What makes a boss great? It’s a question that’s been researched for a while now. I’ll avoid giving any advice that isn’t rooted in real proof of efficacy; I want to pass along the techniques and behaviors that are grounded in sound research. It seems to me that, by adopting the habits of good bosses and shunning the sins of bad bosses, anyone can do a better job overseeing the work of others.

At the same time, I’ve come to conclude that all the technique and behavior coaching in the world won’t make a boss great if that boss doesn’t also have a certain mindset.

My readings of peer-reviewed studies, plus my more idiosyncratic experience studying and consulting to managers in many settings, have led me identify some key beliefs that are held by the best bosses — and rejected, or more often simply never even thought about, by the worst bosses. Here they are, presented as a neat dozen:

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Wine is the perfect accompaniment to any date. So listen, guys, I’m about to let you in on a little secret. Here are 10 wines that are sure to please and impress the ladies.

Sojourn Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir – “Cherry raspberry with lots of earthy, dark forest notes. Taste is rich and full with dark pinot fruit. Good acidity for food.” … “One of the most delicious pinots I’ve ever had.”

Caldwell Rocket Science Proprietary Red – “Blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, brown sugar… blueberry crisp in a glass.” … “Sweet chocolate gives way to a lingering taste of cherries.”

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Muhammad Ali was a master of self-promotion and surely ranks as not only one of the greatest boxers of all time, but also the smartest trash-talker in sports history. Ali was supremely confident in himself, loaded with charisma and never feared a fight. He openly declared himself the greatest and often predicted the round in which he would knock out his opponent.

In the early days of Ali’s career, opponents read his brag-and-boast routine as nervous bravado, but few knew how prepared he was, how hard he trained and just how much he wanted to win. By the time Ali got to the ring, he had every reason to believe he was invincible because he had pushed himself beyond his limits, beyond what he believed any other man could endure.

Lesson: Always come prepared
Whatever impression they might give off, alpha males never enter an important situation unprepared or deluded with the belief they’re already good enough to handle it. To them, this is a careless attitude for someone intent on winning at everything they do.

We’ve all seen one rather minor example of the unprepared man; he gave the toast at the last wedding you attended. He thought he could glide through the toast because he knew his buddy so well and because he’s a competent public speaker. But not two sentences in, he’s fumbled and maybe said something dumb or inappropriate. By preparing for all their challenges with intensity, alpha males leave nothing to chance.

In a 1989 article, the New York Times described the 10-seat, 1,000-square-foot theater that Theo Kalomirakis had built in the basement of his Brooklyn home. He had equipped it with an 8-foot-wide screen and an assemblage of now-obsolete hardware that included VHS and Beta recorders and a laserdisc player. At that time, the ability to utilize such technologies in a home setting was considered quite a luxury.

Although Kalomirakis did not realize it initially, his $100,000 pet project represented an evolution of home cinema. Thus, he found himself at the forefront of what would become an extremely lucrative industry. By the end of 1989, he had founded a home-theater-design firm bearing his name, and since then he has become one of the most sought-after designers in his field. So how does the groundbreaking home-theater designer outdo himself?

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When you sneak into a hotel, things get sweaty pretty quickly.

No, really. Weights. Kickboxing. The sauna. It’s intense.

Especially now that the rooms at the Los Angeles Athletic Club have been totally transformed—including nine new suites open for reservations.

If you don’t live Downtown, you might never have heard of this old-school, members-only ode to deal-making over squash, yoga, tai chi, boot camp, basketball, volleyball and…scotch. But the classy revamp means now’s the time to check it out, since, for the rest of the year, hotel guests have free use of the fitness facilities.

All the rooms have been redone, but we suggest one of the nine new suites, all with themes like the Country Club, the Yacht Club or the Social Club—that last one’s where Charlie Chaplin once lived (his quads were legendary). The amenities are basically the same in each, but your choice is pretty important—if you book the memorabilia-choked USC Club Suite for a night away with your favorite UCLA alum (or the UCLA suite with your favorite USC alum), things could get ugly.

Of course, then you get to make up.

Read more here.