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Why did the normally shy and reticent member of my team do what he did last Thursday? Why did my short-tempered, brutish CEO rise to that occasion with such warmth and largesse? For the last ten months, people have been asking me if I am myself. Who else could I possibly be? Such questions are intriguing and consequential for understanding ourselves and our organizations.
This presentation provides guidance for answering them based on Dr. Little’s work on free traits, personal projects and wellbeing. A central tenet of this perspective is that people often act out of character in order to advance their personal projects. Such behaviour may puzzle us, and we wonder what is going on. What is going on is both complex and deeply human. Audiences come away with some very practical examples of how they drive each other to distraction and with a clearer understanding of why it is essential to their organizations that they continue to do so.
The presentation merges psychological insights with an exceptionally motivating message about respect for differences between individuals. Dr. Little’s presentations have been described by highly diverse groups as ‘utterly hilarious’ and ‘profoundly moving,’ suggesting he is a ‘cross between Robin Williams and Einstein.’
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Personalities at Work
DR. BRIAN LITTLE
Distinguished ScholarUniversity of Cambridge in Psychology