As hard as it is to give others feedback, receiving it can be even more challenging. But, everyone who is focused on success needs feedback. If you’re a leader who is looking for feedback, Robert Kaplan writes in the Harvard Business Review that you can ask the people around you. It may sound counterintuitive, but […]

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When leaders think about sustainability, they often focus on their business model. But, what about succession planning? What about nurturing a cadre of future leaders who are prepared to take the business forward – not just maintain it, but strengthen it and grow it. Here are three ways to develop the next generation of leaders. […]

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Valuable Life Lesson From The Yoga Mat In Yoga, it’s common for the instructor to ask students to set an intention for their practice. An intention is the goal the person wishes to achieve, like being present, breathing deeply, more fully embodying a particular posture. Intentions are powerful tools, on and off the yoga mat. […]

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Are you feeling stuck in exactly the place you don’t want to be? Are you looking for the right moment – that perfect set of circumstances – that will change your life? Well, here is some simple advice: take advantage of opportunities that present themselves. Did a colleague or friend invite you to attend an […]

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Your First Instincts Can Steer You Wrong In a recent interview, Princeton Professor Betsy Levy Paluck made a case for not fully trusting your first instincts. “We rush to simplify,” she said, drawing boundaries around our team and trying to make sense of a situation by justifying what’s right for ourselves. In such moments, our […]

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We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re not actively engaged in doing something, we’re not using our time wisely. But being in constant motion doesn’t equal being productive. Sometimes taking time to stop and think is more valuable than pushing yourself to exhaustion. One of the great secrets of successful business people is their commitment […]

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I’m a big fan of journaling. I’ve personally experienced the way it helps process feelings and relieve stress that can stifle my progress. As it turns out, writing is an excellent way to stave off anxiety. That’s what a psychology graduate student at Harvard discovered. Hans Schroder and his colleagues studied a group of women […]

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Should You Rip Off the Bandaid or Let Them Down Easy? When you have to deliver bad news, do you just launch in, full force, or offer a polite pre-amble to buffer what’s about to come? Researchers at Brigham Young and South Alabama Universities found that recipients of bad news prefer the direct and clear […]

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Traditional thinking has always been that men are bigger risk takers than women. But research from England’s University of Exeter and the University of Melbourne, in Australia, is challenging that notion. Dr. Thekla Morgenroth, the study’s author, says we believe men are bigger risk takers because risk is typically measured using masculine behaviors. High stakes […]

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The higher you move up, the bigger your impact on larger numbers of people, significant business processes and, very likely, a higher percentage of the company’s bottom line. Your world becomes more complex, filled with responsibility. Yet, the transition from one rung to the next may leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. If that’s so, […]

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Clients tell me that they share my videos and podcasts with their teams. One client says she starts her staff meetings off by playing one of my videos. She finds the messages helpful for aligning their focus, strengthening confidence and enhancing emotional intelligence. If you’re looking for tools to help your team grow professionally or […]

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Often times, when leaders announce a major change, resistance from vocal stakeholders soon follows. If you’re lucky, the people with issues will come to you directly – giving you a chance to address grievances. But, more likely, the grumbling will happen out of earshot, although not without manifesting itself in one form or another. If […]

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Did you know that personal and professional development are free? That’s right. All it costs is a little time. My website, spiritofpurpose.com, has dozens of videos, and hundreds of podcasts – all created for the sole purpose of helping you live and lead from a place of purpose and fulfillment. You’ll find a huge variety […]

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One of the latest phrases cascading through the business world is “disruptive change.” It’s used by companies looking to innovate, stand out and lead their industry. But when being “disruptive” evolves from business philosophy to reality, everyone along the chain of command could be subjected to urgent and dramatic change, often. Change is hard. Repeated […]

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In a recent “60 Minutes” interview with Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer, he shared his approach to providing outstanding hospitality. He trains his staff to identify the boss at every table so they can make sure that person leaves happy. For Meyer, that’s the secret to creating loyal customers in a crowded industry. I began […]

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A recent study by researchers at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, INSEAD and Columbia looked at how power dynamics affect one’s ability to persuade. They found that successful persuasion depends on how powerful or powerless the speaker’s audience feels. The researchers measured responses to “high power” communication that focused on competency and skillfulness, and “Low […]

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Is Work Getting You Down? Author and Harvard Business Review contributor Annie McKee says that could be due to one of three “Happiness Traps,” which are destructive mindsets and ways of working that keep you stuck, unhappy and rob you of success. “The Ambition Trap” pushes you to do your best, but it becomes counter […]

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