The folks at Mind Tools say an average office worker receives about 80 emails per day. If your message is one of 80, or more, it can get lost in the shuffle. As creators of solutions, Mind Tools has developed several tips that will help your emails get noticed and answered. Don’t over-communicate. Write only […]
Read More →What’s your approach to introducing a new initiative? Do you plan alone or with just a select few? Do you make the decisions and tell others? Do you push for closure, focused primarily on getting the task done? If you answered, “Yes” to the above questions you may find that your good ideas often fail […]
Read More →Happy Holidays! I hope you’re enjoying this season that begins at Thanksgiving stretches straight through to the New Year. Festive sights and sounds and positive energy are all around. Even in the workplace, there is an air of joy as colleagues gather for luncheons and parties. In meetings over the last few weeks, I’ve […]
Read More →My husband likes to say, “A plan is one thing. Planning is everything.” His mantra speaks to the idea that a plan is an important tool, and being flexible and adapting as you move forward is essential to success. Do you create a plan and get locked in, when what’s really needed is the flexibility […]
Read More →In her book “Strategize To Win,” Carla Harris writes about performance currency and relationship currency. Performance currency comes from doing your job well, building a strong track record through stellar performance and delivering on time and above expectation. Performance currency is most important to build when you’re starting out. Early on in your career, it […]
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 →What do you do when bad news lands at your door? When you face failure, deal with disappointment, receive less than flattering feedback? Do you feel hurt? Paralyzed with fear? Do you turn away, recoil from the situation, deny the issue and your part in it? Does your mood become sullen and sour, or […]
Read More →The CEO was clear on the objectives of the leadership team’s summit. My job was to design the meeting and facilitate the group’s work. I asked him what he thought would be the most important contribution I could make, as their facilitator. His reply: “Keep us focused on the strategic. We tend to get into […]
Read More →To sell your ideas to others, and even over resistance, use these tips: First, be clear about what you’re selling and it’s value to all stakeholders. To clarify your message so nail it every time you discuss the idea, write out your talking points. Make your core message short, succinct and easy for others to […]
Read More →Keen observers of self and others have a competitive edge. But, too often, our willingness to pay attention is dialed down too low. Much that we should see, and could capitalize on, passes us by. We’re blinded by the habit of inattention. We’re no longer fully present, noticing what’s going on within us and around […]
Read More →Call me old-fashioned, but I like receiving a response when I communicate, unless I say, “No need to reply.” And, from a number of recent conversations, I know I’m not the only one with a preference for closing the communication loop. So, if I call you, please call me back. If I text you, […]
Read More →If you lead a company, a department or team, a career or a family, you need a strategic thought partner…someone who can help you dream possibilities, weigh opportunities, think through options, and confidently confront challenges. You need someone who sees you objectively, can help you identify ways to leverage your strengths and work on […]
Read More →BRGs, or Business Resource Groups, are also called affinity groups, Employee Resource Groups, or ERGs, and business network groups. If your company sponsors them, be an active participant…or start one. Here are just some of the benefits of being a member of BRGs: You get to interact with people who have a sense of shared […]
Read More →Recently I was sent a link to Erika Anderson’s Forbes article about the “Most Important Reason People Fail In A New Job.” Her answer, in a nutshell: they don’t fit in to the established culture. For some, culture may feel too touchy feely or intangible. But no matter where you work, culture exists. Prescribed […]
Read More →No matter where you are in your career, networking is an important skill set to cultivate and put to use. For your next event, make a plan and be purposeful. Greet the folks you know, of course. And, keep moving. Set a goal to expand your network by meeting 4 to 5 new people […]
Read More →If you’re looking for ways to shape your company’s culture, invest in training – not just any training, but the kind of learning experiences that provides a consistent message that aligns with the direction of your business, and teaches the mindsets and skills that support the kinds of behaviors and outcomes required to […]
Read More →We make thousands of decisions every day. There are infinite forces at work that cloud judgment, divert good intentions and give rise to internal conflict. Love of money, fame and fortune may be the obvious culprits, but well-meaning advice from trusted sources can also lead you astray. Most of the time we don’t even […]
Read More →Something is wrong with everyone and everything. Fact is, there is no perfection. In your workplace, relationships, finances, body, emotions and mood, something is not to your liking. Even the good parts are not all good. And in the worst of circumstances, bad isn’t 100% bad. How you see the circumstances of your […]
Read More →Lift your head up and look around. I bet there are new people in your workplace. If so, reach out, say hello, extend a warm welcome. Do something that demonstrates you’re aware of their presence. You might be surprised by the big difference a small gesture can make to a person who is still […]
Read More →We signal our thoughts and feelings to those around us, even when we don’t intend to. Inadvertently, the truth creeps out. So, if you’re unhappy at work, it’s unlikely that you can keep it a secret. Rather than allowing discontent to fester and intensify, respectfully, take steps to right the situation. For example, […]
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