by Patrick Kitchen | Jun 23, 2023 | Newsletter
Way back in the 1980s, I spent a lot of time audiotaping meetings of people. I was researching power for my doctoral studies and listened to hours and hours of conversation between coworkers in various settings: meetings, informal discussions, social events. And...
by Patrick Kitchen | May 10, 2023 | Newsletter
It’s spring. And that means baseball season has just kicked off here in the States. And every year about this time, I’m reminded of the beloved, iconic baseball movie, Bull Durham. The film tells the story of a minor league baseball team who signs a gifted pitcher,...
by Patrick Kitchen | Apr 12, 2023 | Newsletter
Right now, as you’re reading this, there’s a very good chance someone is looking up to you. They’re thinking about you. Remembering something you said to them. Admiring you, even. The one thing we chronically underestimate is the impact we have on others. Even if...
by Patrick Kitchen | Feb 26, 2023 | Newsletter
When it finds itself on the losing end of a social encounter, a baboon has a choice. Soothe itself by getting groomed by another baboon, or vent its anger on a lower-ranking baboon. The higher up the baboon, the more likely choice #2 will prevail. Sound familiar? As...
by Patrick Kitchen | Jan 30, 2023 | Newsletter
Someone asked me the other day what the hardest situation I dealt with when I was a therapist. I had clients who suffered terrible hardships, childhood abuse, and chronic physical pain that made everyday functioning impossible. But what sprung to mind was a young man...
by Patrick Kitchen | Dec 31, 2022 | Newsletter
What did you learn in 2022?I learned a lot this past year. In particular, I learned a lot about power. There were some very good uses of power, some notably bad uses of power (as always), and there were even new forms of power on display.So, here’s my rundown of the...