The roles of mentors and sponsors, although closely aligned, are also different. While a mentor supports your development, a sponsor connects you to actual job opportunities. Sponsors are people in positions with enough clout to recommend you for promotions they learn about. It’s also not uncommon for one person to be both mentor and sponsor. […]

Read More →

Whether you’re focused on how to enhance your self-awareness, solve a problem, take the next step in your ever-evolving quest for personal transformation, professional development, looking for inspiration, or just need to stir your creative juices, you need to get in the flow to generate the right ideas.  Jeffrey Davis says he’s in the business […]

Read More →

As a leader, you may often feel alone and isolated, especially when making critical decisions.  But you don’t have to go it alone.  Make it a practice to discuss concerns with colleagues inside and outside your organization.  Position the conversation as an opportunity to connect with a peer and share. To get the most out of your time, […]

Read More →

One of the biggest challenges in achieving success is learning to be uncomfortable.  Whenever we try anything new, we push up against our comfort zone and growing edge.  That’s where our comfort level ends, and where the new and different await. To discover the new, you have to push past your existing mental and emotional boundaries and […]

Read More →

Sometimes, we spend a great deal of time dwelling on why results fell below expectations.  That’s a good practice if your plan is to use what you learn to do better next time.  Now, here’s my question:  do you invest the same amount of time dwelling on your successes?  There’s also a lot to learn when things go well.   […]

Read More →

What I’m about to say may seem counterintuitive.  It turns out that early career setbacks can actually move you toward success.  In his New York Times article, Tim Herrera shared evidence found by researchers at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.   They studied two groups.  One group barely secured a National Institutes of Health grant. The other […]

Read More →

If you’ve decided you’re ready to find a new job, one that fulfills your desire for purpose and meaning, a first step is understanding your innate strengths and personal priorities.  Once you’ve done that homework, it’s time to build a network of people who can help you get there.  Here’s how. Identify people who have your dream […]

Read More →

How would you like to start the New Year with free access to a coach who can help you break through to the next level?  That’s what I’m offering you today.  I’ve created a space on the homepage of my website, tmgspeaks.com called, Ask Teressa. It’s a place where you can seek answers to challenges you’re facing.   But […]

Read More →

Has this ever happened to you? You meet someone at a networking event, through a colleague or elsewhere. You talk for a bit, then agree to reconnect. But as time passes, you begin to question whether the good vibe you felt was shared by the other person. According to researchers at Cornell and Harvard Universities, […]

Read More →

In the words of Colin Powell, “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.” If you’re in a leadership role, this is an important point to take in. Leaders are visionaries who are responsible for communicating and inspiring others to make […]

Read More →

As a certified user of Benchmarks, a 360 instrument developed by the Center for Creative Leadership, I find it an effective tool for helping leaders understand how they’re experienced and perceived along 16 competencies, rated by a range of stakeholders. Another important section of the report describes five problems that can stall your career. Problems […]

Read More →

 One proven way to build leadership skills, elevate yourself in the eyes of higher ups and network in a meaningful way, is to volunteer for a non-profit board or committee. Find an organization you can really get behind and offer your skills, expertise and energy. Volunteering is an outstanding resume builder. More and more, employers […]

Read More →

For some people, the first time they’re approached with a new idea or question, their reflex response is, “No.” Immediately, they put up a wall that halts progress toward innovation or needed change. If that feels familiar, try this… When confronted with something new, give yourself permission to delay acting reflexively. Give the cortisol in […]

Read More →

 Are you preparing for an interview and salary negotiation? Here are ten things Forbes.com says NOT to say if you want the job at the salary you desire. I have a lot of other companies trying to recruit me. If you hire me, I’ll be an amazing employee. I’ll make you glad you hired […]

Read More →

 How to Stack The Deck In Your Favor Job security isn’t always guaranteed, but according to Fast Company contributor Gwen Moran, there are seven things you can do to stack the deck in your favor. Here are six of them. Channel elite athletes. Strive to improve your performance and up your professional game. Be […]

Read More →

As hard as it is to give others feedback, receiving it can be even more challenging. But, everyone who is focused on success needs feedback. If you’re a leader who is looking for feedback, Robert Kaplan writes in the Harvard Business Review that you can ask the people around you. It may sound counterintuitive, but […]

Read More →

Did you know that personal and professional development are free? That’s right. All it costs is a little time. My website, spiritofpurpose.com, has dozens of videos, and hundreds of podcasts – all created for the sole purpose of helping you live and lead from a place of purpose and fulfillment. You’ll find a huge variety […]

Read More →

Summer is the perfect time to add books on leadership to your reading list. Here are some of my favorite books for emerging and existing leaders. Tom Rath and Barry Conchie’s Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams And Why People Follow builds on their bestseller, “Strengths Finders.” Rooted in extensive research, the book identifies three […]

Read More →

  In a recent HR Magazine Q&A with Edward Hess, co-author of “Humility is the New Smart, Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age,” he says, how well employees learn continuously and relate to others will become the great differentiator. Increasing automation and cheap access to information have made the traditional model of “smart” […]

Read More →