How Kindness Can Make You Unbeatable at Work and Connect You with Anyone with Adrienne Bankert

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May 25, 2022

Adrienne Bankert, an Emmy award-winning journalist and author of "Your Hidden Superpower," shares how kindness can transform your professional life. She highlights the power of deliberate kindness in overcoming negativity and building relationships. Adrienne also provides practical tips for delivering constructive criticism and fostering genuine connections, especially in virtual environments. With insights on mentorship and storytelling, she emphasizes that kindness is not just a personal trait, but a strategic advantage in any career.

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ADVICE

Kindness as a Superpower

Kindness is a superpower: It stabilizes others and inspires yourself.
Practice kindness intentionally, especially during uncertain times.

ANECDOTE

Kindness in Conversation

Adrienne Bankert shares how choosing not to correct someone's error during a podcast was an act of kindness.
Letting them continue speaking allowed them to self-correct, avoiding direct criticism.

ADVICE

The "Hot Mic" Reminder

Imagine being recorded to stay mindful of reactions.
Ask: would you want this on video for the world to see?

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Your Hidden Superpower

Adrienne Bankert

In 'Your Hidden Superpower', Adrienne Bankert explores how kindness can be a game-changer in business and personal relationships. She provides insights on how to cultivate kindness as a habit, leading to greater peace, inspiration, and impact. The book emphasizes kindness as a key to authenticity, confidence, and personal fulfillment.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Dale Carnegie

First published in 1936, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie is a timeless guide to improving interpersonal skills. The book is divided into four main sections: Six Ways to Make People Like You, Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment. Carnegie's principles emphasize the importance of genuine interest in others, active listening, and avoiding criticism and argument. The book offers practical advice on how to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and influence others by aligning their self-interest with yours. It has been a cornerstone of personal development and business success for generations[2][3][5].

Backable

The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You

Suneel Gupta

In 'Backable,' Suneel Gupta argues that the key to success lies in the ability to persuade others to believe in you. The book outlines a 7-step plan and includes 26 practical pointers for becoming 'backable.' Gupta draws lessons from hundreds of the world’s biggest thinkers, including producers of Oscar-winning films, members of Congress, military leaders, culinary stars, venture capitalists, and executives from iconic companies like Lego, Method, and Pixar. The book emphasizes the importance of conviction, storytelling, and practice in making your ideas compelling to others.

Humankind

A Hopeful History

Rutger Bregman

Humankind: A Hopeful History challenges the idea that humans are inherently selfish by presenting evidence of our altruistic behavior throughout history. The book takes a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing from history, economics, psychology, biology, anthropology, and archaeology to argue that humans are more peaceful and friendly than commonly believed. Bregman sides with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view of human nature in the state of nature debate, opposing Thomas Hobbes' more pessimistic outlook. He also discusses the concept of 'domestication syndrome' and how humans may have self-domesticated, leading to a more cooperative and empathetic species.

Lord of the Flies

William Golding

In 'Lord of the Flies', William Golding tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The novel follows their attempts to govern themselves and the gradual descent into chaos and savagery. The story is an allegory that explores themes of human nature, morality, leadership, and the fragility of civilization. Key characters include Ralph, who represents order and democracy; Jack, who symbolizes power and violence; and Piggy, the voice of reason. The novel highlights the tension between the desire for civilization and the primal savagery that lies beneath the surface of human society.

Radical Candor

Be a Kick-ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity

Kim Scott

Radical Candor by Kim Scott offers a practical approach to management by emphasizing the importance of caring personally and challenging directly. The book argues that effective managers must find a balance between being empathetic and providing clear, honest feedback. Scott draws from her experiences at Google and Apple to provide actionable lessons on building strong relationships, giving feedback, and creating a collaborative work environment. The book introduces the concept of 'radical candor' as the sweet spot between obnoxious aggression and ruinous empathy, and provides tools and strategies for managers to implement this approach in their daily work[1][2][5].