Spirit of Purpose · Change & Transition On Steriods For individuals and organizations, change and transition have always been a given.  But over the past 16 to 18 months, it feels like shifts in our reality – professionally and personally – have been on steroids.   William Bridges offers useful framing for navigating the complexities of passages.  First, […]

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Are you in tune with yourself – your thoughts and feelings?  Do you know what triggers a positive reaction from you?  Do you know what makes you smile or offer an affirming nod?  How about what elicits feelings of compassion, or what compels you to make eye contact that expresses warmth and encouragement? Can you […]

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The ease with which an email can be sent, and the rush to move on to the next task, can be a dangerous combination. The result can be emails that fuel the fire rather than move the process forward. So, if you haven’t read the sender’s entire email and understand the message, pause before you […]

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While personal styles among those who occupy the C-suite can vary dramatically, from the reserved and analytical to the warm, outgoing people person, exceptional leaders – those who get results in the short run and long-term – all share a special set of common characteristics.  And, it’s not technical competence, nor the gift of exceptional intellect.   […]

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“Your attitude will determine your altitude.”  Famous words of the late, great trainer Zig Ziglar.  They ring true, no matter where you are in the organizational hierarchy.  From part-timer, to entry level to CEO, it matters how you show up. In many cases, attitude is more important than intellect or education.  If it comes down to a choice between […]

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Have you ever noticed that some days your negative emotions are more easily triggered than other days?  Are you aware of days when you can more easily stop yourself before saying something snarky or otherwise regrettable, and days when it seems you can’t?   It’s a challenge to move from responses that are automatic and unhelpful, to […]

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Dr. Marc Brackett is founder of Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of the book “Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves and Our Society Thrive.”     He says even when we’re determined to behave or react a certain way, there are no guarantees we will.  He suggests using what […]

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In a 2018 blog post, author Frank Sonnenberg shared 15 phrases that communicate a bad attitude.  Here are a few.  If you catch yourself about to say any of them, stop, take a deep breath and find another way to communicate your message.  “They don’t pay me enough to do this.” “I’ve always done it this way.” […]

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Mistakes.  We all make them.  What’s important is how we deal with them so that our errors don’t become our undoing. New York Times Better Living Columnist Tim Herrera has some tips for moving beyond big and little gaffes. He recommends being honest with yourself.  Acknowledge that it was indeed a mistake.  Accept it, but don’t let it define you […]

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Forbes.com contributor Mark Murphy says that about 25% of the population are intuitive communicators.  They prefer knowing the big picture and getting to the bottom line, quickly.  Intuitive communicators enjoy a disproportionately high representation among senior leaders.    To test whether you’re an intuitive communicator, Murphy says to think back on a recent conversation and ask yourself three […]

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When you’re asked to give someone feedback, does it put you on edge?  Even when the request is made with genuine openness, do you feel afraid of being perceived as overly critical and being rejected because of what you share?  Trust me, you’re not alone.   Giving feedback is a scary proposition for most people.  Fear about giving feedback […]

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In a recent Forbes.com article, Travis Bradberry listed and explained 13 powerful psychological forces that make us do bad things.  This list can help us become more self-aware and it may also help us better understand the people around us.  Those with whom we live, work and play.  First, the winner-take-all competition— something our society encourages, but it […]

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Good self-awareness includes knowing how invisible, powerful forces can lead to making bad, unethical choices.  Forbes.com contributor Travis Bradberry recently shared some of these outside-of-our-awareness influences and how they can affect us. The compensation effect. Using good deeds to justify bad ones. If people perform the acts of a good person, they might feel justified in sometimes behaving […]

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Conflict is natural and inevitable. Our comfort level with addressing it determines our response and the outcome.  Here are 11 tips for making it constructive, from Executive Coach Helen Baxter-Southworth and team dynamics expert Russ Forrester. Move toward conflict, not away from it.   Deal with conflict openly and above board, not behind the scenes.   Surface the conflict […]

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Harvard Business Review contributors Tony Schwartz and Emily Pines of the Energy Project warn that at all times, we have two selves operating simultaneously.  There’s the self governed by our pre-frontal cortex.  It controls executive brain functions like planning and strategy. It’s calm, measured and rational.  This is the self of which we are most aware.    Our other […]

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At all times, two parts of our brain are governing how we behave.  We’re aware of the rational, deliberate self that is ruled by the prefrontal cortex.  But the threat protector, ruled by the amygdala, reacts beneath the surface causing us to lash out inexplicably.  That self is enabled by the inner lawyer, which rationalizes, deflects and blames.  […]

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Procrastination can be a challenge.  Most of us have something we tend to hate doing and, therefore, put off. In a recent New York Timesarticle, Charlotte Lieberman shared insight from several experts on the subject. They surmised that procrastination is not a matter of poor time management or laziness.  Its roots are emotional. Members of the Procrastination Research Group […]

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Didn’t get that promotion or great job for which you had applied?  New York Times Smarter Living Editor Tim Herrera says it’s okay to feel bad about it, but don’t get stuck there. Here are some ways he says you can reframe and grow. Stop obsessing about “what if” by writing down three things that recently […]

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As a leader, it’s okay to admit that you have feelings.  Sometimes it’s even good to share those feelings with your team.  But the Harvard Business Reviewsays there’s a thin line between showing you’re vulnerable and over sharing.  Here are five ways to manage yourself. Figure yourself out.  Learn to recognize the signs that it’s time to hit the emotional […]

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