David Kahn, Author at TalentCulture

Suicide Squad’s Three Steps to Turning Enemies Into Allies

Have you ever experienced a workplace rivalry? Moving beyond healthy competition, I’m referring to opposition that is counterproductive to both you and your organization’s success. It can be as obvious as jockeying against an adversary for a promotion, or as subtle as a colleague undermining your authority, abilities, or accomplishments. In some extreme cases, it can feel like we are being forced to work on a team with psychopathic criminals. No wait, that’s the plot for the new movie Suicide Squad. In DC Comic’s movie Suicide Squad, a secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to perform dangerous missions in exchange for clemency.

5 Ways to Earn Trust: The Ultimate Competitive Advantage

Are you looking for that leadership silver bullet that will propel you past the competition? You can take public speaking courses and enroll in an MBA program or you can attempt the single easiest feat for which an individual can strive, trustworthiness. Leadership is built on one core concept—trust. Without it, you can forgo every other attribute espoused by management experts. Confidence without trust is an egomaniac. Charisma without trust is a charlatan. And vision without trust is a hypocrite. This was supported by a meta-analysis study from leading trust researcher and Georgetown University professor Daniel McAllister. Published in the Academy

Reenfranchising Your Company’s Disenfranchised

If 2016 taught me anything, it’s that I may have overestimated how tuned in I am to large segments of the population. I would not call this group a silent majority (as they are neither “silent” nor a “majority”), but recent political events have reinforced my need to engage and find common ground with those who feel alienated. In his recent movie, Imperium. Daniel Radcliffe plays a FBI agent who goes undercover in a white-supremacy group. According to Radcliffe, “…my biggest takeaway from this film is that, as much as we want to demonize these people and in a way demonize

A Holiday Survival Guide from the Hallmark Channel

During the holiday season, “good will to all” is an easy leadership reminder. Have you considered the Hallmark Channel for a few more? This week begins my favorite television viewing time of the year. Early Fall is nice with the unveiling of new shows, and the sweeps months always offer excitement, but the holidays marks the Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas.” My excitement is not a hipster attempt at being ironical. I really like these made-for-television movies. I concede that they are cheesy, yet they are also fun, heartwarming, and a rare occasion when my wife and I can enjoy some

Why I Won’t Play Pokémon Go

Do you struggle to maintain concentration? Technology and its foreboding “nowhere to hide” mindset has certainly not helped. Thankfully, there are ways we can limit workplace distractions without having to abandon our smartphones. Unlike most smartphone owners, I have not downloaded the app sensation, Pokémon Go. While I am typically first in line to consume pop culture, I’m familiar enough with my bad habits to know that the minute this game is uploaded to my phone, I would become obsessed to the point of atrophy. Case in point, I am still haunted by the wasteful Candy Crush summer of 2012. My

Confidence, Conceit, and Narcissism: Who is the Real Leader in Peanuts?

In the age-old question regarding what traits make a leader, likeability is commonly listed. However, as Charlie Brown (and research) shows, your team’s affection may be overrated. When you think of the Peanuts’ gang, who is the leader? If your initial answer is Charlie Brown, I respectfully disagree. Charlie may be at the center of almost all the stories, but he is constantly stepped on, disrespected, and ignored. He lacks confidence and cannot even muster a simple “hello” to the red-haired girl he’s been infatuated with since 1961. Others may suggest that the leader of Charles Schulz’s classic comic strip is

The Science of Intuition from a Future Rock, Paper, Scissors Champion

I am thrilled to announce that I am one step closer to fulfilling my dream as a professional athlete. Baseball? I’m too slow. Football? I’m too old (and weak). No, I am in training to join the USA Rock, Paper, Scissors League. Before you begin arguing over whether Rock, Paper, Scissors is a sport, you should know that I define a sport as anything airing on ESPN and, as you can see here, the USA Rock, Paper, Scissors League Championship was on ESPN 2 live from Las Vegas. Dubbed “the greatest duel in sports” by one of the announcers, David “The Brain” Borne was taken down

When is Consensus a Bad Thing? The Three Stooges on Dissension

In a society where people have the right to voice their opinions, a leader’s role is often to find consensus. On the occasion when everyone agrees, it’s tempting to sigh in relief and start happy hour a little early. If this is the case, fight the temptation; your lack of conflict is a drawback. Successful organizations need dissent. That’s why I want a little Three Stooges on my team. Who better demonstrates the bickering, questioning, and debating that a healthy team requires? If you look beyond the physical attacks, Larry, Moe, and Curly/Shemp hold each other accountable. They avoid groupthink, the

Dr. Seuss on the Paradox of Choice

Ever been presented with a litany of options only to find yourself disappointed by the results? As Dr. Seuss shows, too many options is not always a good thing. Growing up, I was a big fan of Dr. Seuss books – I Wish I Had Duck Feet and Green Eggs and Ham were personal favorites. My interest was renewed once I had kids. So I was thrilled when a previously unpublished Seuss book had been discovered. What Pet Should I Get? tells the story of a brother and sister who are given the task of picking one pet to bring home

How Impostor Syndrome Hampers Your Success

Why do we resist accepting our accomplishments? I’ve meet too many successful people who suffer from impostor syndrome. These are individuals who (despite the evidence) remain convinced they are frauds, believing they do not deserve their success. Whitney Cummings is one such individual. Whitney Cummings is a prominent comedian. She’s had her own prime time network show, appears on the wildly popular Comedy Central Roasts, is co-creator of the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, and sells out every stand up gig she books. Yet in a recent interview, she stated: “I have Career Dysmorphia. I think I’m a complete failure.

Don’t Binge-Watch Your Workplace Culture

In our new age of television where shows are rarely viewed live, there’s little need to wait for next week’s episode. While Walking Dead and Better Call Saul may require my immediate attention, my DVR is full of entire seasons of programs just waiting for me to have a free weekend. This “binge-watching” is an effortless way to watch hours of television, but what are we losing by removing that which we would otherwise anticipate? In the past, shows were predicated on having to wait until next week to find out what happened. Who shot JR? Why is there a polar

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David Kahn

David Kahn

Suicide Squad’s Three Steps to Turning Enemies Into Allies

5 Ways to Earn Trust: The Ultimate Competitive Advantage

Reenfranchising Your Company’s Disenfranchised

A Holiday Survival Guide from the Hallmark Channel

Confidence, Conceit, and Narcissism: Who is the Real Leader in Peanuts?

The Science of Intuition from a Future Rock, Paper, Scissors Champion

When is Consensus a Bad Thing? The Three Stooges on Dissension

Dr. Seuss on the Paradox of Choice

How Impostor Syndrome Hampers Your Success

Don’t Binge-Watch Your Workplace Culture

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David Kahn

David Kahn

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