Discovering your talents

Do you feel you are a talented and successful person? Could you name your five greatest talents, if asked? Most people find this quite difficult. Find out whether talent is a prerequisite for success, and read about six ways to discover your talents.

Suzanne van de Groep • October 25, 2018

Are you afraid of being found out?

Imagine a random person coming up to you, saying he “knows”. Knows you’re not actually that intelligent; that you’re not good at your job; that you’ve been faking it all along. And it’s only a matter of time until you’ll be exposed for everyone to see.

Laura van der Aar • March 20, 2018

It’ll be alright, I’ll do it next week

Almost everyone has at some point put off making a decision or finishing a task. And some of us do this repeatedly, even when we know there may be negative consequences. So why do we do it?

Bart Vogelaar • May 08, 2017

Does reading fiction make you a better person?

Could reading a good book make you a better person? In a time in which our bestsellers include horrific deaths (e.g. Game of Thrones) and erotic sadomasochism (e.g. Fifty Shades of Grey), this idea may seem far-fetched.

Suzanne van de Groep • March 15, 2016

On sabbatical

“Enjoying your vacation?”, my friends and relations ask me, knowing I’m ‘on sabbatical’. At home the word sabbatical triggers a knowing grin; I’m working as much as ever. But my stress levels are lower, and I come back from work happy each day.

Naomi Ellemers • August 03, 2015

Thanksgiving: who feels most grateful?

Last week was Thanksgiving – a day to reflect on things we are grateful for. People who dwell on past experiences are generally less happy in life than people who are able to detach themselves. How would ‘detachers’ and ‘dwellers’ feel after Thanksgiving?

Marijke van Putten • December 05, 2013

Learning is a series of sprints, not a marathon

Many students (and people in general) like to mass their efforts to boost short-term performance when an important exam or deadline is approaching. Scientific research points to a more functional and efficient long-term strategy to raise performance.

• October 28, 2013

Can you ‘pose’ your way to success?

Have you ever wondered why is it that sometimes you perform extremely well at presentations or job interviews while at other times your brain seems to freeze? Your performance in such tasks depends on the levels of two hormones: testosterone and cortisol.

Tina van Dam • June 03, 2013

How to be successful?

How can we become more successful? How can we achieve more in our jobs? And how do we become more efficient in our daily lives? These are central questions, especially in professional life. But what is success?

Marijke van Putten • February 02, 2013

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