Spirit of Purpose · Change Things Up To Get Out Of Your Work-At-Home Rut Are you fatigued, overwhelmed, burned out?  Packing every available work-from-home minute with meetings and tasks?  Feeling like you need a break?  You’re not alone. Most of us had more natural breaks in our workday pre-COVID.  From our commute to and from the workplace; to walking […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · High Rates of Daily Stress According to Gallup’s World Poll, during 2020, across the globe, employees experienced increased worry, sadness, and anger, with US and Canadian workers reporting the highest rates of daily stress.   In fact, women reported 10% higher levels of stress than men.  This finding falls in line with data […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · The Time To Reorganize Your Team May Be Right Now Over the course of the pandemic, clients talked about the multiple roles and extra work they assumed – some due to new pandemic-specific activities.  Some involved covering for colleagues who were ill or on a reduced schedule.  Some resulted from reduced staffing levels. […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · Simple Ways to Show Appreciation How often do you express appreciation to the people around you – in the workplace and your personal life? Do you say thank you often enough? Do you share, in sufficient detail, what you like about a person’s approach to a task or the way they handled a […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · Hybrid Arrangements May Be the Solution For decades, discussion of flexible work arrangements centered around hours and, perhaps, an occasional day working from home.  The pandemic has changed that.   According to Gallup, between mid-March to early April 2020, the number of employees working remotely doubled from 31% to 62%.  Across age groups – […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · How Work-At-Home Parents Can Find Relief Whether you’re a frontline essential worker, homemaker, striving young professional, or seasoned executive, if you’re a parent with younger children, your life has changed dramatically during the pandemic.   Traditional support systems like school, aftercare, sitters, dance, sports, are gone, or at least not what they […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · COVID-19 Has Added Complexity to Our Diverse Worlds Even as we continue physically distancing and working remotely, the human need for connection and community, remains strong.  The need to be heard, to feel seen and included, is as important as ever.   Today, in our new paradigm, we work and engage […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · Releasing COVID-19 Generated Loss & Grief Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ Five Stages of Grief provides a helpful framework for understanding our COVID-19-induced emotional roller-coaster. You’ve probably experienced the shock and denial – you just couldn’t believe this unexpected, tragic thing was happening.  Then feelings of guilt or sadness about your inability to prevent […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · COVID-19 & the Struggles of Diverse Workers We’re all experiencing significant COVID-19-related challenges.  And across the diversity spectrum of black, indigenous and people of color, women, LGBTQIA community members, people with disabilities, and working parents, issues are particularly acute. A McKinsey survey says across demographic groups and geographies, workers are struggling […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · The Real Reason You Might Miss the Office If you went to an office or another workplace every day, one of the things you may have taken for granted is the opportunity to switch gears.  According to the Wall Street Journal, many people are experiencing a lack of separation between their home […]

Read More →

You may have noticed a proliferation of group sing-alongs by people who are under strict stay at home orders all over the world.   We see entire communities of people are singing on their balconies or through open windows.  We hear about online music sessions with people who know or don’t know each other.  These gatherings are more than […]

Read More →

Many people are dealing with guilt associated with their Coronavirus activities or lack thereof.   According to Mindtools.com, there are two kinds of guilt — healthy and unhealthy – and there are ways to address both.  But first, it’s important to understand what kind of guilt you’re dealing with.   Healthy guilt is proportionate or rational – a reaction […]

Read More →

Spirit of Purpose · 6 Ways to Manage Remote Team Members It goes without saying that managing remotely differs from managing in-person.  No more managing-by-walking-around.  There are fewer opportunities to give spontaneous feedback.  Standing and ad hoc meetings may still happen, but the rules are not exactly the same. Harvard Business Review contributor Sabina Nawaz offers 6 great […]

Read More →

When crises like the Coronavirus impact the business world, it’s important to have a good structure for decision-making.  McKinsey & Company offers 6 tips to ensure your decision-making remains solid when battling the unprecedented and unbelievable.  First, take a breath.  Step back, take stock and prioritize.  Consider the long-term implications – look beyond what’s happening right now.  This alleviates […]

Read More →

Here are four quick tips from Harvard Business Review that can help you adapt to the unusual work conditions sparked by the Coronavirus. Try to accept that each coworker copes differently.  Some might be optimistic and others pessimistic.  Some may have trouble finding a quiet place to work or be worried about older relatives.  Circumstances for each person vary, […]

Read More →

I hear from leaders I coach that they’re concerned about how their employees are doing, but they’re afraid to intrude and overstep their boundaries.  An article in the Washington Post argues that allowing loneliness to set in is a health risk.   We humans are social beings.  Research shows that people who live alone, or report feeling lonely, […]

Read More →

As so many get used to working from home, new feelings may arise about co-workers.  Not only has our physical space changed, so has our intimate knowledge of each other’s lives.  Harvard Business Review’s Amy Gallo spoke to experts to get some advice on these shifting interpersonal dynamics. Stanford’s Monica Worline says we must accept that our […]

Read More →

As we move deeper into Coronavirus-induced isolation, anxiety and fear may threaten the sense of stability and mental health for many of us.  Steven Cohen, co-founder of Meditation for Leadership says, and I agree, now is a good time to embrace meditation. A daily meditation practice can enhance inner awareness of our thoughts and emotions and […]

Read More →

At times like these, fear of getting sick, of losing a job or a business can be overwhelming.  Meditation and mindfulness are among the healthiest ways to manage this natural response to threat.  Steven Cohen, co-founder of Meditation4Leadership, says most of us let our emotional states linger longer than necessary. We replay our fear or anger […]

Read More →