Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

The Effective Executive: Book Review (Peter Drucker)

Is Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive worth reading? How does the author define effectiveness? The Effective Executive, a 1966 classic by management expert Peter F. Drucker, explains how to manage yourself to be effective. He defines effectiveness as choosing and doing the right things—that is, the things that significantly improve personal and organizational performance. This The Effective Executive book review takes a look at the book’s context, background, and critical reception by the readers.

Sexual Monogamy: Why Do We Value It So Much?

What is monogamy and why do we value it? Are humans naturally monogamous? Where does our obsession with sexual monogamy stem from? According to couples therapist Esther Perel, our values for sexual monogamy were instilled in childhood. As babies, our parents were utterly devoted to us, and monogamy is our way of recreating this connection. People who didn’t have a connection like this with their mothers as children often want this connection even more than those who did experience it. In this article, we’ll discuss how our views on monogamy changed throughout history, and why we value it so much.

Asymmetric Information in Economics: Explained

What do economists mean when they talk about “asymmetric information”? What role does the asymmetricity of information about products/services play in the functioning of an economy? In economics, asymmetric information refers to the situation where one party has more information about the product/service than the other. Information, and who has access to it, have an outsized influence on how smoothly an economy runs. A free flow of information allows for easy and smart transactions. In this article, we’ll explain asymmetric information and discuss its implications for individuals, firms, and economic policy.

Simon Sinek on Ethical Fading in the Workplace

What is ethical fading? What are the main factors that cause employees to behave unethically? Ethical fading is when people engage in increasingly unethical behavior while convincing themselves that they are acting fairly and properly. According to Simon Sinek, ethical fading happens for three reasons: 1) poorly designed incentives, 2) rationalization and 3) reliance on rigid and impersonal structures in place of enlightened leadership. We explore each of these below.

The Best Negotiation Questions in an Interrogation

What questions should you ask in a negotiation to get the information you need from your counterpart? Should you ask “why” questions? According to Chriss Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, the best questions to ask your counterpart during negotiation are open-ended “how” or “what” questions. Unlike the accusatory “why” questions, these questions lead them along to the conclusion that you want them to reach—all the while convincing them that your desired solution is their idea. Keep reading to learn about the power of open-ended negotiation questions, why they work, and how to use them to your advantage.

Breast Cancer: Causes and Prevention Measures

How deadly is breast cancer? What is the main cause of breast cancer? Can breast cancer be prevented? Around 41,000 people die from breast cancer and 230,000 are diagnosed annually. A number of different factors can contribute to the risk of developing breast cancer, many of which are related to lifestyle. Therefore, the likelihood of breast cancer can be significantly reduced by making healthy lifestyle choices. Keep reading to learn about breast cancer causes and prevention.

How to Be Effective: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Do you feel busy yet unproductive? Do you struggle to manage yourself? Many people struggle with managing themselves, and as a result, end up spending time doing the wrong things—things that keep them busy yet aren’t relevant or only tangentially relevant to their priorities. In his book The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker explains how to manage yourself to be effective. He defines effectiveness as choosing and doing the right things—that is, the things that significantly improve personal and organizational performance. Keep reading for Drucker’s expert advice on how to be effective.

Iatrogenic Death: Death From Medical Treatment

What is iatrogenic death? Is it possible to lower the patient’s risk of dying from medical treatment? Iatrogenic death is death caused by medical treatment. Although medical treatment outcomes are often out of patients’ control, there are some things that can be done to lower its risks. Here’s are some ways iatrogenic death can be avoided.

The 2 Elements of Feedback and How to Deliver Them

Mastering the Art of Giving Feedback in the Workplace

What constitutes effective feedback? How can you ensure that your feedback is acted upon? According to Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen, the authors of Thanks for the Feedback, there are just two elements of feedback: 1) the looking-back element, and 2) the looking-forward element. To ensure your feedback is taken on board, make sure that the receiver understands both parts. Here is how to structure feedback to ensure both the giver and the receiver are on the same page.

How Visualizing Your Goals Can Turn Against You

Do you believe that visualizing your dreams can help you make them a reality? What if it has the opposite effect? You might have heard self-help gurus talk about the power of visualizing your goals. While visualizing the desired final outcome of your efforts could be helpful in keeping your goals top of mind, too much visualization can actually have the opposite effect. Here is why goal visualization can sometimes be a double-edged sword.