Spirit of Purpose · 8 Ways To Say No Polite Ways To Turn Someone Down Saying “no” can be difficult – even if it’s the right thing to do. WorkingMother.com contributor Renee Peterson Trudeau offers these eight ways to do the deed. Try Just no. “Thanks, I’ll have to pass on that.” Then say nothing more. […]
Read More →For the past 81 years Harvard has been conducting “The Study of Adult Development” to answer one question. What keeps us happiest as we go through life? The answer: good relationships. Inc.com contributor Scott Mautz took a look at what gets in the way of good relationships. The demands and distractions of work are becoming more and more […]
Read More →The new year is underway, but it’s not too late to think about how you’d like to navigate 2020. To that end, Oprah.com contributor Ariane de Bonvoisin offers these five thought-provoking questions. What do I most want to feel this year? Look at goals from an experience angle rather than a task to complete. Who am I […]
Read More →A recent study published in the Sage Journal on Human Relations asserts that women are less effective at networking for two reasons. Women struggle with the idea of exploiting social ties and they undersell their own value when engaged in networking activities. Researchers interviewed 37 high-profile women leaders in Germany and found that they view […]
Read More →Although it doesn’t always feel like it, honesty is usually the best policy. Three studies conducted by researchers at University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Carnegie Mellon suggests that we overestimate the negative consequences of speaking honestly. Subjects were asked to speak in accordance with their own beliefs, thoughts and feelings to people […]
Read More →Has this ever happened to you? You meet someone at a networking event, through a colleague or elsewhere. You talk for a bit, then agree to reconnect. But as time passes, you begin to question whether the good vibe you felt was shared by the other person. According to researchers at Cornell and Harvard Universities, […]
Read More → In her TED Talk, Margaret Heffernan tells the story of an evolutionary biologist at Purdue University, who housed a flock of competitive, super chickens together with the goal of increasing productivity. Six generations later, all but three of the birds had been pecked to death. Yet, the flock of average chickens managed to live together […]
Read More → How to Get Yourself Out of The Middle At one time or another, you’ve probably found yourself smack dab in the middle of other people’s tensions, tussles and antagonistic relationships. A very uncomfortable place to be. Here are a few principles to keep in mind that can help you extricate yourself from the middle, […]
Read More →How to Restore or Earn Trust In Any Relationship In the workplace and in life, past behavior patterns are seen as trustworthy predictors of future performance. Others judge us based on our history – whether experienced directly, inferred from a resume or by another person. Researchers who study social systems suggest that past behavior defines […]
Read More →Should You Rip Off the Bandaid or Let Them Down Easy? When you have to deliver bad news, do you just launch in, full force, or offer a polite pre-amble to buffer what’s about to come? Researchers at Brigham Young and South Alabama Universities found that recipients of bad news prefer the direct and clear […]
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 →There are many components involved in Emotional Intelligence or EQ. One very important EQ trait is the ability to reframe your negative thinking. According to BabbleOut.com’s Zoey Miller, people with high EQ’s do this and they’re adept at helping others do it, too. Reframing is intentionally choosing a different interpretation of an event in order […]
Read More →Is Your Young Staff Turning Off Your Valued Clients? Recently a client told me that they removed the furniture from their reception area because a group of young external consultants were using it as if they were in their living room. Lounging on the sofas with laptops in hand. Working with their feet on the […]
Read More →Three simple questions can help you determine whether the people you spend the most time with are helping or hurting you.
Read More →> Relationships At Work Given how much time we spend at the office, it’s not surprising that many love relationships begin there. Rather than being led exclusively by your heart, we have to remember that it’s important to involve your head when it comes to how a workplace relationship plays out. To avoid problems, check […]
Read More →How Influential Are You? The ability to influence others is an important currency at work and at home. Whether we’re persuading our six year old to eat her vegetables, our boss to consider our idea or those who report to us to take on a new challenge, influencing others is something that’s part of every […]
Read More →Trust is the foundation of all good relationships. Learn the one and only way to build trust in new relationships or restore trust when relationships are damaged.
Read More →Have you ever wondered how best to say you’re sorry after making a big mistake or unconsciously doing something that generates unintended negative consequences? According to Psychology Today, for an apology to be effective, it must focus on the other person’s needs – not your own. Too often apologies are ineffective because we’re trying to make ourselves feel better […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →I was coaching a man recently, and his reaction to the call for change was classic. To Jack, changing meant he wouldn’t be the person he used to be. About that, we agreed. He wouldn’t be his old self any longer. As he contemplated change, his concerns began to surface. “I don’t want to lose myself. […]
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