“Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”  Oscar WIlde

HBR Press offers a series of anthologies (nine volumes thus far) of articles in which contributors share proven research that explains how our emotions impact our work lives, practical advice for managing difficult people and situations, and inspiring essays on what it means to tend to our emotional well-being at work. Uplifting and practical, these books describe the social skills that are critical for ambitious professionals to master.

If you were to purchase reprints of the seven articles in this volume separately, the total cost would be $69.65. Amazon now sells the volume for only $11.27.

According to the HBR editors of this volume, “The benefits of mindfulness include better performance, heightened creativity, deeper self-awareness, and increased charisma [or at least increased appeal] — not to mention greater peace of mind.

“This book gives you practical steps for building a sense of presence into your daily work routine. It also explains the science behind mindfulness and why it works and gives clear-eyed warnings about the pitfalls of the fad.”

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From “Discovering Your Authentic Leadership,” Bill George, Peter Sims, Andrew  N. McLean, and Diana Mayer:

No one can be authentic by trying to imitate someone else. You can learn from others’ experiences, but there is no way you can be successful when you are trying to be like them. People trust you when you are genuine and authentic, not a replica of someone else. Amgen CEO and president Kevin Sharer, who gained priceless experience working as Jack Welch’s assistant in the 1980s, saw the downside of GE’s cult of personality in those days. ‘Everyone wanted to be like Jack, he explains. ‘Leadership has many different voices. You need to be who you are, not try to emulate someone else.'”

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From “What Bosses Gain by Being Vulnerable,” Emma Seppala

Here’s what might happen if you embrace an authentic and vulnerable stance: Your staff will see you as a human being; they may feel closer to you, they may be prompted to share advice, and — if you are attached to hierarchy — you may feel that your team feels more horizontal. While these types of changes may feel uncomfortable, you may see…that the benefits are worth it.

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From “Cracking the Code That Stalls People of Color,” Sylvia Ann Hewlett

Executive presence rests on three pillars: gravitas (the core characteristic, according to 67% of the 268 senior executives surveyed), an amalgam of behaviors that convey confidence, inspire trust, and bolster credibility; communication skills (according to 28%); and appearance, the filter through which communication skills and gravitas become more apparent. While they are aware of the importance of EP [i.e. executive presence], men and women of color are nonetheless hard-pressed to interpret and embody aspects of a code written by and for white men.”

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Many people need to improve their emotional well-being, not only at work but in all other areas of life. To them and those who supervise them, I highly recommend the HBR Emotional Intelligence Series.