Art Markman

Art Markman, PhD is a professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and Founding Director of the Program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations. Art is the author of Smart Thinking and Habits of Leadership, Smart Change, and most recently, Brain Briefs, co-authored with his "Two Guys on Your Head" co-host Bob Duke, which focuses on how you can use the science of motivation to change your behavior at work and at home.

Art Markman

How to salvage some productivity after a crappy morning

You look up and can’t believe it’s already lunchtime. You’ve accomplished exactly nothing. Here’s how you can recover.

All your coworkers’ weird behavior, explained

A psychologist breaks down the three factors that drive most people’s actions. Understand these, and your colleagues’ behavior won’t seem so puzzling.

What to do once you realize your new job sucks

Here’s an action plan depending on whether the “get me out of here” feeling hits you five days, five weeks, or five months after starting.

Unsure how your career impacts your kids? Here’s some perspective

Pursuing your passion might not always be a selfish move that exposes your family to needless risk. Sometimes it’s the best parenting decision you can make.

The emotionally intelligent way to give feedback to your boss

Here’s an approach to raising concerns with managers that won’t feel risky to you or whiny to them.

Everyone suffers when you apologize for asking questions

“There are no stupid questions, so please ask away!” is a common mantra that’s often ignored. Prefacing your question with “sorry” doesn’t exactly help.

4 questions to help answer the big one: “Should I take this job?”

Here’s how to consider the potential risks, benefits, and what your gut is telling you.

Design your next meeting backwards—here’s how

Stop outlining meeting agendas and take these three steps instead.

This well-known productivity advice is actually pretty bad

A common tactic for kicking off a productive workday doesn’t square with human psychology.

This social-science research technique doubles as a networking hack

A savvier, more systematic riff on getting referrals and introductions.

Quiet leadership is still leadership (and matters more than you think)

It takes emotional intelligence, and a bit of practice, to exert positive influence outside the spotlight.

You Need To Talk To Your Company’s CEO—Here’s Why And What To Say

Senior execs don’t need to know you by name, but they should at least have a general sense of your existence and function in the organization.

Stop Waiting For Creative Inspiration And Manufacture It Instead

You don’t always need to be “inspired” to create. Here’s how to prod your creativity into motion.

Three Ways For Diehard Procrastinators To Beat Fake Work

One of the most common ways to procrastinate is to waste time doing work-adjacent tasks that don’t actually get you anywhere. Here’s how to kick that habit.

Your Compliance Training Sucks, And Here’s How To Fix It

Most HR training is memorable only for being unpleasant and tedious. That’s a real problem.

Your New Job Is Stressing Out Your Brain–Here’s How To Help It Relax

Our brains crave predictability, which is why starting a new job can be so stressful. Try these tactics for making those first few weeks go more smoothly.

Do This To Write A More Emotionally Intelligent LinkedIn Profile

Don’t just list out skills associated with emotional intelligence. Here’s how to adapt a technique from psychology to appear more approachable on LinkedIn.

Tired At Work For No Reason? Your Brain’s Trying To Tell You Something

Sometimes persistently low energy levels don’t have anything to do with what you’re eating or how much you’re sleeping.

This Is How To Handle A Boss Who Over-Communicates

Your boss keeps interrupting you with long stories or repeating instructions that you got the first time. Here’s how to make it stop.

What To Do When Your Meeting Discussions Become Incoherent

Wait, what are your coworkers even talking about? And whose fault is it that you’ve lost the thread of the conversation?

Ideas

We have an ethical obligation to end individual animal suffering

Giving new life to vacant buildings can boost struggling towns

As companies become purpose-led, where does that leave charities?

Entertainment

It appears as though Pearl Jam might not be fans of Donald Trump

“Generation Wealth” examines the new (and depressing) American Dream

Amazing: After 40 years, Aerosmith’s tour bus turns up in the woods

Co.Design

Building Burning Man looks way more fun than attending

This foot surgeon invented killer heels that won’t kill your feet

Design is never neutral

Fast Company

Why Samsung’s big round smartwatch will be roundly dismissed

Pentagon’s artificial intelligence programs get huge boost in defense budget

Here’s an insanely huge library of every political ad on Google