Social Equations: The STEM Professional's User Guide to Building Positive Relationships
About this ebook
Those in STEM fields are charged with driving innovation. In the workplace, whether you are a young professional or an experienced leader, you face the challenge of navigating complex social dynamics, not only of applying your technical expertise. Social Equations uniquely positions you to understand these social challenges through a technical lens. When you focus only on the technical side, you operate in a silo that has limited impact and encounter many roadblocks, seemingly from others. However, sometimes you’re the roadblock! To make a difference on a large scale, you must be able to understand, work with, and influence others.
This essential guide is organized by the challenges you face as a person, in relationships, in teams, in leading teams, and in leading teams of teams. Over time, use this guide to grow your capability. When you run into a problem, simply turn to the topic you need, such as
- managing your reactions,
- inviting people in,
- navigating conflict,
- leading vs. doing, and
- navigating internal politics.
Drawing on concepts from business, organizational development, and social psychology, authors Kadakia and Williams explain these social dynamics using scientific analogies, fictional anecdotes, and reflection exercises. Social Equations empowers you, as a STEM professional and social innovator, to become a collaborative leader driving impactful change.
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About the author
Crystal Kadakia is an organization development consultant, two-time TEDx speaker, and chemical engineer. Beginning her engineering career at Procter & Gamble, she now operates two businesses and consults with executive leadership and project teams on strategy formation and process design. Her goal is to further the work of conservation and sustainability-oriented organizations.
Janette Williams, IMBA, PhD, is an organizational psychologist and business consultant. With more than thirty years of experience, she uses a systems approach to integrate the wholeness of individuals, teams, and organizations to achieve optimal performance. Committed to staying intellectually curious, she challenges herself and others to reach their full potential.
