Shortform Books

Personal and Social Competence: Skills for Life

What are personal and social competence in the context of emotional intelligence? How do they come together to make up the EQ construct? In Emotional Intelligence 2.0, personal and social competence are the umbrella terms for the four dimensions of the EQ construct. Personal competence encompasses self-awareness and self-management. Social competence is composed of social awareness and relationship management. Keep reading for more about personal and social competence.

How to Automate Your Business: The 3 Phases

Should you automate your business? What are the benefits of automating, and how do you accomplish it? In The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss describes why you should automate your business and the steps for how to do it. By automating, you’ll cut out a lot of work. Read more about how to automate your business processes and free up more of your time.

Common Coins Show the Limits of Your Knowledge

What are common coins? What can they tell us about how people perceive information? We use common coins in everyday life. Yet, most people don’t know what’s actually on the coin. We recognize them by simple, fast methods like size and weight, rather than looking at images, codes, or patterns. Read more about head knowledge versus knowledge of the world using the example of common coins.

The Pixar Braintrust: How Candor Leads to Great Ideas

What is the Pixar Braintrust? How does the Pixar Braintrust support open communication and solicit good ideas? The Pixar Braintrust was created by Ed Catmull. During these meetings, Pixar team members who aren’t directly involved in a particular project gather to watch material and provide feedback. Read more the Pixar Braintrust, how it worked, and what made it successful.

Pixar University: Employee Perks Improve Performance

The Importance of Continuous Learning to Life Success

What is Pixar University? How did the opportunities there fit into the overall Pixar mission? Pixar University was a program to offer learning opportunities to employees. Classes varied and included many options unrelated to work. Read more about Pixar University and its benefits.

Handling Interruptions: Don’t Get Thrown Off Track

Do you want to get better at handling interruptions? What kinds of interruptions are there and what tactics can you use? Interruptions happen every day in all areas of life. Handling interruptions can be difficult when you’re constantly having to set aside priorities to deal with other things. Read more about handling interruptions at work and in your life.

Bad Designs in Everyday Life: What Makes Them Bad?

Are there bad designs in everyday life? When are bad designs actually helpful? There are many bad designs in everyday life. There are also “bad designs” that are actually good, because they serve a specific purpose. Read more about bad designs in everyday life, and how they may actually be useful.

The Radical Candor Model for Giving Feedback

What is the Radical Candor model for giving feedback to your employees? How do you offer guidance that is helpful and empathetic? In Radical Candor by Kim Scott, a culture of candor starts with asking for feedback before giving it. Once you’re ready to start giving feedback, you can use this Radical Candor model. Keep reading for the Radical Candor model for giving feedback.

Faucet Design: Problems and Solutions for Basic Needs

What can faucet design tell us about design thinking? What kinds of faucets are out there? Faucet design is part of our everyday life, and it can be frustrating to encounter a faucet that doesn’t work. There are many effective faucet designs, which also shows how varied effective design can be. Read more about faucet design and what it can tell us about design overall.

Effective Collaboration: The Last Goal of Radical Candor

How do you encourage effective collaboration at work? How does radical candor help support collaborative relationships? Effective collaboration allows for better results and a more satisfied team. To get to collaborative relationships, there are seven steps that you should follow. Keep reading for the seven steps for facilitating effective collaboration.