LEADERSHIP? Authenticity is a must.

The other day I was talking with a leader I admire about the importance of authenticity in leadership.  We were discussing a particular issue within her organization and she said “I feel like I never hear anything authentic from him. There isn’t much I can do (for him) if he doesn’t get real.” Simultaneously, I…

Want more success? Stop playing the victim

This week I have an oh-so-critical message for you: You are not a victim. If you truly want to be more successful with (fill in blank) it is time for you to start owning your results. If you don’t like them, or would like to improve on them, you must make changes with regard to…

HOW TO NOT CATCH A BAD ATTITUDE

Have you ever gotten sucked into someone else’s nasty mood?  I narrowly escaped catching a bad attitude last week.  I was sitting in the waiting room at my doctor’s office, and a woman at the counter was fussing at the receptionist because they called her the day before and left her a message, but she…

THE PERFECT TIME FOR GRATITUDE

Gratitude: A feeling of appreciation or thanks. (Source: Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary) As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, and kick-off the “holiday season”, I want to share one of the easiest ways to keep your peace through all the preparation, hustle and bustle, and time with friends and family:  Practice gratitude. Studies have proven the feeling…

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Today and Everyday

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Today and Everyday

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. As Americans, if we had the privilege to be born here, we learn this pledge as children and recite it all our lives.  The…

Triggered? One surprising reason why, remedy included

We all have triggers. today i have a surprising concept for why we can be easily triggered by the behavior of others. Let’s start with what I mean by “triggered”:  Agitation, frustration, and anger are a few of the negative feelings associated with being triggered. They bubble up (or explode) when we bump into specific…

Four Friends and a Basketful of Unmet Expectations

I nearly had a full-on temper tantrum the other night. For real, I thought I was going to explode all over everyone, and it was all because of some seriously unmet expectations. It was the fifth evening of a fabulous vacation: Beautiful resort, perfect weather, and lots of exciting fun combined with plenty of “chill”…

How To Shift An Unproductive Communication Spiral

Ever feel like you are stuck in a frustrating and unproductive communication spiral?  One where you, and the other involved, keep saying the same things but nothing is getting resolved? At times like this, you probably feel like you’ve tried everything humanly possible to get the other person to understand you, but it simply isn’t…

Highly Emotional? Think Before You Speak

Ever notice how complicated and convoluted communication gets when you are in the midst of a highly emotional “discussion”? You think you are making great points, but the other person is not picking up what you are putting down. How about all those discussions you re-play in your head over and over, but with loads…

One Tip For Immediate Stress Relief

As a young, highly motivated, corporate-ladder-climber, I had an urgent desire to establish my credibility as a great manager. As such, I set out to demonstrate my understanding of complex issues, implementing solutions, and getting results.  These were reasonable goals for developing leader, but for me that meant I always had to be right.  I…

Organization and Productivity Go Hand-in-Hand

Believe it or not, organization and productivity really do go hand-in-hand.  I already know what some of you are thinking: There’s a methodology to my mess!” If I move it off the top of my desk, I’ll forget about it.” Or how about this one – It takes too long to calendar and set reminders….

Truths for Consistently Being Your Best

What do we need to do to consistently show-up as our best selves?  For starters, we all know we need to eat right, exercise, and get enough rest. Being your best isn’t about becoming an Olympic athlete, although one could argue the same principles apply. It is about maintaining your health, fostering important relationships, staying…