Recent Highlights

From applying behavioral science in military operations in Afghanistan to transforming organizations, this is the story of how real-world experiments, curiosity, and a decade of exploration shaped the creation of Applied Scholar and revealed the power of applying science to solve complex problems.

In part 1 of this conversation, show host Vidya talks with Michael Snelgrove about how learning and performance work. Drawing on his real-life experience, including work connected to bomb defusal in Afghanistan and offshore sailing, he challenges deeply held assumptions around learning and development and HR. Tune in below. 

We’ve seen hundreds of posts about Emotional Intelligence. The vast majority of them have been deeply wrong. So what do we really know about EI/EQ?

Ever notice how some HR systems seem so obviously wrong? Case in point: year-end ratings tied to bonus pools. What starts as a simple incentive ends up corrupting performance data, frustrating managers, and wasting countless hours—year after year. A stark example of structural stupidity exists within the world of HR and organizations.

In part 2 of this conversation, show host Vidya talks with Michael Snelgrove about how organizational systems shape behavior. They also discuss structural stupidity, incentives, and the hidden priorities that influence decisions in the workplace. Click below to listen.