Do Yourself a Favor: Collaborate!

Commit, Communicate, COLLABORATE, and Celebrate. Did you know Henry Ford spent a great deal of time bouncing ideas off his friends Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone? Man, what would it be like to collaborate with heavy-hitters like that?  Well, Mr. Ford changed our world through the power of collaboration. He said “If there is any…

Success Requires Communication

Twenty years ago as a new manager in the insurance industry, I remember being told by a corporate leadership trainer “the key to being a successful manager is Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!” I also remember looking skeptically into the eyes of that trainer and thinking “Really? You are getting paid to tell me I need to…

Success Begins With Commitment

Recently, I pointed to meerkats as a fine example of successful collaboration, stemming naturally from the shared vision, mission, and values of a group. Today we’ll begin to “unpack” traits I observed within the meerkat clans, which keep them aligned, moving forward, and enjoying themselves along the way. Commitment, Communication, Collaboration, and Celebration are the characteristics…

End Angry Arguments Now: Tips For Easy Conflict Resolution

Angry arguments benefit no one.  In fact, they are a great big waste of time. I’m sure you agree quick conflict resolution and productive discussions win over drawn-out battles any day. Obviously it takes time to participate in an angry argument, but also consider the time you waste re-hashing it, justifying it, and “strategizing” your next move in…

Welcome to the Collaborative Conversation

With the launch of the Perspectives LLC company website comes a new blog, The Collaborative Conversation. The name of the blog stems from my passion for helping leaders acquire the skills that inspire and motivate their teams to perform at their best. Among these skills, one of the most significant is collaboration. Perspectives LLC clients…

Never Underestimate the Power of Your Perception

“Assume the best about people and watch how anger and stress fall away.”  I don’t know who coined that statement, but I imagine most of you have heard advice about perception similar to this over the years.  But, have you ever put it to the test? It took a tragedy in my family, and the unchartered journey that followed, to convince…

Be Happy Now (Life Lessons from Bishop and Sadie)

Lately I’ve been spending time intentionally observing my dogs. I’ve always enjoyed watching their antics, but I’ve been watching them from a “conflict resolutionist” standpoint.  (Wait, I think I just made up a new word – “resolutionist” – I like it!) Anyway, I have two dogs.  Both are rescues. Both are happy. Sadie is the…

Why Are You So Difficult? Tips for finding the opportunities within conflict

“Why is he/she fighting me on this?”…“How come every time he/she opens his/her mouth, I get aggravated?”…”I’m right darn it! Why can’t he/she understand that?!”… I’ve heard variations of these questions posed many times over the years. Heck, I’ve been known to ask them myself. The answers to these, and every other conflict-related question, are…

Could We Both Be Right? It’s a Matter of Perspective

Could We Both Be Right? It’s a Matter of Perspective

Three blind men went to the circus and encountered a mysterious beast. They were fascinated by the energy coming from it, and each touched it in order to figure out what it must be.                 “It is like a mighty snake!” one man exclaimed.                 “No! It is thick and stable like a great oak!”…

Need Grace Under Pressure? It’s all About the Preparation.

Need Grace Under Pressure? It’s all About the Preparation.

Don’t you know someone who always seems to have it all together?  That person who can reason and stay calm when others are melting down?  The one who stays focused and productive during adversity – even leads others to a good result despite a major cog in the wheel?  Rest assured his/her grace under pressure…

Stop Hiding Your Brilliance and Succeed at Public Speaking

Stop Hiding Your Brilliance and Succeed at Public Speaking

Did you know, according to many researchers, public speaking ranks as the most terrifying thing a person can attempt to do? If you Google “top fears”, regardless of the researcher or institute, public speaking consistently makes it into the top five – usually #1 or 2. It outranks snakes, flying, confined spaces, heights, and even intimacy. Yikes!

Love, Lies and Mudslinging: Welcome to Mediation!

Love, Lies and Mudslinging: Welcome to Mediation! Mediation can be a stressful and arduous process. Emotions often run high as positions are expressed and interests are explored. Sometimes participants are even surprised by the twists and turns the process takes, as motivating factors and priorities are brought to light. Not long ago I mediated a…