The Power of Naming the Problem
Having trouble solving a problem? Is it real or perceived? Discover how to name the problem and get to the core of the issue so you can fix what’s broken.
The Pitfalls of Asking How (Before What and Why)
Are you asking how when you should be asking what or why? Discover how to resist the temptation to jump ahead to the right answers to the wrong questions.
Feeling Misunderstood as a Leader? Try This.
As a leader, have you ever felt like you aren’t getting the results you expected from the team you’re working with? Ever felt completely misunderstood? If there’s a disconnect between your expectations and reality, you’re not alone. Here’s a common scenario I’ve...
When People DON’T Want to Talk
We’ve all been there, right? There’s someone on the team who is upset. We can tell they are upset. They might even announce they’re upset. But they don’t want to talk about it. They don’t want to say why, and they don’t want to engage. They just want to be mad for a...
Revisiting Our Stairs: Sometimes, It’s Just An Accident
Remember back in February, I shared with you that we were redoing the stairs in our house? It was an interesting project, because we had to wait until everyone was ready. You can’t be redoing stairs in a household with young children, or the elderly, or anyone else...
On (The Absence Of) Conversations
Does this story sound familiar? The other day I was working with a client, and they confided that they were extremely frustrated with their partner at work. Things weren't going their way, they were experiencing a lot of frustration, but they didn't feel like they...
You’ve Got Your Head in the Past
Does this ever happen to you? A new season arrives, say, summer, and while we love it and long for the warmth and clear skies — we keep the mentality of the past. Especially if that last season was particularly full! It can be difficult to move forward. Did you have a...
The Friend vs. Manager Conundrum
"I strive very hard to build relationships with staff," a client told me recently. "I take lunch breaks with them, we talk, we play cards, we joke around. Then I come to find out that because of that, they say they can no longer trust me as a leader and manager! So...
Nervous vs. Confident
The idea that if you’re nervous you don’t have confidence is patently false. Remember: courage is not the absence of fear (or nervousness); courage is action in spite of the fear. In fact, I would go so far as to say: If you’re not nervous, that can actually...
On Parenting & Leadership: Keep ‘Em Talking
We know that our staff, our team, are not the same as our kids. They are fully capable adults. But when you're a parent who's also in a position of leadership, you can't help but notice some similarities — not with them and their role, but with your own role in each...