Welcome to Leadership Lab with Wendy Hultmark!
This is a monthly newsletter where I share light-bite content on a variety of topics related to leadership in today’s world and times. Whether in the sciences or creative spaces, the word lab has come to be associated with a space for experimentation, innovation, and collaboration.
In this space, I will share tips worth passing on, words I have found worthy of reflection, and the occasional funny story to keep it all in perspective.
It turns out there’s a name for that.
Leading for stability in a volatile world.
Calling all scientists!
I’m starting a new group program just for you. Beyond The Bench is a unique, intimate community where scientists can connect across disciplines for peer advice and leadership development. Give and get advice from people who understand your world, as well as leadership and career development strategies to sustain your professional path forward. Meetings are twice-monthly, and participation is curated and capped at 10 people to ensure the meetings are useful for all.
Apply by April 25th to join the first cohort in May.
To learn more and apply, visit www.wendyhultmark.com/beyond-the-bench.
It turns out there’s a name for that.
Dealing with colleagues who manipulate and deflect blame is, hands-down, one of the biggest challenges I see with my clients and students when we’re on the topic of building trust. There are ways to deal with “garden variety” poor behavior. And then there’s something called DARVO, which Arthur Brooks elaborates on in his recent article in The Atlantic. DARVO stands for “Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender”.
If you have ever confronted a colleague about bad behavior and found yourself being asked to apologize or that the conversation otherwise stealthily shifts to you as the offender, this article is a good read, or at least a cathartic one.
Brooks’ best advice (spoiler alert, y’all) is to avoid the person. But at work, this isn’t always possible. I would add, then, that you also have the option to objectively identify what’s going on, offer a separate conversation to address any concern that they have about your behavior, and return the conversation to the concern you originally raised.
Leading for stability in a volatile world.
When I started my coaching practice in 2021, as we came out of the pandemic and a period of great social unrest, the world felt plenty volatile. Dealing with a world in flux is indeed the norm, as much or more than it has ever been in the past. During such times, it can feel like your sphere of influence is small and shrinking. Leaders need to seek out and point to what is stable, or not changing, for themselves and for their teams.
Creating a routine for yourself, doing daily check-ins, and highlighting wins—these are all great ways to focus, remain hopeful, and move forward.
Work with me here.
Job Seekers’ Office Hours
On Fridays during the month of May, from 12 to 1 pm EST, I will host free office hours for job seekers. You can register for the first one on May 2nd right here. During this drop-in-style Zoom meeting, bring questions about your LinkedIn profile, interview preparation, negotiation, and more.
Beyond the Bench
Registration is open for my new peer group for scientists! Learn more on my website.
