Art Markman

How great leaders step into new roles Right now there's a lot of churn in leadership. Here are four strategies for helping leaders get off to a great start in a new role.

Over the past year, I have learned a lot about great leadership both from good and bad examples. In my latest for @fastcompany.com, some recommendations for leaders taking on new roles gleaned from what I have observed.

www.fastcompany.com/91410813/how...

The Weighted Vest: an update on popularity Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 10/03/2025 · 8m

New thoughts on the psychology of popularity from this week's Two Guys on Your Head inspired by Rebecca's experience with weighted vests.

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Can Good Learners Judge How Well They Learned? You need to judge what you have learned to decide how hard to work on learning that material in the future. How accurate are those judgments?

When you're learning new things, you need to judge how well you're learning to decide whether to keep working. In my latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social, new research explores how good and poor learners differ in this ability.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

A couple of weeks ago, a team member made me a cross-stitch of a quote I said at a meeting. I have put it up in my office as a reminder of the impact our words have on others.

How and why to celebrate an accomplishment Small celebrations help you recognize how all the little things you do daily add up to something more significant.

Chances are, you don't celebrate your successes enough. You should. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91408609/how...

Using Chess to Study Overconfidence A new study on chess players explored people's overconfidence in a domain with clear measures of performance and the opportunity for people to get feedback.

Psychology research finds people are often overconfident. Open questions in that work that were addressed in a cool paper studying tournament chess players. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social with a shout-out to @cfchabris.bsky.social and Daniel Simons.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

What to do if you get blamed for someone else's mistakes Your response will depend on two factors: why you're getting the blame and how senior you are in the organization.

One of the more frustrating aspects of navigating a career is when you get blamed for someone else's mistake. In my latest for @fastcompany.com, a few suggestions about what to do if you find yourself in that situation.

www.fastcompany.com/91403029/wha...

How Does Your Motivation Affect the Achievement of Goals? People often set goals to achieve (like New Year's resolutions). New research explores the influence of internal and external motivation in choosing and fulfilling goals.

You probably set goals based on how important they are, but that isn't necessarily what is going to help you achieve them. My latest for Psychology Today. With a shout-out to research by @ayelet and Kaitlin Woolley.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

3 questions to ask to clarify confusing feedback Good feedback helps you understand what went wrong, why, and how to improve. Here's what to do if your feedback doesn't have this information.

Have you ever gotten feedback from someone that is confusing? There are a few things you can do to clarify. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91399084/3-q...

Mental Health in the Media Storm Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 09/12/2025 · 8m

The headlines have been dire for several months, and that can be a drain on your well-being. In today's Two Guys on Your Head, a discussion of what we can do to counteract the effect of media. @kutnews.bsky.social

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Social Interaction Affects Memory Among the many types of information your memory system uses to decide what to remember, new research suggests social interaction influences what you learn.

Memory helps you to remember things that are likely to be important later. Studies suggest that social interaction between people is one cue memory uses. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

The Psychology of Personal Resistance Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 09/05/2025 · 8m

When should you give in to your initial resistance to do something and when should you fight it? The latest Two Guys on Your Head explores this issue. @kutnews.bsky.social

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The newbie's guide to getting the most out of AI AI is everywhere and it's easy to feel like you're left behind. If you’re still a novice, there are a few things you can do to get started.

If you haven't played around much with generative AI models yet, you're still not too far behind the curve. In my latest for @fastcompany.com, a few things you can try to get started.

www.fastcompany.com/91392444/the...

How to pick a work uniform Getting dressed for work takes effort. Have a 'look' or 'uniform' can make it easier. Here's what to keep in mind while choosing one.

Rather than puzzling over what to wear each day, many people narrow the choice down by picking an overall look they're going for. To do that, you need to think a bit about what your clothes communicate. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91394847/how...

The Weather and Social Media Use Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 08/29/2025 · 8m

You spend a lot of time on Social Media in your daily life (you're doing it right now). As we discuss on the latest Two Guys on Your Head the weather can affect engagement with social media. @kutnews.bsky.social

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The Emotional Benefits of Forgiveness There is a real benefit to forgiveness; it affects your memory and your reaction to your memory of past events. New research explores this effect.

Some cool new research explores how forgiveness influences your emotional reaction to memories of past events. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

How to layoff proof your job So far this year, companies have eliminated 800,000 jobs. While this can be anxiety inducing, here are some tips for protecting your job.

In times of economic uncertainty, layoffs are common. You can't prevent yourself from getting laid off completely, but there a few things you can do to minimize the chances you'll be let go. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91387538/how...

Two Guys on Your Head Social Sciences Podcast · Updated Weekly · Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain how our brain works.

Have you ever wondered whether the weather affects your mood? We explore the evidence for this possibility on the latest Two Guys on Your Head. The answer might just surprise you. @kutnews.bsky.social

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How to make a good apology While it's tempting to bury mistakes and skip an apology, this erodes trust. Here's a framework for a good apology.

A recent event in my hometown was a stark reminder that many businesses (and individuals for that matter) do not know the value of a good apology--or what a good apology is. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91384990/how...

The subtle art of correcting your boss Four winning strategies for saving a more senior leader from a mistake—without tanking your career in the process.

Have you ever been in the position where you have to correct your boss? It can be awkward, but it doesn't have to be. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91379982/the...

Does Money Motivate Discovery? Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 08/08/2025 · 8m

Can you motivate discovery with money? Sort of. The latest of Two Guys on Your Head. @kutnews.bsky.social

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Two Guys on Your Head Social Sciences Podcast · Updated Weekly · Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain how our brain works.

Have you ever found yourself gravitating to someone who seems to hate everyone? In the latest Two Guys on Your Head, we explore why (and why you might want to avoid them). @kutnews.bsky.social

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How to deal with loneliness at work One of the biggest predictors of happiness at work is whether or not you have work friends. Here are tips on how to make them.

Do you feel like you have any close colleagues at work? If not, it might be a good idea to develop some of your work relationships. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91372017/how...

The Psychology of Style: Power Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 07/20/2025 · 7m

As we conclude our Two Guys on Your Head series about Style, we look at how style is influenced by and signals power. @kutnews.bsky.social

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How to listen to opinions you don't want to hear The opinion you least want to hear can often be the most valuable. Here are tips on how to keep an open mind.

Having a wide range of opinions at work is only helpful if you listen to the voices that disagree with you. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91367610/how...

The Psychology Style: The Uniform Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 07/18/2025 · 8m

We continue our discussion of style on this week's Two Guys on Your Head with a focus on uniforms. @kutnews.bsky.social

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The Psychology of Style Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 07/11/2025 · 8m

What you wear reflects and also influences who you are on the inside. We take up the psychology of style on the latest Two Guys on Your Head. @kutnews.bsky.social

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Thanks. I hope you find it helpful.

How to make good decisions in uncertain times A cognitive behavior scientist lays out a framework for how to make good decisions when it's hard to predict the future.

Decision making is particularly hard when times are uncertain (as they are now). In my latest for @fastcompany.com, I talk about some ways to address this difficult environment.

www.fastcompany.com/91364169/how...

How to stay informed without doomscrolling How do you manage to stay informed without losing your mind during turbulent times? A cognitive scientist offers tips.

There is so much tragedy these days, that you can be forgiven for ignoring the news altogether. Is there a way to stay informed without getting sucked into the vortex? My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91359904/sta...