Progress-focused

People are inherently driven to grow and seek progress. This desire for progress extends to all facets of our lives – from early childhood to late old age. The question of how we can best achieve progress is not always simple. Different situations require different approaches. It can be very helpful to become familiar with four general progress strategies.

Cameron Hecht and colleagues have written an article about the importance of cultivating a growth mindset for reducing inequality in education. It provides an up-to-date insight into what growth mindset researchers are currently focusing on. Here are some key points from the article.

Recently I had a conversation with someone who eats a vegetarian diet. She asked me why I had chosen a vegan diet. I shared my arguments with her, namely that veganism is better for animals, is beneficial to health and reduces the burden on the environment . She was surprised that I mentioned health benefits of veganism, so I told her that there is a lot of scientific research that supports this. I offered to share some research data with her, but her response was unexpected. She said, 'No, never mind. I'm afraid that might leave me with no excuse not to go vegan.' A remarkable reaction, isn't it? Anyway, for those who do want to find out more, I've collected some recent studies here, all from 2023:

Below you will find an ordered overview of research updates from the past 3 months. The links point to 100 - 200 word summaries of the studies. They are in Dutch. To read them in English, use the translate button (upper right).

Through a post on LinkedIn , I came across an article by Nidhi Sachdeva about MicroLearning. As a researcher at the University of Toronto, she has focused on the need for concise and purposeful learning methods. In an ever-faster-moving world where we are bombarded with information, micro-lessons can help us learn with focus and effectiveness.

Canadian researchers Marlee Mercer and Duygu Biricik Gulseren investigated the potentially harmful consequences of negative feedback aimed at undergraduate students ( Mercer & Gulseren, 2023 ). Performance feedback is essential in higher education, especially to support students in their learning process. Giving negative feedback can also be necessary and useful. However, negative feedback can be unintentionally harmful, especially when it is more general than constructive criticism and does not target specific behaviors.

Feedback can be valuable. Feedback, information about the effects of our behavior, can help us become better at what we do. By definition, we ourselves have only a limited view of the effects of our actions. Other people look at what we do from a different perspective and can therefore see different things. In addition, they may have more or different knowledge and skills, so that their feedback can be extra instructive for us. Whether these positive effects of feedback are realized, however, depends on what the feedback is about and how effectively the feedback is provided. But when do you give feedback and how do you do it effectively? Read more about that question below.

Just over 10 years ago, there was a scandal about the psychologist Diederik Stapel, who had committed fraud on a large scale in his investigations. Recently, there have been some reports about scientists who probably did not act ethically. 

Difficult conversations play a central role in personal development, conflict resolution, and social progress. These conversations can range from parents discussing sensitive topics like death and racism to professionals needing to convey uncomfortable truths. A recent publication by Emma Levine, a University of Chicago honesty researcher, which she co-authored with several colleagues, sheds new light on the complex dynamics of awkward conversations.

  What values and goals young people embrace has a major impact on the identity they develop, how they function, and how good they feel. If so, then the next question is important: what kinds of values and goals are good for us and which are less good? Broadly speaking, there are two types of answers for which there is some evidence but which are at odds with each other: the self-determination theory ( Ryan & Deci, 2017 ) and the person-environment fit perspective ( Kristof-Brown et al., 2005 ).

  Do you know the following feeling? You go to a conference or a farewell reception, and you walk into a room full of strangers. You feel insecure and find it scary to approach people to start a conversation. You worry about whether they will like you and whether you will make a positive impression on them. Just because they look at you kindly doesn't automatically mean you like them. People are good at acting sometimes. If you recognize this kind of insecurity in yourself, read on. A study by Boothby et al. (2018) shows surprising findings that are important for the types of situations described above.

Behavioral change is a complex and challenging process that plays a central role in many aspects of life, from health to productivity and sustainability. Researchers Gail McMillan, Marina Milyavskaya, and Rachel J. Burns have recently explored this topic, with a focus on how contextual changes can influence the potential for behavior change. Their study sheds new light on behavior change, providing interesting insights that may be useful to individuals and policymakers.

 In 1997, American comedian Bob Newhart surprised the public with an absurd sketch about a therapist, Dr. Switzer, whose method of advice seems completely ridiculous at first glance. However, this humorous portrayal highlights a deeper truth about behavior change.

Recently, Itzchakov et al. (2023) examined the influence of listening quality on feelings of loneliness, especially in people who have shared an experience of social rejection. The researchers expected that high-quality listening, defined as behavior that conveys attention, understanding, and positive intentions, would have several positive effects on the person telling about the painful experience.

In a new review article, Lemay, Le, Clark (2023) describe research into the impact of good listening on relationships. Here I will briefly discuss some things from their article.

In a new study, Crystal Hoyt, Jeni Burnette, Emma Nash, and Whitney Becker from the University of Richmond examine the societal implications of growth mindsets regarding anxiety (Hoyt et al., 2023) . They consider whether the personal benefits offered by such a mindset can have unintended adverse social effects.

Intuitively, we tend to stay in our comfort zones to feel safe and secure. But researchers Russo-Netzer & Cohen (2023) suspected that we would do well to regularly step outside our comfort zone. They investigated whether this could increase people's life satisfaction.

What is effective leadership? The effective leader was once seen as the undisputed, dominant authority who understood everything and made every decision. But our view of what constitutes effective and acceptable leadership has transformed significantly over the years. Ancient beliefs about leadership were heavily based on dogmas and intuitions. But we can no longer rely solely on our intuitions when it comes to determining leadership quality. Empirical research has proven its necessity in discovering what really works in leadership. Psychological science offers indispensable methods and crucial insights. In this article, I dive deeper into some of these studies, which illustrate how empirical science has fundamentally changed our view of leadership.

German researchers Emily Kleszewski and Kathleen Otto conducted a study to understand the effects of different forms of perfectionism on employee well-being. To design their research, they relied on a combination of the literature on perfectionism and the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to investigate this. It turned out that different forms of perfectionism have different effects on our well-being at work.

Human behavior is a puzzle that scientists are trying to understand. A group of researchers, led by Kaitlyn M. Werner of the University of Toronto, recently looked at a peculiar piece of this puzzle: perfectionism. They wondered whether frustration with our basic psychological needs – autonomy, competence and relatedness – influences the degree of perfectionism we display.

How important is autonomy support in the workplace? A favorable working environment can have a significant impact on employee well-being. But what factors contribute to these favorable conditions? Recent research by Mokgata et al. (2022) shows that the degree of autonomy employees experience in their workplace is essential for their work performance and engagement. This article discusses the results of this important study, explains how different forms of support contribute to perceived autonomy and illustrates how these factors influence work behavior.

In 2020, after meeting Donald Trump and five others, American politician Chris Christie ended up seriously ill with COVID-19 in the hospital's intensive care unit. He barely survived. During his stay, he received a call from Trump, also infected, who asked that Christie not tell the press that he contracted the disease from him. Christie agreed, ignorant of who had infected whom. Later, Christie learned confidentially from two reporters that Trump had told them that Christie had given him COVID. It later turned out that Trump had already tested positive for COVID before the meeting with Christie ( source ). An intriguing paradox of our time is the phenomenon where leaders who have been publicly exposed as chain liars still retain a significant following. Striking examples are Donald Trump and Boris Johnson . It's as if their dishonesty has some sort of attraction, even after their lies are exposed. This paradox raises a pressing question: why do people continue to support dish

Growth mindset promotion through value alignment can lead to better school performance and less inequality. Education is constantly looking for ways to improve the school performance of students. Another important goal is to reduce inequality in education. The challenge is to discover how we can achieve this in the most effective way. Recent research by three American researchers offers a possible solution. They developed an intervention aimed at promoting a growth mindset in students.

We live in a world where technological progress is the order of the day. A remarkable book that explores this dynamic has recently begun to attract attention. Entitled ' Power and Progress ', the book explores the complex interaction between technological development, especially artificial intelligence (AI), and socio-economic change. Written by Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson, two economists from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the book is currently getting a lot of interest. Although I haven't read the book myself yet, the reviews I've seen make me curious.

Technological complexity and economic challenges are growing aspects of our time. Companies and governments are increasingly looking for help from consultants. These consultants provide strategic advice and operational expertise. However, economists Mariana Mazzucato and Rosie Collington warn in their book " The Big Con ". They signal the dangers of this growing dependency. This article describes some implications of their analysis, additions from the review of the English version of the book, and some possible solutions.

Today, many people see stress mainly as something negative. But recent research by Alia Crum and her colleagues shows that our perception of stress can make a significant difference. Furthermore, it shows that training our metacognition – our thinking about thinking – can help us change our stress mindset from negative to positive. In this article, we first examine what a stress mindset entails and why it is important. We then describe Crum's research and delve into three recent experiments exploring the power of metacognition in stress management. The Importance of a Stress Mindset Research by David Yeager and colleagues has already shown that our perception of stress matters a great deal ( read more ). How we look at our own stress response in challenging circumstances plays a crucial role. A negative stress mindset interprets your own stress as an indication that you are going to fail. This mindset amplifies your stress, undermines your motivation and performance, and can inc

A growth mindset intervention can increase interest in math and science. A new study by O'Keefe et al. (2023) examines how students' perceptions of their interests can influence how they perform in certain subjects. The research is specifically about exact subjects and mathematics. It's common for students to label themselves as "not a math or science person." This can limit their academic performance and development. But what if we can change this mindset?

Recent research has shown that our perceptions of intelligence and ability can have implications for learning, inclusiveness and diversity in educational and professional settings. This article reviews a paper by Porter & Cimplian (2023) and a paper by Muradoglu et al. (2023), each offering unique insight into this issue. 1. The Impact of Intellectual Humility on Learning The research by Porter & Cimplian (2023) emphasizes the importance of intellectual humility – the ability to admit confusion, ignorance and mistakes – in the learning process. Their research shows that environments that emphasize intellectual prowess often discourage the expression of intellectual humility. Another important finding was that math emerged as the subject in which students struggled most to express intellectual humility, more than subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology. How does express itself? Think about a typical math class, where students often feel uncomfortable asking questions

John Hattie, is an education scientist at the University of Melbourne. He is well known in the education world for his 2008 book Visible Learning . The follow-up to this book, Visible Learning: The Seque l, was recently published. Below you can read a little more about Hattie's work.

Who these days is not concerned with the question of how AI systems, such as ChatGPT, will change our work and life? For example, many people have already experimented with ChatGPT and many enjoy using it. Some think that AI will take over large parts of our work in the future, while others are skeptical. Here are some recent findings I've come across and some reflections.

The American Dream, the belief in the possibility that everyone in the US, regardless of background, can achieve success through hard work and determination, has always attracted attention. But what does "success" mean? Is it wealth, fame and beauty – the so-called extrinsic goals ? Or is it perhaps the pursuit of personal growth, relationships, health, and giving to the community – the intrinsic goals ?

The process of personal growth is often accompanied by the experience of discomfort. This is because it usually means stepping outside of our comfort zone. For example, when we learn a new skill, it can feel uncomfortable because it is unfamiliar and we may make mistakes. So discomfort is often a natural part of learning and growing. We can tend to see it as a necessary evil that comes with learning. It can also lead us to learn and grow but prefer to get out of the way.

Human interactions are complex and often characterized by misunderstandings and misinterpretations. A well-known phenomenon is the liking gap , which is the phenomenon that we tend to underestimate how much others like us. This can lead to unnecessary feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. In this article, I discuss a related concept, the thought gap, based on an article by Cooney et al. (2021) . What is the thought gap, and what does it mean for our daily lives and professional interactions?

I read about an interesting approach to organizational change that fits well with progress-focused working and that emphasizes continuity in organizational change.

I have previously written about how irrational beliefs can be harmful  and also how they can be difficult to change due to some systemic and psychological obstacles . But beliefs can change and believing they cannot change can cause us to stop talking honestly about our beliefs, creating polarization and making progress more difficult. With that in mind, here I am sharing my top 6 harmful beliefs plus a brief explanation of why they are so dangerous in my eyes. Hopefully, these thoughts will provoke further reflection.

Work occupies a central place in our lives, not only because it provides a livelihood, but also because it can be a source of personal fulfillment and social recognition. Meaningful work contributes to our general well-being and can have a significant impact on our mental health. In this article I discuss a new paper by the Finnish psychologist and philosopher Frank Martela about what is now the core of meaning in work.

Last week, three people told me that they had considered resigning, in all cases because of a controlling management style of their supervisor. The first person shared that his boss was blunt and then claimed that as a manager you just have to be “a bit of a jerk”. The second person described how his supervisor was constantly coercive, controlling and suspicious to the frustration of several people on the team. The third person complained that her supervisor did not involve her and her colleagues in important decisions and always presented them with fait accomplis. Although they had not finally decided to resign, all three of them were seriously considering it.

I came across an interesting article on Fast Company. The article explains the so-called SSG method for effective communication , developed by David Rock , co-founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute. Rock focuses on applying neuroscientific insights to leadership and organizational development. He has authored several books, including Your Brain at Work and Quiet Leadership, and is a pioneer in the field of neuroscience and leadership.

It is important for teachers to realize that the mindset of students can influence their performance and growth. Having a growth mindset —the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort—is important for success. However, did you know that the mindset of the teacher can also influence the performance of students? Research by Heyder, Steinmayr & Cimpian (2023) shows that deliberate reflection on teaching can contribute to the development of a growth mindset in teachers.

In this article , I wrote that self-determination theory research shows that when we engage in activities that are in line with our values, we feel and function better. A reader was interested in this and asked me for literature references showing this. You can read my answer here.

Brian Klaas, researcher in London and columnist at the Washington Post, has written a book that is very relevant to the times in which we live. The book is called “ Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us. ” It deals with questions such as: Why is it that bad people so often end up in positions of power? How can we ensure that the right good people end up in positions of power? and Does power corrupt or are people with corrupt tendencies just more likely to end up in positions of power?

To assess a country's overall well-being, it is crucial to consider both objective factors and material resources. These may include access to healthcare, education, clean water, among other essential services. For further insight into this area of research, please read this . Alongside these objective measures, it is equally important to examine psychological aspects and their impact on individuals' overall well-being and satisfaction. Psychological factors have been found to play a significant role in this regard. In fact, recent studies have explored the relationship between basic psychological needs and subjective well-being across various European countries.

The D-Factor , also known as the Dark Factor of Personality (D), is the following deep-seated belief held by some individuals: in the world we live in, it is justified and necessary to promote one's self-interest at the expense of the interests of others.” This D-factor turns out to be a common factor underlying all sorts of negative traits ( read more ). It has been researched in relation to various social and political phenomena, such as conspiracy theories, populism and responses to global issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

We regularly get questions about self-fulfilling prophecies, positive thinking, karma and the law of attraction. Do these phenomena really exist? How much value should we place on them?

Wisdom is invariably associated with life experience, by both laymen and experts. If it is true that wisdom develops through life experience, how does that work? And what kinds of life experiences are involved? Is it about situations in which we find ourselves more or less spontaneously? Or is it about specific situations that we have to look for specifically? Spontaneously? Or specially searched experiences?

The challenges of school closures due to COVID have been significant for many young people. Recent research points to two factors that may support young people to stay motivated with schoolwork during such periods.

Progress can occur in various aspects of life, and technology has the potential to drive significant changes, ideally for the better. One technology that has gained attention recently is blockchain. In a previous article , I explored the potential of blockchain as a powerful source of progress.  Despite the challenges faced by centralized financial institutions and some major centralized organizations in the cryptocurrency world, I maintain a positive outlook on the potential of blockchain and crypto to make progress. Even though I am not an expert in this domain and acknowledge its complexity, I am still extremely fascinated and committed to it. Consequently, it may be valuable to re-examine the fundamentals of blockchain and cryptocurrency and explore their potential for driving progress.

I recently spoke to a person over 50 about all kinds of things she had learned, was learning, and wanted to continue learning. She said she felt that life actually gave her more options now than when she was young. She concluded: Old age doesn't just come with infirmity. That sentence stuck in my head. Read below why I think that sentence holds a lot of truth.

In a LinkedIn post by Jan Rotmans , professor of sustainability in Rotterdam and author of the book Omarm de chaos , I came across the concept of ' illusion of powerlessness '.

Within self-determination theory , much attention has been devoted for years to the positive effects of supporting basic psychological needs. Somewhat less attention has been paid to the undermining of motivation and functioning through frustration of needs. A new study looks at both.

We live in a time of great changes in our societies. Organizations must continue to innovate to succeed in a changing society, which requires leaders and managers to foster a culture that fosters creativity and innovation and to continue to explore new ways to innovate and grow. If innovation is also important in your organization, it can be useful to take note of the cruelty incentive .