My book, LIES That Limit, makes it clear that mindset – what we believe, how we think – is everything. Mindset is the composite of our beliefs and assumptions – our theory about life, other people, even ourselves. We feel safe when we make choices consistent with our story about the way things are. Yet, […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →Which Black History month events are you attending? Whatever you do, go with a beginner’s mind. Even if you don’t typically participate in such programs, go with an open, nonjudgmental mindset. You’re bound to learn something – about yourself, your colleagues or the history of people of African descent in the US. In fact, here’s […]
Read More →Len is a visionary. That’s one of his strengths –one that he sometimes feels is more burden than asset. Why? Because to the members of his organization, his ever-evolving aspirations feel like, “Here we go again! He’s on to something else! He’s never satisfied! Before we really get going with his last great idea, he’s […]
Read More →This year, the social climate feels a little different to me. I’m aware of the tension in relationships across groups – political, religious, racial, etc. There seems to be more sensitivity and more potential than usual for disagreements to erupt. So, as you move through your procession of holiday gatherings, add an extra measure of […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →Thanksgiving initiates a season of celebration that lasts for nearly five weeks. For so many of us, a festive air prevails that permeates life, even in the workplace. We enjoy celebratory lunches and dinners with colleagues and friends. We laugh and dance the night away at the company holiday party. Bring in savory treats to […]
Read More →Regularly, I travel to my clients in New York City. Most often, I drive. While I would prefer to take the bus or train, their schedules seldom coincide with mine. Luckily, I like to drive. It’s quiet, meditative time for me. It gives me an opportunity time to slip out of the routine thinking of […]
Read More →Thanksgiving is a one of my favorite holidays! It calls my attention to the bounty of blessings I enjoy every day…and don’t always acknowledge. Whatever our circumstances, no matter how privileged or challenging life may be, too often, we give too much energy and attention to what’s wrong, what’s lacking, what’s worrisome. In so doing, […]
Read More →Consider the people around you – those at home and at work. You have a story about each of them. They have one about you. These static stories seldom change, unless we challenge them by intentionally expanding our thinking. Two steps are involved. 1. Acknowledge you don’t have a complete, accurate picture. 2. Consciously open […]
Read More →If you’re sitting at your desk, or standing at your workstation, doing the minimum, hoping the day will end soon, too bad! You’re dying a slow death and you’re contributing to the demise of your employer. Anyone can have a slump. You just don’t have much energy and, in a way, you don’t even care. […]
Read More →What do you do when bad news lands at your door? When you face failure, deal with disappointment, or receive less than flattering feedback? Do you feel hurt? Paralyzed with fear? Do you turn away, recoil from the situation? Do you deny the issue and your part in it? Does your mood become sullen and […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →The group, all senior leaders, was discussing the new business vision and strategy. Soon, the conversation took a deep dive into the details concerning how certain initiatives would be designed and executed. As their facilitator, I called their attention to what they were doing and asked if this was the level of conversation […]
Read More →While facilitating a workshop, the participants, all senior leaders, began talking about how hard it is to get their people to buy-in to important changes. They described their workforce as resistant to change. I asked them to think about themselves and recall the day they received word of their promotion…to remember all they thought and […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →If you’re trying to learn new information, or teach it to others, find what in it is familiar and build the teaching around those recognizable chunks. According to new research completed by Carnegie Mellon University psychologists, it’s actually easier to learn new facts if they also contain familiar components. In the workplace, these […]
Read More →I tweeted a quote @SpiritOfPurpose that got attention. People re-tweeted it and saved it as a favorite. The tweet was a Chinese proverb that says, “Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” I don’t know what about the quote appealed to those who retweeted it or tagged […]
Read More →Right now, are you feeling worried or anxious? What was the trigger? A message from your boss saying, “Give me a call?” An email from a colleague saying, “I need to talk right away?” A note from your child’s teacher’s asking for a conference, immediately? A message from your doctor saying, “Please call my office.” […]
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