People in different cultures make different assumptions about the people around them. Researchers studied the brain waves of people with Caucasian and Asian backgrounds and found that cultural differences in how we think about other people are embedded deep in our minds. Cultural differences are evident very deep in the brain, challenging a common sense notion that culture is skin deep.

Getting on well with the boss, or even your supervisor will not necessarily extend your life, but getting on well with your colleagues definitely will. Specifically if your work mates are willing to help you solve problems and are friendly, your chances of getting a whole range of illnesses are considerably reduced.

I am frequently asked the question: What sort of person makes the best CEO?

Does a man or a woman make a better CEO? Is it better to have a young CEO or an older one? Is being an extrovert leader better than being an introvert? Is it better to have a CEO who makes quick decisions or someone who listens and takes time to build consensus?

A lot has been written over the last few years about the benefits of happiness to individuals, organizations, the heath system and just about anything and anybody else.  There is a whole positive psychology movement which has swept the globe.

Unfortunately, up until very recently, there has been no conclusive proof of the supposed benefits of happiness. Most of what we relied on was hearsay, anecdotal evidence and people’s gut feelings. Many studies had shown, for example, that happy people were healthier and that happy people were more productive at work. However these findings showed nothing causal—put another way saying healthy people are happier is not to say, necessarily, that happiness causes good health. Or that happy people are more productive is not to say that happiness necessarily increases productivity.