Blog - Achim Nowak

The Nurse Lessons

Written by Achim Nowak

I had 2 hospital stays last month. Was taken care of by over 100 nurses. Here’s what my encounters with nurses taught me.

In Praise of Impeccable Training

Written by Achim Nowak

As I get ready for a surgery, I celebrate the power of clear performance standards and first-rate training. We can harness this power in EVERY workplace. Let’s go.

The Beauty of Power Sprints

Written by Achim Nowak

Time and personal energy. How we harness these 2 factors exponentially impacts the quality of every effort. Let us deploy them with impeccable intention, please.

4 VERY Annoying People. Be Prepared

Written by Achim Nowak

Annoying people will show up at every stage of your career. Guaranteed. There are ways of being prepared. Responding differently. Be ready.

How To NOT Be A Brilliant Jerk

Written by Achim Nowak

Brilliant thinking can be a beautiful thing. Being a jerk never is. More often than not, these behaviors go hand-in-hand. Let’s de-couple.

Why HUNGER Trumps EXPERIENCE

Written by Achim Nowak

David Cole, former CEO of Honeywell, has no doubt. Hunger is worth more than experience, he asserts. Amen. Here’s why.

Personal Chemistry Is NOT a Lucky Accident. Go Get Some.

Written by Achim Nowak

We don’t have personal chemistry with everyone. Successful folks, however, have more chemistry with more people. Here’s how you get some!

You, Too, Can Be A NEPO BABY!

Written by Achim Nowak

No, you’re not the child of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. You have not won an Academy Award. But the same NEPO playbook applies to you!

Stop Being a LAZY Communicator, Please!

Written by Achim Nowak

We worship at the altar of efficiency. Efficiency in communication is a gift. Over-efficiency, however, may lead us to miss color, nuance, context. Don’t!

Are You Helping or Micro-Managing?

Written by Achim Nowak

You love to help. You hate being micromanaged. How do you ensure that your own helping instincts don’t become micromanagement?

The Gifts of Succinctness

Written by Achim Nowak

In film and in social media, every communication is edited before we receive it. In an everyday person-to-person chat, you and I are our own editors. Edit well, please.

The Zelenskyy Files

Written by Achim Nowak

He wasn’t supposed to be a great leader. Turns out, Zelenskyy is. What leaders everywhere can learn from Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Lean Into CONFLICT a Little More, OK?

Written by Achim Nowak

Avoiding conflict gets us the illusion that we get along with everyone. It also fuels a lot of inner rage. Why not lean into conflict a little more?

Is Your ACTIVE Listening ACTIVE Enough?

Written by Achim Nowak

We stop talking, validate, paraphrase. Think again. Mature Active Listening involves a heck of lot more than that.

Social Power Is Real. Play With It WELL.

Written by Achim Nowak

Our impact in the world is diminished when we don’t understand personal power. Ours, and that of others. Learn the hidden language of power. Speak it well.