can begin to turn it into mutual gain. How? Understand it’s many faces: this article pinpoints the types of fear that zap productivity and cause needless suffering, sale providing tools Continue Reading ...

Fear: Part 2

Fear is Nothing to be Afraid Of … By Daniel Robin Susan shifts uncomfortably in her chair and begins speaking in a measured tone: "I’m probably going to regret saying this, ampoule but … [gulp] … David, search I do not feel your support, I only get your critical edge, and I’m tired of living in fear that everything we do can and will be used against us. There, I’ve Continue Reading ...

Fear: Part 1

Is Fear Useful, or Just. . . Scary? By Daniel Robin How do you now deal with fear at work?  This article pinpoints the types of fear that cause needless suffering, and advocates workplaces that consistently maintain an "absence of threat." For better or for worse, we all bring our personal history to our workplace relationships.  Many of us learned "fear tactics" from our parents, who, Continue Reading ...

Leadership in Action Series: Part 16

The Link Between Ethics and Culture By Daniel Robin In a prior article, we viewed integrity as a call to push back on the cultural epidemic of obsessive speed, greed, and creed – that is, how our quest for prosperity and “market advantage” can reinforce assumptions and beliefs that justify cheating, mistreating and defeating the other guy. There’s nothing wrong with a competitive spirit Continue Reading ...

Leadership in Action Series: Part 15

Working With Integrity – The Art of Being Your Word By Daniel Robin At work, “being your word” requires vigilant attention to your own boundaries, using all your interpersonal skills, and watching out for double binds.  It also takes a decent amount of courage and a compassionate commitment to constant learning.  So cut yourself some slack.  Nobody, not even those with the utmost of integrity, Continue Reading ...

Leadership in Action Series: Part 14

The "Grit" of Integrity By Daniel Robin This article explores the vital yet often-overlooked leadership challenge of integrity. When I recently mentioned to an executive friend that I was writing about this topic, he half-smiled. "Thanks for the warning," he whispered, feigning nervousness.  Integrity has become a serious subject in Corporate America (and elsewhere).  This article highlights Continue Reading ...

Leadership in Action Series: Part 13

Dealing with Differences in a World of Diversity By Daniel Robin This article outlines a process for dealing with adversarial behavior in others. Adversary, or “enemy stance,” usually results from escalating a difference of some sort – making a progressively bigger and bigger deal out of differing views on priorities, goals, or methods. One or both parties make that difference into a problem, Continue Reading ...

Leadership in Action Series: Part 12

Control Isn't Even for the Birds By Daniel Robin This article series outlines a process for shifting away from the need to control and into guiding, organizing and structuring work so that the desired results are obtained with less effort and more reliably in the long-run.  See the prior articles in this series at ABetterWorkplace.com/leadership. Part 1:  Letting Go Into Structure Increasingly, Continue Reading ...