The Pitfalls of Inconsistent Leadership Emotionally intelligent leaders are consistent. Consistency creates a sense of emotional stability and safety. Without consistency, your team is likely to be unaligned and not optimally productive. If a leader allows his mood or emotions to drive how he interacts with his team, those who report to him won’t know […]

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Taking The Time to Just Think  According to a recent article on Inc.com, Warren Buffet has spent 80 percent of his career reading and thinking. Inc contributor Brian Scudamore says even though it seems counterintuitive to devote that much time to not being “busy,” he heralds Buffet as a trailblazer in this regard, and several […]

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Why Executive or Leadership Presence Is Important I’m often asked to speak on the topic of Executive Presence. It is something that may seem superficial to some, but for existing and rising leaders, being able to command respect is part of the success equation. Here’s why executive presence is so important. We make split-second judgments […]

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  Are You An Integrator, Separator or Both? A recent Wall Street Journal article looked at different ways people approach work-life balance. The article referenced work by Purdue University Management professor Ellen Ernst Kossek, who identified three different styles the Integrator, Separator and Cycler. The “Integrator” is comfortable blurring the lines between work and home. […]

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Effective Apologies Have you ever wondered how best to say you’re sorry after making a big mistake? Researchers at Ohio State & Eastern Kentucky University’s may have the answer. They determined that there are 6 elements that make up an effective apology. Participants in the study ranked the first two elements ‑- acknowledging you made […]

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Culture vs. Strategy Peter Drucker said, “Culture eats strategy for lunch.” The right strategy plays an important role in any company’s success. But, the right culture makes implementing that strategy easier and more sustainable. Culture is nourished by hiring people who have the necessary education and skills, but who also who embody the organization’s core […]

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Mission Driven Alignment Mission driven leadership inspires, engages and motivates. Yet many executives and leaders leave this very important tool in their toolbox. The Gallup organization analyzed data from nearly 50,000 business units across 192 organizations representing 49 different industries in 34 countries. They discovered that: Focusing on mission drives loyalty across generations – helping […]

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  The Rapid Rise Of Yoga and Its Benefits Across America, the number of people practicing Yoga has been increasing dramatically for several years. A survey recent by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal reports that 36 million Americans are now practicing yoga. That’s an increase of 50% over the 2012 number. Three times more adults […]

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CQ = Conversational Intelligence First there was IQ.  Then came EQ or Emotional Intelligence.  Now Judith Glazer of “The Harvard Coaching Institute” has introduced the concept of CQ – which stands for Conversational Intelligence. CQ taps into our need for self-expression and validation.   Glazer says that in environments where people can share their aspirations, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Humility In the C-Suite A 2015 Wall Street Journal article extoled the virtues of humble executives. It praised characteristically humble attributes like listening well, admitting errors and the willingness to share the limelight. The article also reported on examples of leaders were undone due to their lack of humility. In particular, a self-promoting division head […]

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Quick to Judge Science now confirms that you only get one chance to make a first impression and that judgment happens more quickly than you’d expect. Psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Bastian Schiller and a team of researchers in Switzerland have discovered that subconsciously, we decide within milliseconds who or what we like or don’t like. […]

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The folks at Mind Tools say an average office worker receives about 80 emails per day. If your message is one of 80, or more, it can get lost in the shuffle.  As creators of solutions, Mind Tools has developed several tips that will help your emails get noticed and answered. Don’t over-communicate. Write only […]

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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 […]

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What’s your approach to introducing a new initiative? Do you plan alone or with just a select few?  Do you make the decisions and tell others?  Do you push for closure, focused primarily on getting the task done? If you answered, “Yes” to the above questions you may find that your good ideas often fail […]

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Does teamwork and collaboration characterize your approach to managing and leading? Are you able to get your team members to contribute at levels you deem effective and desirable?  The best managers and leaders do.  Here are a few tips from their playbook: Set stretch goals – individual and team. Regularly, discuss progress, challenges and opportunities. […]

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Do you understand the importance of relationships in the workplace? Are you able to get things done in a way that doesn’t ruffle feathers?  If your answer is “Yes,” very likely you’re seen as a mover and shaker.  If “No” is your response, your effectiveness and reputation are suffering. If you work with people, in […]

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What’s top of mind for you, right now? If you’re not sure, be still for a moment.  Discover the answer.  What words, story, and physical sensations are playing in the background of your thoughts and feelings?  Don’t be surprised if concerns, worries, pressures, should’s and ought to’s dominate.  Anxiety, fear and worry are all too […]

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Do you allow LIES to limit you? I don’t know anyone who doesn’t.  LIES are labels, illusions, excuses and stories that exist in your mind, just out of awareness.  They shape your thoughts, feelings, decisions and actions.  LIES lead to detours on your path to happiness.  They short-circuit your ability and willingness to change and […]

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