https://ssmithjr.com/Articles and research by Shawn Smith Jr.enhttps://ssmithjr.com/articles/nice-vs-kind-the-leadership-blind-spot-undermining-workplace-culture/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/nice-vs-kind-the-leadership-blind-spot-undermining-workplace-culture/Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMTYour team might be full of nice people. That could be your biggest problem.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/when-leadership-turns-toxic-surviving-bullying-from-the-top/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/when-leadership-turns-toxic-surviving-bullying-from-the-top/Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMTThe meeting room is quiet, but the tension is deafening.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-when-leadership-turns-toxic/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-when-leadership-turns-toxic/Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMTオープンオフィスの会議室。空気は張り詰めている。上司が椅子に深く腰掛け、皮肉を込めた一言を投げる。周囲の同僚が視線を交わし、笑いが広がる――あなたを標的にして。https://ssmithjr.com/articles/breaking-the-myth-systematic-oppression-in-today-s-america/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/breaking-the-myth-systematic-oppression-in-today-s-america/Sat, 06 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMTRacial minorities in America hold more power today than ever before. The real ceiling is political, not systemic.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/when-did-talking-get-so-hard/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/when-did-talking-get-so-hard/Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMTWe’re forgetting how to talk. Screens rise, face time falls, and trust thins. The fix starts with one conversation at a time.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/finding-your-way-a-story-of-survival-growth-and-hope/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/finding-your-way-a-story-of-survival-growth-and-hope/Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMTGrowing up in New York City is like growing up in the center of the universe—it’s chaotic, overwhelming, and alive in ways that are both inspiring and exhausting.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/love-on-the-clock-the-reality-of-workplace-relationships/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/love-on-the-clock-the-reality-of-workplace-relationships/Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMTAs more people spend the majority of their waking hours at work, it’s only natural that sparks might fly between colleagues.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/the-silent-work-culture-killer-bullying/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/the-silent-work-culture-killer-bullying/Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMTWorkplace bullying doesn’t always leave visible scars. But its impact on morale, mental health, and company culture is undeniable. In this compelling article, Shawn Smith Jr. unpacks the subtle forms of bullying that often go unchecked in professional environments and challenges organizations to face the hidden damage with intention and accountability. If we truly care about inclusion, retention, and well-being, we can no longer afford to stay silent.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/the-power-of-personal-responsibility-turning-small-wins-into-great-victories/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/the-power-of-personal-responsibility-turning-small-wins-into-great-victories/Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMTThere’s a profound sense of empowerment in realizing that your life is your responsibility.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/silent-wounds-why-bullying-leaves-a-mark-that-lasts-a-lifetime/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/silent-wounds-why-bullying-leaves-a-mark-that-lasts-a-lifetime/Sat, 02 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMTBullying may be as old as humanity itself, but that doesn’t make it any more acceptable—or any less dangerous.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-women-rising-in-japanese-workplaces/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-women-rising-in-japanese-workplaces/Sun, 08 Sep 2024 12:00:00 GMTここ3年で、日本は静かな革命を目の当たりにしています。ますます多くの女性が職場に進出し、自らの人生だけでなく、国全体の文化や社会の構造を再定義しつつあります。https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-stepfamilies-and-the-invisible-wall/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-stepfamilies-and-the-invisible-wall/Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT現代社会では、再婚やステップファミリーの形成が増加し、それに伴う課題も注目を浴びるようになっています。ステップファミリーにおける親子関係は、単なる血縁関係の家族とは異なる独特の挑戦を伴います。今回は、異文化が絡むステップファミリーの実例を通じて、ステップペアレントが抱える難しさと、それをどのように乗り越えるかを考えていきます。https://ssmithjr.com/articles/hr-the-double-edged-sword-of-the-workplace/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/hr-the-double-edged-sword-of-the-workplace/Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMTWhat if HR can be, and sometimes is, used as a weapon in the workplace?https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-single-parent-households-in-japan/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-single-parent-households-in-japan/Sun, 11 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT日本におけるシングルペアレント、つまり片親世帯の増加が、社会全体にどのような影響を与えているのでしょうか？この現象は、文化的、経済的、そして職場環境にまで広がる影響を及ぼしています。本記事では、シングルペアレントの増加が日本の社会や職場、そして経済にどのような影響を与えているのかを探りながら、今後の日本がどのような未来を迎えるのかを考えてみたいと思います。https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-the-silent-work-culture-killer-bullying/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/ja-the-silent-work-culture-killer-bullying/Sat, 10 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT職場でのいじめ、特にゴシップや受動的な攻撃といった、微妙で見過ごされがちな世界について。https://ssmithjr.com/articles/investing-in-japan-pathways-to-more-financial-breathing-room-for-ordinary-people/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/investing-in-japan-pathways-to-more-financial-breathing-room-for-ordinary-people/Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMTIn a country renowned for its rich culture and technological advancements, Japan faces a pressing issue: population stagnation.https://ssmithjr.com/articles/neuromorphic-engineering-japan-s-next-big-thing-in-ai/https://ssmithjr.com/articles/neuromorphic-engineering-japan-s-next-big-thing-in-ai/Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMTNeuromorphic engineering is like giving computers a brain makeover.