Abraham Maslow’s approach to psychology was unique.  He studied people who were psychologically healthy, living and performing at their peak.  He called them self-actualizers.  See how many strengths of self-actualized people you possess: Live in the present moment, the now, not the past or future.  Self and other accepting.  Spontaneous.  […]

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When unwanted results show up, and they always do, where do you put your energy and attention?  On the problem or the solution? If you’re like the majority of people, in your personal and professional life, the things you don’t want end up captivating you.  You think about them.  Talk about them.  Wrestle with them.  […]

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        Terri, an outstanding individual contributor, has a resume that boasts a string of successes. Recently promoted, her new role involves leading people.  She’s struggling to find her footing in a position that calls for an additional set of competencies.  This challenge is natural.  As Marshall Goldsmith says, What Got You Here […]

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Experts say the reason people throw temper tantrums into adulthood is because they work.  This frightening behavior gets the tantrum thrower exactly what they want – even if it is at the cost of co-workers or workplace civility. The first step to taking the sting out of another’s workplace tantrum – whether it’s your employee, […]

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Experts say the reason people throw temper tantrums into adulthood is because they work.  This frightening behavior gets the tantrum thrower exactly what they want – even if it is at the cost of co-workers or workplace civility.    The first step to taking the sting out of another’s workplace tantrum – whether it’s your […]

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I meet a fair number of business leaders who say they are empathy-challenged.  Empathy is the ability to recognize and identify the emotions being experienced by another person.  It’s one of the five components of Emotional Intelligence.  Because it enables others to feel like you connect with them, it is an important skill set for […]

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I meet a fair number of business leaders who say they are empathy-challenged.  Empathy is the ability to recognize and identify the emotions being experienced by another person.  It’s one of the five components of Emotional Intelligence.  Because it enables others to feel like you connect with them, it is an important skill set for […]

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Beyond the usual office party advice, like not embarrassing yourself by drinking too much, dressing too provocatively or hooking up with a co-worker, here’s an updated list of things to consider for the 2013 office party season. 1) Avoid embarrassing or unprofessional poses.  Yes…that’s an old one that conjures up images of butts on Xerox […]

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Beyond the usual office party advice, like not embarrassing yourself by drinking too much, dressing too provocatively or hooking up with a co-worker, here’s an updated list of things to consider for the 2013 office party season. 1) Avoid embarrassing or unprofessional poses.  Yes…that’s an old one that conjures up images of butts on Xerox […]

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When I walked into his office, Will’s head was down, his brow looked furrowed, his chest was noticeably rising and falling, indicative of deep breathing, and he was writing furious. I waited until he finished and asked, “What are you working on?” “I’m writing out my rage!”  He smiled, pushed his pad aside and explained, […]

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Dear Teressa, Could you please provide tips to stay grounded and focused despite being surrounded by people who aren’t?  Also how can I cultivate and encourage a friend’s talent without over stepping boundaries? Lilliana   Dear Lilliana, Years of experience suggests that being grounded – with balanced physical, mental and emotional energy and attention focused […]

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Whether I’m watching Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady, Cole Hamels or Michael Vick, I notice how they do what they do – the mechanical and mental aspects of their performance. An important lesson – one many of us can learn from – is the resilience of those at the top […]

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Recently I heard a quote that got right to the heart of conflict and how to resolve it.  I’m paraphrasing, but it was along the lines of “conflict does not rise out of a clash of good and bad, it arises out of a clash of good and good.”  In other words, each conflicting party […]

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One of my favorite comic strips is set in a bookstore.  In one corner of the store, there is a section with a sign that reads, “Self Help. ” Right next to it, there’s a sign for the “Fixing Others” section.  The “Self-Help” section has one person in it while the “Fixing Others” section is […]

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One of my favorite comic strips is set in a bookstore.  In one corner of the store, there is a section with a sign that reads, “Self Help. ” Right next to it, there’s a sign for the “Fixing Others” section.  The “Self-Help” section has one person in it while the “Fixing Others” section is […]

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Do you ever feel like you just want to whine and complain about your job, your boss, your company, your partner, your life?  We all do.  It’s normal, but there might be good buried beneath the bad feelings on the surface. While we call these feelings negative, they actually hold positive potential.  Don’t ignore them.  […]

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Do you ever feel like you just want to whine and complain about your job, your boss, your company, your partner, your life?  We all do.  It’s normal, but there might be good buried beneath the bad feelings on the surface. While we call these feelings negative, they actually hold positive potential.  Don’t ignore them.  […]

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When things go wrong, and occasionally they do, rather than focusing on identifying who made the mistake, focus on the situation and the solution. Put your energy and attention into what happened, how best to fix it, what process improvements need to be implemented, what training and checks and balances are needed to insure that […]

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Are you more tenured with many more years of experience than the person to whom you report? Is your manager the same age or younger than your children? These days, it’s not all that unusual for older people to report to those who are much younger. According to a 2012 CareerBuilder survey, “One third (34 […]

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While the specific ways people react to change vary widely, there are always two components to everyone’s reaction.  One component is their logical reaction and the other, their emotional reaction. Here are two suggestions that can help you deal with changes in your workplace and life: First, get beneath the headline. Try to understand the […]

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