Are you regularly late for work, for special engagements, or to pick up your kids from daycare or after-school activities?  If you are and this is a chronic situation where you’re struggling to figure out why, here’s a helpful process for exploring the deeper cause of this pattern. Start with intentional reflection.   Look for the deeper […]

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Even the Best Team Members Benefit from Basic Skills Training Some leaders believe that because they manage their time well and prioritize with ease that doing so comes naturally to everyone. For these managers, any employee who procrastinates, misses deadlines or is disorganized is a source of frustration. Leaders have a responsibility for developing employees, […]

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Wouldn’t an extra hour or two feel great today?  Think of what you might accomplish.  You could make progress with an important project.  Polish your presentation. Attend that networking event. Enjoy dinner with family or friends. Take that spinning class. Or sit on the sofa with your cat. Delegation helps you create time that you […]

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Do you feel guilty about seemingly never being able to catch up?  When you’re home at night or away from your desk, are you plagued by negative thoughts about what you’re not getting done?   Harvard Business Review contributor Art Markman says sometimes guilt or shame can motivate us.  But other times, it’s better to let go. How? […]

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To wrap up the year, I’d like to share a list of the three most popular videos on my YouTube channel and what I believe they say about where our collective heads are right now.   “How to Listen More and Talk Less” continues to be the most-watched video. It has topped the chart since 2017.  Although […]

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We look to tools and techniques to help us manage time.  And they can, to a certain extent.  They only work to the degree that we take a disciplined approach to their application.  The effectiveness of any time management tool is squarely in our hands.  To manage our time more effectively, we have to improve the way we manage […]

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Is your workplace progressive, designed to promote thinking and innovating? While our knowledge-based economy has changed how we conduct business, vestiges of the old way still weigh employees down. Harvard Business Review says tethering employees to email is a big concern. Does your company use email for urgent, time-sensitive communication?  Do you or others in the company expect […]

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When someone asks how you are, do you launch into a litany of reasons that you’re crazy busy to overwhelmed?  Do you tick off the many competing priorities that keep you from catching your breath or relaxing?  Do you talk about being jealous of people who find time to exercise, entertain or garden?  Or how you’d do things differently if only […]

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Procrastination can be a challenge.  Most of us have something we tend to hate doing and, therefore, put off. In a recent New York Timesarticle, Charlotte Lieberman shared insight from several experts on the subject. They surmised that procrastination is not a matter of poor time management or laziness.  Its roots are emotional. Members of the Procrastination Research Group […]

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Are you holding on to processes or practices that no longer serve anyone or can be handled more efficiently?  While the current practice was a great solution years ago, the problem that led to a particular work-around no longer exists or maybe technology is helping you do it better. For example, there might be a report […]

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Your schedule is jam packed, but there’s an important team meeting that you want to participate in.  The clock isn’t on your side, but with proper planning, here’s how you can ensure the team hears from you. Let the meeting leader know beforehand that you’re coming but can’t stay. Plan to attend the first 30 or […]

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 Leaders: Do you find that you’re spending so much time managing your team that you have little time or attention span left to slow down and think strategically? Harvard Business Review contributor Maura Thomas has these tips just for you. Schedule regular meetings with direct reports, and designate specific times for others on the […]

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Has managing your email become the bane of your existence, leading to anxiety, lost messages, missed deadlines? Well, Fast Company contributor Zach Hanlon says you really need only 5 email folders. He recommends organizing your folders by deadlines, instead of subjects or projects. He also says stop using your inbox as a to-do list. Emails […]

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Hold Yourself Accountable For Achieving Your Goals Often, the reason we struggle to achieve success is that we don’t hold ourselves accountable for reaching our goals. Each day is made up of an untold number of decisions that can move us closer to or further away from our goals. For example: do I update my […]

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    Many leaders labor under LIES that limit their effectiveness. One of which is the illusion that you’re either born with executive presence or you’re out of luck. In truth, executive presence can be developed and refined. Here’s a list of key elements. Identify which are current strengths. And, select one element for stretch, […]

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          If you’re looking for ways to be more productive, here are several tips from a Fast Company article titled, “The Art of Doing Everything.” Don’t waste time on unnecessary decisions, like what to eat for breakfast or lunch.  Eat the same thing everyday.  Also, for men and women, consider simplifying […]

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Recently, I read that most of us check email 37 times per day…37 times!  I was shocked.  That accounts for 37 daily interruptions…37 times when you stop reading, writing, talking, listening, thinking, analyzing, planning, studying. Take stock of your email checking habits.  If you’re among those who allow email to regularly interrupt your focus and […]

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In a recent blog post titled, “The World’s Worst Boss,” Seth Godin reminded us that we are our own bosses.  We’re in charge of all aspects of our lives.  The post prodding readers with statements like, “If you had a boss who talked to you the way you talk to yourself, you would quit.  Or […]

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