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 →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 →Buddha said, “Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.” This reminds me to look beyond the story of my limited, personal truth about situations and people. Whether in the workplace or in our private lives, we have to look beyond our limited understanding to see truth. For […]
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 →I enjoy ads and commercials. The good ones stick with me. I’m impacted by their images, sounds and words. The best ones have a dramatic tagline or slogan – a succinct, repeatable core message about the product or service that conveys the essence of what the company wants you to believe and remember. They’re designed […]
Read More →Crying can be an indicator of pain, a call for attention, comfort or support, an expression of intense emotion. Crying can also be a way of relieving pressure, letting go of held emotions. Traditionally, crying in the workplace has been taboo, largely due to the long-held belief that tears make you appear weak, vulnerable, emotional, […]
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 →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 →“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 →We signal our thoughts and feelings to those around us, even when we don’t intend to. Inadvertently, the truth creeps out. So, if you’re unhappy at work, it’s unlikely that you can keep it a secret. Rather than allowing discontent to fester and intensify, respectfully, take steps to right the situation. For example, […]
Read More →When you engage with others, particularly when raising an issue, be clear about the role you want them to play. Knowing what you want, and asking for it, enables others to do a better of job of helping you in just the way you want. For example, you could ask the person […]
Read More →Whether delivering a keynote, facilitating a learning experience or coaching clients, today, there’s a lot of buzz about Inclusion. People seem to feel more comfortable with the concept than they are with the term Diversity. I understand their thinking and respect their feelings. Yet, the not-so-subtle reality is Inclusion becomes a viable possibility […]
Read More →When interacting across differences – cultural, personal or positional – don’t despair if you blunder. Don’t be hard on yourself. And, above all, don’t give up. Flubs and blunders are a natural consequence of the learning process. As appropriate, make amends and keep moving forward. No, I’m not suggesting that you tell the […]
Read More →Do the people in your life know how good you feel about them? How proud you are of his performance. How optimistic you are about her future. How excited you are about his new venture. Or the fact that you admire her skill as a presenter, appreciate her can-do attitude, enjoy his cheerful smile […]
Read More →Effective self-management is dependent on your level self-awareness. If it’s high, even in emotionally charged situations, you’ll be in tune with your inner self and better able to control your impulse to act in ways that might not serve you or others. When you’re able to accurately perceive your emotions, in the moment, and […]
Read More →Today, many people who are 65, and over, are still in the workforce, avid volunteers, or otherwise very involved in life. Yet, many traditional measures of age categorize them as old. Researchers at IIASA say, “If you don’t consider people old just because they reached age 65, but instead take into account how long […]
Read More →What challenges do you face, as you interact with people, day-to-day, at work and at home? What is about the behavior of others that confounds you and drives you nuts? Take a moment; give it thought. If you’re in your workplace, glance around. With whom do you have the most trouble engaging without feeling […]
Read More →When problematic situations occur, remember, you don’t have to solve them yourself, particularly if others are impacted. Specify the issue, as you see it, and invite others to work with you to brainstorm potential solutions. Before you begin generating ideas, explain the process by which the successful solution will be selected – for example, […]
Read More →Emotional Intelligence – the ability to understand others and ourselves, is a powerful business tool, no matter your role or job level. When you’re self-aware, in control of your emotions, able to relate well to others, and motivated to achieve goals, your high EQ facilitates success in a number of ways, including: Increasing […]
Read More →In your professional and personal life, problems that persist are a valuable source of feedback. Yet, we often ignore the opportunity they present. Instead of looking within for solutions, we tend to look outside of ourselves for someone or something to blame. When you hear yourself thinking or saying, “They started this. It’s […]
Read More →
