It can also be considered a gift to the rest of the labor market, matching talented people with sane leaders who make data-driven decisions.

Jim, thank you so much for your kind words, they made my day!!

Thank you for a thoughtful and compassionate column. I will be sharing this with many of my older, single friends and clients who speak of isolation.

Well, gee, thanks!! That means a lot to me. Really appreciate the kind words!

Pursuing an MBA while working in biotech shows your dedication and ambition. It’s natural for friends and family to be concerned, but remember that personal growth and career aspirations can coexist. Consider carving out time for relationships and leisure to ensure a well-rounded life. You’re on a promising path!”

I’m a young professional man in biotech, pursuing an MBA. I love my work and have big dreams, but my friends and family worry I’m too career-focused. Am I making a mistake?

You succeeded in coaching him and bringing up to speed, but unfortunately, the young man has a bad character. If you start telling him how bad you feel, he will take it as the invite to continue.

There are only 2 ways to stop it and teach him a lesson: 1) fire him; 2) make it unpleasant for him to go on slandering your name. You can fire him and let him know that he failed to establish good communication. Or you start calling things as they are – arrogance, lack of ethics, self-absorption, poor judgment. Yeah, this young man has a great potential but exhibits poor judgment and narrow vision. He is good for some tasks though. Start communicating the truth to others.

Thanks Krizzy, yes, it is usually our quest to please others – or to impress – that leads to over commitment.

Dear Kebaabetswe,
Thank you so very much! You have no idea how much this means to me! Please do share with your network!
All Best,
Madeleine

Thank you!

I would also add, there is too much definiton of feedback as positive, negative or similar. It is feedback, full-stop. As soon as we mentally prepare for these discussions as ‘tough conversations’, ‘difficult feedback’ and similar, there is a subtle and unconscious tendency to present it that way through tone, intonation, language etc.

See it for what it is – earn the right to have the conversation; make sure it is owned; and follow-up. If this teamm member has genuinely been given the opportunity for growth and is supported, yet continues to reject the development, then that is why she is not ready for promotion. It can’t be both ways.

Yes, thank you for this wise add!

Thank you so much for your kind words.
It truly means a lot to me. It is a very strange thing to keep putting the blog out every week with very little sense of what kind of an impact it might be making.
So, for you to take the time to make such a positive comment will keep me going!
All Best, and truly, thank you.

Do people have to pay bills, etc.? Yes (and I recognize my guidance may not be practical for some.) Being unhappy at work (whether working from your kitchen table or in a 21st Century “Open Space” often translates to unhappiness in the rest of one’s life. There will always be opportunities for people (Madeleine) described as informed, developing their skills, etc. If the person opposite you (or in the monitor in front of you) doesn’t “see” your value and only wants to plug you into a round or square hole, keep looking.

S

CS