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 →You know how critically important credibility and trustworthiness are in relationships. Interaction by interaction, your credibility and trustworthiness are established in the minds of others. In the micro-movements and subtle energy of day-to-day exchanges, your reputation is built and reinforced. People hear what we say, but more importantly, they notice what we do. If […]
Read More →You know how critically important credibility and trustworthiness are in relationships. Interaction by interaction, your credibility and trustworthiness are established in the minds of others. In the micro-movements and subtle energy of day-to-day exchanges, your reputation is built and reinforced. People hear what we say, but more importantly, they notice what we do. […]
Read More →More and more, it seems I’m hearing people talk about relationships that are vexing to impossible.. Whether workplace or personal, the relationship is described as being beyond repair. Tensions are present – sometimes steady and stable, but sometimes escalating. According to the storyteller, there is nothing that can be done to rectify the situation […]
Read More →Let’s say something pleasurable happens in your life – you make an outstanding presentation, offer up a good idea that gets noticed, take a great vacation, have an incredibly delicious meal, see a beautiful sunset. Are you able to hold on to the good feelings the experience generates? Or do your positive emotions […]
Read More →A study published in the June 29, 2015 issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, found that workplace impoliteness tends to spread – whether it’s dissing people in meetings or sending nasty emails or spreading rumors or making insensitive comments or engaging in shouting matches – and it negatively effects the environment and performance. […]
Read More →In the workplace and at home, small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Everyday behaviors that acknowledge others and demonstrate respect for them can change the climate, even in situations where hostility, incivility and rudeness seem to be the norm. You can break vicious negative cycles with simple, everyday behaviors like the […]
Read More →“Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstances.” I found that quote inside the wrapper of a miniature Dove Caramel & Milk Chocolate candy. I read it once, and then again, “Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstances.” So true. Think about it. Those who are happy show up that […]
Read More →Here are a few practices that can boost your happiness quotient, at work, in relationships, anywhere you find yourself. Focus on what’s working well. Choose to give your attention to what’s good and satisfying. Be aware of yourself and others, but not critical. Notice behavior without judgment, blame or condemnation. In every […]
Read More →Once again, research affirms what we know about the benefits of spending time in natural settings. Exposure to green trees, grass, bushes, and flowers, as well as blue spaces – those with still or running water –renews and refreshes us, helps us feel more connected to life. To add nature’s beneficial greens and […]
Read More →During the 2015 Wimbledon finals, I saw an interview with Serena Williams, at this point in her career, the holder of an historic 21 grand slam titles. Her record is amazing. Only one person, Steffi Graf, has more. Steffi ended her stellar career with 22. Serena lives in rarified air. Literally, she’s at the top […]
Read More →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. […]
Read More →“At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best, every day?” That was the question the Gallup organization asked people who participated in their research. In 2001, they found that only about 20% of people responded, “Yes,” to doing, on a daily basis, what they were good at and enjoyed. […]
Read More →As I discuss in my book, LIES That Limit, personal beliefs – what we think and say is possible and probable – shape and define our daily lives. If you want to limit your sense of optimism, hope, inner peace, drain your energy and zest for life, focus on your problems, see what’s wrong, talk […]
Read More →Recently I was sent a link to Erika Anderson’s Forbes article about the “Most Important Reason People Fail In A New Job.” Her answer, in a nutshell: they don’t fit in to the established culture. For some, culture may feel too touchy feely or intangible. But no matter where you work, culture exists. Prescribed […]
Read More →No matter where you are in your career, networking is an important skill set to cultivate and put to use. For your next event, make a plan and be purposeful. Greet the folks you know, of course. And, keep moving. Set a goal to expand your network by meeting 4 to 5 new people […]
Read More →The word gossip carries a negative connotation, yet we all do it. We share good and bad news about someone who’s not in the room, and we do it for a couple of reasons. First of all, information is power. By being the one to share a juicy tidbit, you demonstrate that you’re in […]
Read More →John, a coaching client, lives in a pressure-filled world. Recently, he said, “My days are so hectic. Sometimes, I feel like shouting, ‘Leave me alone. I can’t do another thing. I’m tired.’” Today, many of us feel pulled and pressured. While we wish things would change, without active intervention, it’s highly unlikely. For a […]
Read More →If you’re looking for ways to shape your company’s culture, invest in training – not just any training, but the kind of learning experiences that provides a consistent message that aligns with the direction of your business, and teaches the mindsets and skills that support the kinds of behaviors and outcomes required to […]
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