Listening: The secret ingredient to becoming a trusted leader

Listening: The secret ingredient to becoming a trusted leader

Ever been on a call with someone and realize they were only halfway listening? It happened to me this week in a virtual coaching session. I could hear my client typing away. His responses were delayed and hedgy, and his tone told me his attention was elsewhere. Candidly, I felt irritated, disrespected, and like I…

Assumptions = Ass-u-me

Assumptions = Ass-u-me

There is no doubt about it – in the absence of facts, humans make assumptions. What’s more, we assume the negative more often than not. Have you ever convinced yourself someone did something for a particular reason, only to find out you were completely wrong? I know I have.  I remember the time I assumed a…

But what can you control?

But what can you control?

How often do you ask yourself “what’s within my control?” If you find yourself frustrated and stressed-out often, you might want to start asking yourself that question more routinely. As humans (and you can multiply this for leader-humans), we tend to spend a whole lot of time and energy focused on things beyond our control….

Authentic Leadership. The next-best version of you?

Authentic Leadership. The next-best version of you?

Authentic leadership. What does it really mean and why should you, as a business leader, care? Let’s start literally: According to my Webster’s dictionary, ‘authentic’ means genuine, credible, real. My favorite applicable definition of ‘leadership’ is guiding by influence. Put them together and we get guiding with genuine, credible, real, influence. These days we are bombarded by falsehoods, half-truths,…

Quick tips for organizational thinking

“My leaders don’t get it. We are missing opportunities because of their lack of organizational thinking and silos.” This is one of the most common frustrations of my executive clients. Working in silos with territorial battles are strategic goal derailers. Sure, an individual here and there will further their own career (for a minute) through…

Feeling out of sorts? Check your alignment

Feeling out of sorts? Check your alignment

Have you ever hit a pothole and knocked your car out of alignment? You know it immediately, right? The car starts pulling off course and the steering wheel vibrates.  You can tell it’s not OK by the way it feels. You also know, the longer you drive it that way the worse it gets.  It’s similar…

Rethinking What’s Possible

Rethinking What’s Possible

The first half of this year has given us a plethora of reasons to reconsider what’s possible. What’s possible at work, at home, in our communities, our nation, our world. It has necessitated swift pivots, radical change, and the courage to do things in ways we have never done them before. 2020 is also serving as…

Be like Einstein: Be present now

Be like Einstein: Be present now

One of the hardest things for us humans to do is bring from the past only what is beneficial for us in the present. It has been said history is the best predictor of the future. I’ve said it many times myself – because it’s often true. Particularly in times of stress, we go on…

Three tips for focus and Success through the holiday season

Three tips for focus and Success through the holiday season

The hustle of the holiday season has begun! Before you get too deep into all the extra commitments and distractions, take a minute to focus on what your priorities really are for the coming weeks. With a little strategy and planning, you CAN still accomplish your goals AND enjoy the holidays. As the opportunities for…

Want change? Pivot to the positive

Did you know a pivot to the positive is the best way to solve your problems? This may sound counterintuitive but, I assure you, it is correct. Time spent talking about, worrying about, and stressing about what’s not working is like a multiplier for what’s not working.   The more time and energy you give to the negative, the…

Three Tips for Building Trust

As a leader, if it seems you are constantly putting out fires and distracted from your priorities, evaluating the current level of trust amongst your team would be a worthwhile exercise. While you’re thinking about this, it may also behoove you to assess your relationships with your peers, boss and other executives. If you are…

Lose the “should” and become a stronger leader

We are one month into 2019, and I have a new challenge for you: Lose your “should”. When working on my Master Certification in Executive Coaching, I learned how impactful it is for a client to shift from “should” to a definitive action statement. The definitive statement may be “I will” or “I won’t”, it…