Michelangelo perfectly captures that moment. David is holding his rock, knowing that he has the skill to take down the giant. He has an expression of calm equanimity and confidence. His whole being is saying, "I can do this. I've got it."

Listening makes the other person feel important and respected.

Dave Kerpen, Founder & CEO of Likeable Local, a social media agency and NY Times best-selling author recently published; "The Art of People: 11 Simple People Skills That Will Get You Everything You Want."

One bad apple can disrupt a work environment and wreak havoc on communication, trust, and collegial relationships -- not to mention productivity. Protecting your team with a "No Jerks" hiring policy is smart and goes a long way to cultivating and preserving a harmonious and high functioning workplace.

As a cross-cultural strategist, I predominantly work with multinational corporations, providing their global teams with tools and training to help them optimize the collaboration they must have across cultures. While some of what I do lies in cross-cultural awareness, a large part of my job is dedicated to helping develop employee and leadership courage.