What’s New?
How to Create Trust In a New Team
On another forum where I answer questions about teams, leadership and high performance, someone wrote in with this question: What is the single most important aspect in creating and managing a high performing team? Most of us know by now the most important element in...
Lifting Each Other: The Power of Acknowledgment
Have you ever kept a card or email from a colleague or mentor simply because their expressed appreciation for you or something you did felt so good to read? I have a kudos file on my computer for that category of emails and a folder for cards and letters I’ve received...
Asking for Help: How Transformational Leaders Are Different
For the second time in a week, I had a client session where a company leader was sagging under the heavy weight of carrying a huge load on their shoulders. After a few probing questions, I heard a revelation I often hear from leaders in every industry, from all over...
Leadership: A Noble Calling
We hear so much about the traits and roles of leaders. Sometimes it seems we get so focused on the performance outcomes a so-called “good” leader nudges others towards that we forget the essence of what it means to lead. The ability to help guide, teach, and develop...
Self Advocacy: Making the Invisible Visible
On another blog to which I contribute, this question came from a young woman I’ll call Beth: “Why do people get noticed sometimes for the talents they hate, rather than the skills that give them joy or a purpose?” I think most of us have been in this position and...
Public Speaking Tips for Emerging Leaders – Especially Introverts
One of the things emerging leaders often ask for help with is public speaking. Frequently, I’ve worked with those who were great in their individual contributor role, who suddenly found themselves front and center as a leader. Many were from the technical arena, and...
Lifting Each Other: The Power of Acknowledgment
Have you ever kept a card or email from a colleague or mentor simply because their expressed appreciation for you or something you did felt so good to read? I have a kudos file on my computer…
Increasing Self-Esteem to Match High Confidence
In one of the forums I write for, someone approached me with the following question: As someone with high confidence, but low self-esteem, what is the best way to approach increasing my self-esteem to match my confidence? Here are the steps I encouraged this person to...
What If The Universe is Designed to Bring Us Together?
Want to know a secret? It is a belief about how the universe may operate. What if (those of you who know me well know I love this question!)…what if all of the things we think we need to do or be are merely vehicles used to get us to play together? Here is what I...
What Makes a Successful Team?
One of the teams I facilitate is completing their six-months together and we were asked to name ten factors that contributed to our success. Here they are: Vision casting from the heart: In the beginning of our time together, we each asked What is my highest vision...
Authenticity in Business – Are you nuts?
This month, I’d like to introduce you to Tinus Van der merwe, my colleague and business partner from South Africa. Tinus and I share strengths training and a long history of organizational development work with leaders and teams. I know you will get value from the...
Our Barriers to Success are Self Imposed: Bringing Hidden Beliefs to the Surface
We have all known people who did things that sabotaged what they said they were trying to accomplish. Perhaps their behavior was obvious to us, but they hid it from themselves. A specific example comes to mind: I met a dear friend for coffee who explained between...
Achieving Flow State: Mapping the Path
We often hear people talking about how their best ideas occur to them when they are “in the zone,” or in a state of flow. When I hear descriptions like this, they sometimes sound like the person believes they somehow found their way to this state through a set of...
Love as the Ultimate Fuel: Good Business Practice
In working with accomplished people in setting success principles for nearly two decades, it has become apparent that sustained success and achievement requires a renewable source of fuel. Although it may sound odd, the one that works like magic is love. Here’s what’s...
What Makes You Proud to be an American?
What about this country makes you proud to be an American? I’m proud to be an American when I think about the values on which it was based, about the intentions of our founding fathers when they drafted the constitution. I’m proud of our achievements in all...
How Do We Live An Inspired Life with Purpose?
Contrary to the stereotype many of us hold, inspired living is not exclusive to monks meditating on mountains, musicians penning lyrics, or writers waiting for their next big idea while strolling beaches. We all have access to a life that is inspired and tied to a...
Engagement at Work: Whose Responsibility Is It?
According to Gallup’s latest State of the American Workplace report due out March 7, only one third of the people interviewed described themselves as engaged at work. Gallup describes engagement as more than feeling happy with your work, but being energized, excited...
Is Your Self Image Keeping Up with Your Evolution?
A client this week brought great insight to our conversation when she got quiet after a question and said, “I think I’m still seeing myself as a stay-at-home Mom, even though the last of my kids is away at school. My image as a professional hasn’t kicked in.” This was...
Growth Mindset or Strengths? Which do We Follow?
Which is right, grit and growth mindset, as described by Carol Dweck in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success or the philosophy at StrengthsFinder/Gallup? This was a question posed to me recently by a group who follow my posts. Here was my answer: both are...
The Power of Play: Creating a Bonded Team
Part of my work involves helping newly formed teams bond and align quickly for the purpose of creating innovative solutions. I’ve written before about how valuable Improv can be as a tool to help groups get to that place of high trust, keen understanding and a...