One of my favorite comic strips is set in a bookstore. In one corner of the store, there is a section with a sign that reads, “Self Help. ” Right next to it, there’s a sign for the “Fixing Others” section. The “Self-Help” section has one person in it while the “Fixing Others” section is […]
Read More →Do you ever feel like you just want to whine and complain about your job, your boss, your company, your partner, your life? We all do. It’s normal, but there might be good buried beneath the bad feelings on the surface. While we call these feelings negative, they actually hold positive potential. Don’t ignore them. […]
Read More →Do you ever feel like you just want to whine and complain about your job, your boss, your company, your partner, your life? We all do. It’s normal, but there might be good buried beneath the bad feelings on the surface. While we call these feelings negative, they actually hold positive potential. Don’t ignore them. […]
Read More →When things go wrong, and occasionally they do, rather than focusing on identifying who made the mistake, focus on the situation and the solution. Put your energy and attention into what happened, how best to fix it, what process improvements need to be implemented, what training and checks and balances are needed to insure that […]
Read More →While the specific ways people react to change vary widely, there are always two components to everyone’s reaction. One component is their logical reaction and the other, their emotional reaction. Here are two suggestions that can help you deal with changes in your workplace and life: First, get beneath the headline. Try to understand the […]
Read More →The 18- to 35-year-old workers in your organization are the millennials. They are a breed unto themselves, just as preceding generations have been. Here are a few interesting facts about millennials – offered not to stereotype, but with the intention of acknowledging prevalent patterns among the group: They’re the most culturally diverse and well-educated generation […]
Read More →What do you do when you care about a person? You find ways to support their happiness and success, particularly when they’re motivated and moving in that direction. What’s a good way to get behind someone you care about and help them increase their effectiveness and propel themselves forward? Give them one of these forms […]
Read More →When it comes to pressure in the workplace or at home, which situations trigger feelings of overload, burden, overwhelm and stress? How do you typically react? Do you freeze up, get angry or cranky, gossip, feel frustrated, or stop working and start complaining? Do you overreact? The next time pressure and overload land in your […]
Read More →When we like people, it’s easy to work with or for them. If we like them a lot, we look forward to interaction. But what happens if we don’t like a colleague? For some reason, we just don’t get along with them or can’t find their redeeming qualities. Here are a few strategies to consider: […]
Read More →You’re about to engage in a difficult, yet crucial conversation – one where emotional tensions are high, you’re intent on proving a point, being right and prevailing. Often times, there’s little warning. You may suddenly find yourself in the middle of a response before you’ve properly assessed the situation. When difficult conversations don’t happen, problems […]
Read More →You’re about to engage in a difficult, yet crucial conversation – one where emotional tensions are high, you’re intent on proving a point, being right and prevailing. Often times, there’s little warning. You may suddenly find yourself in the middle of a response before you’ve properly assessed the situation. When difficult conversations don’t happen, problems […]
Read More →Charles, a senior-level coaching client, told me that early in his career, his mentor advised him to be smart enough to be humble, versus proving how smart he is. No matter the job level of the person he’s interacting with, Charles’ mode of operation is always to be collegial and collaborative. Here are the principles that […]
Read More →Every day, opportunities are presented to us. They may be disguised as obstacles, problems or issues, but what they really are is a chance to demonstrate our ability to make a positive contribution to our lives or our company’s goals and objectives. The best way to take advantage of these opportunities is by making conscious choices designed […]
Read More →Every day, opportunities are presented to us. They may be disguised as obstacles, problems or issues, but what they really are is a chance to demonstrate our ability to make a positive contribution to our lives or our company’s goals and objectives. The best way to take advantage of these opportunities is by making conscious […]
Read More →We tend to react to familiar situation in familiar ways. That’s clearly true any time we find ourselves back in a familiar situation – like celebrating a holiday with our family of origin or our in-laws. Without thinking, old ingrained patterns of behavior kick in. When the pattern is constructive, the gathering tends to feel […]
Read More →Many of you wrote in response to last week’s post, “Hurricane Sandy: My Personal Pivot Point.” Your words were kind. Your offers of help were genuine and generous. You opened up your homes, extending an invitation to visit, escape the chaos and rest. And, knowing that you’re praying for us, enveloping us in loving thought, […]
Read More →Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday – a day of appreciation for the amazing legacy I’ve inherited and the abundance with which I’m blessed. With heart-felt gratitude, this Thanksgiving season, I’m reflecting on and appreciating the many people on whose shoulders I stand. Their lives and contributions have eased my path. I’ve been the beneficiary of […]
Read More →When the bus pulled up to our lane, the kids yelled, “Oooh! Look at your house.” Looking out the window, we saw nothing but a curl of smoke where our house once stood. Exiting the bus, mouths gaping in disbelief, tears streaming down our faces, my brother Lee and I ran, trembling, into the waiting […]
Read More →Try this for just one day and notice the impact on you and on others. Listen more. Listen to understand. Listen to learn. Listen to empathize. Listen to validate. Don’t worry. You won’t become invisible, powerless or less impactful. In fact, you will become more visible because you’ll stand out as someone who cares in a […]
Read More →Are your relationships resting on a strong foundation of trust? If so, you may be among the 49% of people in the US who say they have a high level of trust in others. But, here’s the rub: if 49% trust others that means 51% aren’t so trusting. What’s that about? While I can’t account […]
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