Emily Kitazawa

Emily found her love of reading and writing at a young age, learning to enjoy these activities thanks to being taught them by her mom—Goodnight Moon will forever be a favorite. As a young adult, Emily graduated with her English degree, specializing in Creative Writing and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), from the University of Central Florida. She later earned her master’s degree in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University. Emily loves reading fiction, especially modern Japanese, historical, crime, and philosophical fiction. Her personal writing is inspired by observations of people and nature.

Problem-Solving in Communication: 3 Skills to Master

How does problem-solving in communication work? What skills do you need for conversational problem-solving? According to leadership expert Michael Bungay Stanier, problem-solving in communication is all about adopting a questions-first approach, which results in more productive solutions. By learning to think like a coach, you can let your curiosity lead the way when faced with a problem, says Stanier. Read on to learn Stanier’s three essential skills for problem-solving in communication.

How to Create the Ideal Workspace for Optimal Productivity

What are the qualities of an ideal workspace? How can you arrange and decorate your workspace to optimize your thinking? Science writer Annie Murphy Paul claims that creating the ideal workspace is important because where you decide to work has a significant impact on the quality of your thinking. In The Extended Mind, she provides tips for creating a workspace that optimizes your brain’s productivity. Keep reading to discover how to create the ideal workspace, according to Paul.

Coaching Principles to Live By: 3 Habits of Great Coaches

What are coaching principles? What are the three most important principles, according to coaching experts? In The Advice Trap, coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier explains his coaching style of leadership which shifts the focus away from ourselves and onto others. In his book, he defines the three coaching principles that all great coaches follow. Read on to learn about Stanier’s three coaching principles, according to his book The Advice Trap.

The Advice Trap by Michael Stanier: Book Overview

What is The Advice Trap about? Why does Michael Bungay Stanier say giving advice isn’t the best form of leadership? In The Advice Trap, coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier explains that advice-giving can lead to more problems than solutions. He encourages you, instead, to adopt a coaching style of leadership and learn to approach difficult conversations with questions instead of suggestions. Read on for a brief overview of The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier.

3 Ways to Improve Cognitive Function Using Your Body

Looking for some ways to improve cognitive function? How can you use your body to improve your cognition? According to Annie Murphy Paul, modern society is at odds with our neurobiology. In her book The Extended Mind, she explains how to improve cognitive function based on the evolutionary methods our brains thrive on—actively engaging with our bodies. Keep reading to learn three ways to improve cognitive function, according to Paul’s methods.

How to Stop Giving Unsolicited Advice at Work in 4 Steps

Why is advice-giving a common habit in the workplace? How can you stop giving unsolicited advice at work? In The Advice Trap, leadership coach Michael Bungay Stanier argues that when we use advice-driven leadership at work it creates an unproductive work environment and a lack of team confidence. To stop giving unsolicited advice, Stanier offers four steps to break the advice-giving habit. Read on to learn how to stop giving unsolicited advice, according to Stanier.

How to Listen to Your Body for Improved Cognition

What does it mean to listen to your body? How does listening to your body improve your cognitive skills? According to Annie Murphy Paul’s book The Extended Mind, actively engaging with your body means learning how to listen to your body’s subconscious knowledge. Paul argues that listening to your body unlocks a more expansive way of thinking. Read on to learn how to listen to your body to improve your cognitive skills, according to Paul.

What Is the Advice Monster? Michael Stanier Explains

What is the “advice monster?” What’s the problem with advice-giving? How can you tame your advice monster? According to author Michael Bungay Stanier, advice-giving is a widespread habit that many people find difficult to break—a habit he personifies as your “advice monster.” He claims that subduing the compulsion to give advice (i.e. taming your advice monster) is not an easy change to make. Read on to learn more about Stanier’s advice monster and how to break advice-giving habits.

Why Asking Questions Is Important (+Useful Techniques)

Why is asking questions important in communication? How can you ask better questions? According to leadership expert Michael Bungay Stanier, asking questions is important in all forms of communication because it helps you to avoid the advice-giving trap. In his book The Advice Trap, he explains the benefits of asking questions versus the drawbacks of offering suggestions. Read on to learn why asking questions is important, including Stanier’s tips for asking better questions.

How to Financially Prepare for a Recession Without Money

Wondering how to financially prepare for a recession? How can you prepare if you’re living paycheck to paycheck? For more than a year, economists have predicted that the U.S. will enter a recession. Many Americans, through no fault of their own, don’t have the financial means to take the steps that many financial experts recommend to navigate a recession. Read on to learn how to financially prepare for a recession without an emergency savings fund.