People love their AI companions. And they’re increasingly relying on AI to navigate the hardest parts of human relationships. Between 2022 and mid-2025, the number of AI companion apps surged by 700%. Surveys have found that seven in 10 Gen Zers use AI to navigate workplace conflicts, and about half use it in their dating…
Every job, when you boil it down, is simply people talking to other people. As a career coach, I’ve advised professionals at all career stages. From what I’ve seen, the people who get ahead the fastest know how to communicate in a way that truly gets people to listen. You may not realize it, but the…
You may be familiar with the “fight, flight, or freeze” survival responses. But there’s another “F” word: the fawn response, which is perhaps less recognized, but is the one I most commonly see as a psychotherapist, and one that I have experienced in my own life. Fawning is about appeasing a threat, either real or…
We’ve all been there: You’re nursing a mistake or wrestling with a tough decision when suddenly someone swoops in with “helpful” advice you never asked for. Instead of feeling supported, you feel judged and second-guessed. There’s a psychological reason why advice that we didn’t ask for often stings. Research shows that unsolicited advice threatens autonomy…
Burnout shows up as feeling constantly exhausted, emotionally checked out from work, and struggling to get things done effectively. Delmaine Donson | E+ | Getty Images Burnout is a growing concern across industries, but artificial intelligence is quietly changing the game. Recognized by the World Health Organization as an “occupational phenomenon,” burnout is more than…
Young workers are coming to the office more than all other age groups, a recent global study by real estate firm JLL found. Keeproll | E+ | Getty Images As Gen Z workers return to the office, they’re reshaping corporate norms by embracing AI, normalizing mental health chats, and being more authentic at work. …
You’ve probably worked hard to build positive relationships. But what if, despite your best intentions, your communication is coming off as judgmental? As the author of “Managing Up,” an executive coach to top performers at the world’s biggest companies, and a professor of human behavior, I’ve seen how certain phrases — even ones that sound…
