Prisoner’s Dilemma

On September 3, 1949, a weather plane was flying over Japan. It detected traces of radioactive isotopes. These elements decay quickly, which means they had been created recently. The conclusion was obvious: the Soviet Union had detonated its first nuclear bomb. Since the last world war, nuclear power was limited to only one country. With this new development, a rivalry […]

Management is a Lonely Place

Yes, it is. If you’re in it, you already know. It sucks. You can’t talk to your boss about many things because, let’s be honest, they probably don’t have that much time to hear it. And they can’t really talk to you either, because they have their own version of this loneliness. You also can’t share everything with your direct […]

Losing a Top Performer

Over time, I had to manage and help to manage many times when a top performer quits. It sucks but we need to be reasonable. Imagine you’re on a winning streak, your top striker, like El Fenomeno, is scoring crazy, winning you matches. End of the season, they’re out. Well, that’s literally what Bobby Robson had to deal with the […]

Interviewing Your Future Boss

I’m sure you have been asked if you have any questions during interviews. A few things come to mind. Often, we think we need to impress the other party. Nevertheless, tough questions are the ones you want to ask, especially to your future boss. Over the years, I learned this the hard way. I have worked with managers who changed […]

Navigating Layoffs

In the last few years, companies have begun laying off talent, leading to tough and depressing times for many. Some layoffs came as a big surprise, especially from companies that promoted a “don’t be evil” ethos. Yet, in the end, it’s all about business. Taking it personally doesn’t make sense. The system demands growth, where even stable profits can be […]