Have you ever received feedback and wondered, “Where on earth did that come from?” It seems so not like you, hard to believe, downright wrong.  Of course, sometimes, feedback is based on misperception.  And, at other times, it may be a precious gift you don’t want to accept. Feedback that sounds foreign – unlike anything […]

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Switching back and forth between hands-on manager and visionary leader is something many are required to do, especially at the top. Different situations require different roles. Figuring out which competencies to call on at what time can be confusing.   Here are some examples of scenarios that call for putting on your leader hat. When setting […]

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Are you in the midst of a career transition? If so, consider this: A specialist in career coaching can help you inventory your skills and talents, clarify what you really want, including identifying new and interesting ways to use your current skills. They can help you develop your resume, refine your job search strategy, mine […]

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What Motivates People If you’re a manager, you are called on regularly to motivate others. Being a successful leader relies on your ability to help others perform well.  Traditionally, we use the carrot and stick approach.  We bribe people with money or other incentives.  But, once the incentive goes away, so does the drive to […]

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Tools and Tactics For Women At Work In her weekly blog, author and organizational development expert Dr. Anne Litwin sites study after study that conclude that women perform better than men in areas of leadership, management and decision-making. Yet women only make up 3 to 4 percent of CEO’s worldwide. For […]

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Humility In the C-Suite A 2015 Wall Street Journal article extoled the virtues of humble executives. It praised characteristically humble attributes like listening well, admitting errors and the willingness to share the limelight. The article also reported on examples of leaders were undone due to their lack of humility. In particular, a self-promoting division head […]

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Are your goals for the year ahead on your mind? I’m thinking about mine. For the most part, we’re accustomed to writing SMART goals: Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound. This year, experiment with by adding another take on your process. Create a ‘Want’ and a ‘Don’t Want’ list for each goal. Here’s how: At the […]

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What did you learn last year? About yourself? Leadership? Team work? Relationships? Your company? Your colleagues. The world around you? Reflect on the various experiences you had – those you consciously choose and those that just showed up and presented themselves for you to deal with. What did you learn from them? In what ways […]

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Using the Implicit Assumption Tests, IATs, as well as, visualization and the loving kindness meditation, a Buddhist practice known to engender feelings of happiness and kindness towards oneself and others, researchers have made an interesting discovery. They’ve found that just seven minutes of the loving-kindness meditation, with the meditator focused on a person of a […]

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In professional and social settings, being able to recognize a person’s face, recall their name and pronounce it correctly, is an asset. Some people use their formal name over the commonly associated nickname – like Bill for William or Peggy for Margaret. Listen to how others introduce themselves – the name they use and how […]

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How do you feel about work?   More specifically, your particular job? A recent study found that people who are emotionally attached to their work and identify with it enjoy a greater sense of psychological wellbeing. That’s meaningful to employees and employers. You’re motivated to do a better job when you identify with your work. You […]

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Resistance is data.  Don’t make it a problem.  Don’t push against it, get angry, or wonder, “What’s wrong with them?” When I say resistance, I’m referencing those moments when you feel others are working in opposition to you.  They’re saying, “No,” for no apparent reason, countering your good ideas, being confrontational and unhelpful, fighting against […]

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The CEO was clear on the objectives of the leadership team’s summit. My job was to design the meeting and facilitate the group’s work. I asked him what he thought would be the most important contribution I could make, as their facilitator. His reply: “Keep us focused on the strategic. We tend to get into […]

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To sell your ideas to others, and even over resistance, use these tips: First, be clear about what you’re selling and it’s value to all stakeholders. To clarify your message so nail it every time you discuss the idea, write out your talking points. Make your core message short, succinct and easy for others to […]

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I enjoy ads and commercials. The good ones stick with me. I’m impacted by their images, sounds and words. The best ones have a dramatic tagline or slogan – a succinct, repeatable core message about the product or service that conveys the essence of what the company wants you to believe and remember. They’re designed […]

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  If you lead a company, a department or team, a career or a family, you need a strategic thought partner…someone who can help you dream possibilities, weigh opportunities, think through options, and confidently confront challenges. You need someone who sees you objectively, can help you identify ways to leverage your strengths and work on […]

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  One of my coaching clients complained about the quality of participation in his staff meetings. “What’s the meeting’s purpose,” I asked. “To update everyone on changes and other items that affect all the groups, and to problem solve,” he replied. “What’s the role of team members in the meeting,” I asked. He lifted his […]

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  Every day opportunity knocks. Do you recognize it, allow it in and leverage the moment? Or, do you let the door close and, later, walk away thinking, “I wish I had said or done something.” Take advantage of the breaks that come your way. Pry open those windows that are slightly ajar. For example, […]

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  I like listening to athletes’ stories about how they came to love and learn their sport, who they wanted to be like or compete against, their earliest dreams and visions for their career. Recently, I heard such an interview featuring Garbine Muguruza, professional tennis player and Serena Williams’ opponent in this year’s Wimbledon finals. […]

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      Lift your head up and look around.  I bet there are new people in your workplace. If so, reach out, say hello, extend a warm welcome. Do something that demonstrates you’re aware of their presence.  You might be surprised by the big difference a small gesture can make to a person who is still […]

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