Posts by Gena Cox
4 ways to fight proximity bias in hybrid work setups
“Proximity bias” is a term that was developed by psychologists (most prominently, Daniel Kahneman) in the 1970s to describe the phenomenon in which humans tend to favor people who are physically closer to them versus those who are further away. Interest in this topic has increased ever since March 2020, when, as a result of…
Read MoreGena’s Free Coaching Session: My manager and colleagues caught me telling a lie. What should I do?
Periodically readers bring up thorny workplace situations and ask me, “What should I do?” These “Free Coaching Sessions” are how I document that advice so others can learn from it too. What is the best thing to do when you make an honest mistake like waking up late for work? What if you have a…
Read MoreExecutive Vulnerability is Cool: Handle negative feedback like an asset, not a liability
This article summarizes my recent responses to a reporter on background for a story. It deals with how executives respond to negative feedback and offers suggestions for using this feedback to enhance an executive’s brand. Historically, how have senior executives, as a group, handled negative feedback on the job? Do you see any difference today?…
Read More“Leading Inclusion” book launches on October 11, 2022!
MEDIA RELEASE Organizational Psychologist and Executive Coach Helps Corporate Leaders Respond to Calls for Meaningful AND Visible Diversity and Inclusion Outcomes Clearwater, FL – Corporate executives and board directors have a new resource and trusted guide to help deliver meaningful inclusion and diversity outcomes in their organizations. A recent Edelman poll of Americans shows that…
Read MoreWhat is “quiet-quitting,” and what to do about it?
“Quiet quitting” is an employee’s voluntary decision to intentionally withhold some aspect of their typical job performance in response to a perception that their employer is taking advantage of them. Quiet quitting is an employee power move to regain or retain their self-respect when they feel a psychological threat in the workplace from those who…
Read MoreQuiet-quitting is a bad career strategy
Since the Spring of 2022, there has been a lot of media coverage about a phenomenon called “quiet-quitting.” While some content creators suggest that quiet-quitting is a viable strategy for getting what you want in your career, I beg to differ. It’s a bad idea for anyone to leave their job for another job without…
Read MoreImposter syndrome: Take back your power and ask for manager support
“Imposter syndrome” is real, but it has two components: the feelings of inadequacy that can come from one’s own psychological makeup and the feelings of inadequacy that can develop as a response to environmental factors. In the workplace, external environmental factors carry great weight because employees learn to look to those with more power and…
Read MoreThese two common C-suite actions have not helped workplace inclusion
My world changed when police killed Breonna Taylor in March 2020 because it felt like the country had hit rock bottom in the manifestation of violence against Black Americans by those who should have been protectors. But, in May 2020, when police officers killed George Floyd, I realized I was wrong; the bottom was lower…
Read MoreGena’s workplace predictions for 2022 and beyond
When the pandemic began, I had the luck to be in a job in which we measured employee opinions across industries across the globe. I will never forget the date, March 13, 2020, because, on that date, the federal government declared the COVID-19 pandemic was a national emergency. By the next day, much of the…
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