Gallup recently released data that say as much as 70% of Americans feel they are not reaching their full potential and have negative feelings about their jobs and employers. That’s an army of expensive, wasted talent. If you’re among the 70% who are unfulfilled and unhappy, here are two ideas that can shift the way […]
Read More →Every individual, every task, project, team, department and business, has a purpose – a distinct contribution to make. We feel most satisfied, and successful, when performing the service, or utilizing skills and qualities that align with our sense of purpose. If you want to do work that resonates with your heart-felt sense of purpose, remember, […]
Read More →Recently, I read that most of us check email 37 times per day…37 times! I was shocked. That accounts for 37 daily interruptions…37 times when you stop reading, writing, talking, listening, thinking, analyzing, planning, studying. Take stock of your email checking habits. If you’re among those who allow email to regularly interrupt your focus and […]
Read More →According to Barry Oshry, author and founder of Power + Systems, middle managers often feel torn, squeezed; caught between a rock and a hard place. They understand what top leadership expects, they know what the broader workforce wants, and, where there is a gap between the reality of top management and workers, middles become the […]
Read More →Frequently, when conducting data gathering interviews for qualitative 360s, I’ve noticed raters self-reflecting and assessing their own behavior. The conversation makes them think. In a recent interview, the boss was describing the person he was rating as “easily distracted.” All the while, the boss’ computer was dinging, signaling the arrival of email. Each time it […]
Read More →Do you ever consider how naturally the seasons change, from spring to summer to fall to winter to spring…the cycle effortlessly repeating itself, year after year? Think about it, day transitions into night and then day, again. This time of year, flowers push through the soil, bud and bloom for a while. Later, they lose […]
Read More →This year, I’m happily welcoming spring. Maybe it’s because of the long, hard, cold, stormy winter we survived. I’m so thankful it’s getting warmer. There’s more light in the sky for a longer period each day. Trees are budding brand new leaves. Flowers are blooming. Birds are singing. Golfers are returning to the links. School […]
Read More →Following through with a desired change in behavior can be a challenge. Sometimes, its as simple as forgetting what you said you would do. For example, I recently decided to drastically reduce my intake of processed sugar. Because, I feel SOOOO good when I don’t eat it. But, here’s the rub: I’m not always conscious […]
Read More →How do you feel when someone says to you, “I have a question for you?” Do you say, “YES!,” with great excitement and anticipation? Or, do you feel a little anxious, perhaps defensive, concerned about whether you know the answer? Many people feel more comfortable with answers than they do questions. They prefer the knowing […]
Read More →Curiosity, a natural activity of an intelligent mind, is peaked when presented with thought-provoking questions – questions that make the listener think. When we’re open to queries and view interrogatives, no matter how challenging they may, as an opportunity to explore a new area and learn something we didn’t know, we serve the process of […]
Read More →In a recent blog post titled, “The World’s Worst Boss,” Seth Godin reminded us that we are our own bosses. We’re in charge of all aspects of our lives. The post prodding readers with statements like, “If you had a boss who talked to you the way you talk to yourself, you would quit. Or […]
Read More →Recently, a new client told me that two years ago her boss articulated a vision for how she wanted the senior leadership team to operate. Today, she said, “People are behaving exactly as they have for years. There’s been no change. We’re still highly paid technical experts – not developers of people, and certainly not […]
Read More →Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela are well known examples of the significant, life-altering difference one person can make in the lives of many. Yet, think about it: those who’ve had a profound, defining impact on the person and professional you’ve become are probably far less famous than those I’ve […]
Read More →Seth Godin, writer, speaker and an agent of change, wrote a recent blog about the concept of framers and polishers. He said, “The framer asks the original question, roughs out the starting designs, provokes the new thing.” The polisher finds typos, smooths out the rough edges and helps avoid the silly or expensive error. Both […]
Read More →A recent McKinsey article sited consistency as THE key to customer satisfaction. The research discusses Customer-journey consistency, Emotional consistency and Communication consistency: Customer-journey consistency describes the customer’s experience across various channels and interactions, from first-touch to purchase to service. Emotional consistency refers to the connection customers feel to the brand. The more positive and trusting […]
Read More →Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg, in her best-selling book, a TED Talk and her women’s empowerment movement tells women to “Lean In.” Sam Horn, author, keynote speaker and intrigue expert, takes it a step further. She says, “step up.” Be less demur. Speak up. Value what you have to contribute. Take a bold, brave step […]
Read More →Do you ever feel like you’re not really competent, but everyone else is? Do you sometimes feel like you’re acting as if you belong, but you don’t. Figure that it won’t be long until you’re found out? When others praise your work or compliment you, do you doubt their sincerity or feel like the recognition […]
Read More →Do you have the same mindset as Earvin “Magic” Johnson? He says, “I am a businessman. This is what I do each and every day. I love it. I love coming to work. I never have a bad day.” Do you feel the same way? Do you love your work? Daily, do you get up and […]
Read More →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, […]
Read More →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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