Skip to main content

Naomi Karten's Blog

Blog

Naomi Karten's Blog

Naomi Karten has always been fascinated by human behavior. In this blog, she focuses on observations, thoughts, ideas, and the wisdom of others as it concerns people and how they function (or don’t), particularly in organizations.

Uncertainty about Uncertainty
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
May 15 2012 - 12:07pm
A few years ago, I read an article by Daniel Gilbert called “What You Don’t Know Makes You Nervous.” Gilbert is a Harvard University professor of psychology and author of the superb book, “Stumbling on Happiness.” When I read the article, I agreed with most of his points. Now, I’m wondering about possible exceptions.
Read Moreshare
Outside-the-Box Thinking? Maybe Not.
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Apr 24 2012 - 12:44pm
If I had a donut for every time someone advocated thinking outside the box, I would be too bloated to squeeze into the box to point out the potential flaws in this idea.The problem with outside-the-box thinking is that we often do a dismal job of thinking inside the box. We fall victim to familiar traps, such as doing things the same old ineffective way or discounting the ideas of colleagues,...
Read Moreshare
How to Cope with Troublesome People
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
| Comments: (1)
Apr 11 2012 - 11:36am
I recently read yet another post about dealing with difficult people. These articles are often based on the premise that something is wrong with these people and your challenge is not to change anything you’re doing, but to find ways to tolerate their undesirable behavior.
Read Moreshare
To Whom It May Concern: Thank You
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
| Comments: (1)
Apr 4 2012 - 3:10pm
When I received a printed note from a client after speaking at the company’s annual sales conference, I received a valuable lesson about the personal touch – or the lack thereof.The note says: “Thank you for helping to make our Sales University a great success! Your participation made this year’s a valuable learning experience. We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to future...
Read Moreshare
How Customers Describe Negative Experiences
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Mar 22 2012 - 12:41pm
When people have negative experiences, they can’t wait to tell others. They tell them in person, they blog, they tweet, they post comments on ratings websites. Any way they can communicate their tales of woe, they do.But that’s not all. I’ve noticed that when people relate a negative experience, they add details. They focus on fine points. They stress certain parts of the story out of proportion...
Read Moreshare
Before You Create Your Next Presentation
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Mar 12 2012 - 10:38am
Are you going to be giving a sales presentation any time soon? Don’t let the word “sales” mislead you; most presentations have a sales angle to them. Whether you’re selling a product, service, strategy, idea, way of thinking, or course of action, you’re trying to persuade your listeners to take some action or adopt a certain behavior or mindset.
Read Moreshare
An Obvious Bug or a Deliberate Strategy?
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Feb 21 2012 - 6:00pm
A friend of mine wanted a new ski jacket. He decided to order several jackets online, pick the one he liked best, and return the rest.He ordered four jackets from Store #1 and two jackets from Store #2. The total came to four figures.When he received the six jackets, he picked out the one he liked best. It was from Store #2. He returned all four jackets to Store #1 and the second jacket to Store...
Read Moreshare
On Deadline
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Feb 5 2012 - 1:42pm
Here’s a fascinating factoid: The word “deadline” — something every project manager and software professional knows well — didn’t originally have anything to do with due dates. Apparently, the term arose during Civil War times. A deadline was an actual line, indicated by a fence or railing or by a line in the dirt, intended to restrict the movement of prisoners in Civil War stockades.
Read Moreshare
Apologies, or How to Make 1 + 1 = 0
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Jan 11 2012 - 5:04pm
An apology can help to defuse anger. That’s common sense. But it’s encouraging to read about research that confirms this fact.
Read Moreshare
Reflections on a Moment of Conflict
Blog Post
by Naomi Karten
Dec 15 2011 - 12:53pm
At an informal gathering, I overheard Carlie ask some advice of Brad about a serious problem she’d been coping with. It wasn’t a private conversation; I was sitting nearby and heard it all. But it was clearly a personal conversation and so I stayed out of it.Then Andy arrived. He approached Brad, and without noticing that a conversation was in progress -- and a serious one at that -- he barged in...
Read Moreshare
Site Contents
Back To Top