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Vagner SoaresLeadership and human behavior

Leadership, communication and behavior, in practice

39 articles by Vagner Soares for leaders, managers and HR, translated from Portuguese. Each one comes with a free mind map in PDF and PNG.

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39

A man in a white shirt listens attentively to a colleague seen from behind, at a table under blind-filtered light

LeadershipFirst 90 days of leadership: how to start well in a new roleA practical roadmap for the first 90 days as a leader or manager: what to prioritize, common mistakes to avoid and how to build credibility from the start.

Two colleagues talk at a round table with two cups of coffee

LeadershipRelational intelligence: how to build real trust at workUnderstand what relational intelligence is, why teams with this trait are more cooperative and how to develop this skill in practice.

A woman with her eyes closed breathes with her hand on her chest, with a phone on the table

Emotions and well-beingEmotional regulation: how to stay calm under pressureUnderstand what emotional regulation is in practice, how the body reacts under pressure and concrete techniques to respond instead of reacting on impulse.

A woman in a green blazer rests her hand on her phone while listening to the person across from her

LeadershipLeadership presence: what it is and how to develop itUnderstand why presence has stopped being physical and become psychological, and how to develop the ability to be truly present in conversations and decisions.

A woman in a dark blazer listens attentively to a colleague, seen from behind, who gestures as he talks

CommunicationHow to receive feedback without getting defensiveWhy it is so hard to hear criticism without defending yourself, what changes with deliberate practice and a method to turn feedback into real development.

Overhead view of open hands on a light table, with a notebook and coffee cups

CommunicationBody language: what your nonverbal communication revealsUnderstand how posture, facial expression and tone of voice influence how you are perceived, and how to align body language and speech.

A man seen from behind sticks sticky notes on a task board

Self-knowledge and careerSelf-motivation: how to stay motivated without depending on outside stimulusUnderstand the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, why motivation naturally fluctuates, and how to sustain effort on hard days.

A woman in a green blazer hands a notebook to a colleague in the office

Self-knowledge and careerPersonal brand: how to build a strong professional reputationUnderstand what a personal brand is in practice, why it goes beyond social media, and a step-by-step guide to building yours authentically.

A woman in a green blazer presents something standing in a room, a clicker in her hand

Self-knowledge and careerComfort zone: how to leave it without sabotaging yourself along the wayUnderstand what the comfort zone really is, why leaving it abruptly usually fails, and how to expand it sustainably.

Hands put yellow notes into a glass jar on a light table with a pair of glasses

Self-knowledge and careerSelf-esteem: what it is and how to really strengthen itUnderstand the difference between self-esteem, self-confidence and self-image, the signs of low self-esteem and a practical path to strengthen it.

A speaker holds a presentation clicker in front of a blurred audience

CommunicationPublic speaking: how to overcome fear and communicate clearlyUnderstand why fear of public speaking is so common, what really reduces nervousness and how to structure a talk that holds attention.

A hand opens the glass door of a meeting room, with a folder under the arm

Self-knowledge and careerFear of failure: how to act despite itWhy fear of failing weighs more than it should, what it is really protecting and practical strategies to act even with it present.

Two people exchange a green notebook across a table with coffee cups

Self-knowledge and careerGenuine networking: how to build a network without seeming self-servingWhy transactional networking works poorly, how to build real professional relationships and keep in touch without seeming to show up only when you need something.

Two people talk at a round wooden table, and one of them takes notes in a notebook

Leadership1:1 meetings: how to structure individual conversations with your teamWhy the 1:1 is the most underrated leadership meeting, how to structure these conversations and the mistakes that turn them into a useless status report.

A smiling woman holds a cup, with an open notebook and a phone on the table

Productivity and decisionsMorning routine: how to structure the start of your dayWhy the first hour of the day weighs so much, what makes up a good morning routine and how to build yours without copying a ready-made formula.

A tired executive rubs his eyes, leaning on a desk next to a cup

Emotions and well-beingSleep and performance: why bad nights sabotage your decisionsHow sleep deprivation affects concentration, emotional regulation and decision quality, and practical, realistic adjustments for sleeping better.

A speaker gestures in front of an audience in an auditorium

CommunicationStorytelling: how to tell stories that engage and persuadeWhy stories persuade more than isolated data, the structure behind any effective story and how to apply storytelling in professional contexts.

Overhead view of a dark table with two coffee cups and the hands of two people talking

CommunicationEmpathy: what it is, the different types and how to develop it in practiceUnderstand the difference between cognitive and emotional empathy, why empathy is not agreeing with everything, and practical exercises to develop it.

A woman ties her running shoe at home, with a marked calendar in the background

Productivity and decisionsHow to build habits that last (without relying on willpower)Understand how habits really form, why willpower isn't enough and a practical method for building habits that hold up over time.

An exhausted man rests his forehead on his hand in front of a desk full of papers

Emotions and well-beingBurnout: warning signs, causes and how to prevent exhaustionUnderstand what characterizes burnout, the warning signs in body and mind, and practical prevention strategies at work and in leadership.

A thoughtful woman writes in a notebook next to a laptop and a mug

Self-knowledge and careerSelf-sabotage: why you freeze before winning and how to stopUnderstand the mechanisms behind self-sabotage, the most common signs and practical strategies to stop working against your own success.

A man gestures while talking to a colleague who listens attentively at a meeting table

CommunicationNonviolent Communication: what it is and how to apply it day to dayA practical guide to Nonviolent Communication (NVC): the four steps of the method, real examples and how to use it to resolve conflicts without aggression.

A woman holds a trophy with an insecure look while colleagues applaud in the background

Self-knowledge and careerImpostor syndrome: what it is, why it happens and how to overcome itUnderstand what impostor syndrome is, why competent people feel like frauds and a practical path to stop doubting your own worth.

A man seen from behind looks at the city through an office window

Self-knowledge and careerSelf-knowledge: what it is, why it matters and how to develop itUnderstand what self-knowledge is, why it is the foundation of leadership and emotional intelligence, and discover practical ways to develop it.

A woman writes in a notebook at a tidy work desk

LeadershipSelf-leadership: what it is and how to develop itUnderstand what self-leadership is, why no one leads others without first leading themselves, and how to develop discipline, focus and personal responsibility.

A leader standing extends a hand to an attentive team around the meeting table

LeadershipHow to build a high-performance culture on your teamWhat sustains a high-performance culture: psychological safety, clarity, accountability and development, and how to build it in practice.

A leader and a team member talk calmly across a wooden table with two yellow mugs, in a bright room with plants

LeadershipHow to give constructive feedback: the SBI model in practiceLearn to give constructive feedback without triggering defensiveness using the SBI model (Situation, Behavior, Impact), with practical examples for leaders.

Two people pass a green folder to each other across a desk, with coffee cups, a notebook and sticky notes around them

LeadershipHow to delegate tasks without losing controlHow to delegate well: why leaders are afraid to, what to delegate, how to follow up without micromanaging and how to develop your team along the way.

A woman in a green blazer speaks calmly to two colleagues, seen from above at a meeting table with coffee cups and notebooks

CommunicationAssertive communication: how to speak up without being aggressiveLearn what assertive communication is, the difference between passive, aggressive and assertive styles, and practical techniques to speak up with respect and clarity.

A woman listens attentively, resting her chin on her hand, with a phone and a closed laptop on the table

CommunicationActive listening: what it is, why it matters and how to practice itUnderstand what active listening is, why it transforms relationships and leadership, and practical techniques to really listen, not just wait for your turn to speak.

A leader mediates a conversation between two colleagues who rest their hands on the same blank sheet at a round table

LeadershipTeam conflict management: how to handle it constructivelyUnderstand why conflict arises in teams, why avoiding it makes things worse, and a step-by-step approach to turn disagreements into growth.

A woman looks at a diagram of intersecting circles on a whiteboard

Tests and profilesIkigai: what it is and how to find your professional purposeUnderstand the Japanese concept of Ikigai, why it matters for high-performing leaders and how the free test reveals your professional purpose.

Overhead view of two people talking, with a notebook and a phone on the table

Tests and profilesEmotional intelligence: what it is, the pillars and how to develop it in leadershipUnderstand the pillars of emotional intelligence, why it is decisive in high-performance leadership and how the free test reveals your current level.

A woman explains something with open hands to a colleague seen from behind at a meeting table

Tests and profilesJohari Window: how to discover your blind spots and speed up your growthUnderstand the Johari Window model, why the blind area holds back your leadership and how the free test reveals patterns you can't see on your own.

A leader crouches beside an employee and points at a notebook, in a bright open-plan office with plants

LeadershipSituational leadership: how to adapt your style to each personUnderstand the situational leadership model, the four leadership styles and how to adapt your approach to each team member’s level of maturity.

View from below of a young technician examining a metal part in the workshop while an older colleague points out a detail

Self-knowledge and careerGrowth mindset: what it is and how to develop itUnderstand the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset, why this belief shapes your results and how to develop a mindset of evolution.

A woman with a cup looks out the window at night, with circles drawn in a notebook

Self-knowledge and careerPurpose in life: what it is and how to find yoursWhat purpose in life is, without clichés, why it sustains motivation and resilience, and practical ways to find yours.

A man and a woman talk, smiling, at an office table

CommunicationRapport: how to create genuine connection with anyoneUnderstand what rapport is, why it is the basis of every trusting relationship and learn practical techniques for creating real connection without manipulation.

A woman leans on a glass structure with sunset light in the background

Emotions and well-beingEmotional resilience at work: what it is and how to develop itUnderstand what emotional resilience is, why it is decisive in your career and learn practical habits and strategies to develop yours.

More articles are available in Portuguese.

See all articles in Portuguese