Author Archives: Eva-Maria Hempe

We are all taking things far too personal (in business and beyond)

Thursday afternoon and my colleague asks me what I thought about the meeting this morning – which meeting? I had nothing in my diary. Why was I not invited? Thinking about it, Richard who set up the meeting was not too keen about the project I am driving. He for sure left me off theContinue reading “We are all taking things far too personal (in business and beyond)”

A colleague who value a lot has just resigned. And I am actually happy for him.

At the same time I am sad because he will be missed. But it would be selfish to try to keep him from leaving because I cannot offer him what he needs to take the next step in his career. Back in Cambridge, I had started work on a physics PhD, in a great group,Continue reading “A colleague who value a lot has just resigned. And I am actually happy for him.”

Rowing taught me … strive to be your best – that’s all you can control.

In my very first year at Cambridge, when I had just learned how to row for my college, I went to see the Boat Races. And as the boats lined up for the starting line, I thought to myself, “they must be so nervous, the pressure, all the months of work they put in, andContinue reading “Rowing taught me … strive to be your best – that’s all you can control.”

On the individuality of success

“Asking what makes someone successful is like asking which ingredient makes a recipe taste good. It’s not any single ingredient. It is the combination of many ingredients in the right proportions and in the right order—and the absence of anything that would ruin the mixture.”James Clear I love this quote – success is a combinationContinue reading “On the individuality of success”

“Double down on what is working best.”

We are often so caught up on where we need to improve but is focusing on our deficits really the best strategy to become the best version of ourselves? I am not particularly musical. So should I spend my time and energy on getting better at reading notes, doing my scales …? Will I enjoyContinue reading ““Double down on what is working best.””

🙄 Why telling someone to “stop being such a coward and take more risks” does not work

Earlier this month, I wrote about the need for humans to belong and be liked and how even the toughest of us sometimes need to be told what we do well. This actually has to do with the different effects of positive and negative feedback. Far too often when we give feedback, we focus onContinue reading “🙄 Why telling someone to “stop being such a coward and take more risks” does not work”

Do not confuse linguistic styles with conficence

How likely is it that all women on your team(s) lack the self-confidence needed for the next promotion? I assume your answer is “not very”. And yet this (oldie but goody) HBR article starts off with a division head whose senior managers told him exactly that. Turns out some of this can be explained inContinue reading “Do not confuse linguistic styles with conficence”