We often avoid having tough or uncomfortable conversations, even though addressing issues head-on can prevent bigger problems down the road. Gay Hendricks calls this the "sweaty ten minute conversation you don't want to have." However, I've found that most communication challenges can actually be resolved through what I call a "Sweaty Five Minute Conversation" (SFMC).
Read MoreThe hiring process at many companies sucks isn't great. Anyone looking for a job right now has a handful of "they did WHAT?" stories that are perfect for TikTok.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, "Employers are slow-walking candidates, piling on new requirements ranging from years of experience to higher scores on technical tests, to running prospective hires through additional rounds of interviews."
Read MoreCovid interrupted my routine, including cancelling the first trip of the new year that I was very excited about. The emotional hit from the interruption was actually more severe than the physical hit. After multiple days of feeling under the weather I quickly become unregulated, ungrounded, and NOT in flow. In short, it was tough to be fully present for any extended period of time. That ferocious optimism? It was replaced with an intense feeling of overwhelm.
Read MoreDo you remember 2022's Words of the Year? Merriam Webster selected gaslighting, and Oxford University Press chose goblin mode. I had to refresh my memory on goblin mode, too. It's slang for "unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy behavior." Neither goblin mode or gaslighting were positive or aspirational!
Read MoreLast month Rick and I celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Kauai. One evening he stepped out onto the lanai in our hotel room and asked, "Are you ready to head downstairs for our anniversary dinner?" Unfortunately I wasn't quite ready as I had fallen into the trance of self-criticism. What's worse, it was the kind of self-criticism that generated shame.
Read MoreCuriosity is a strength we're born with. The world is new to us! We want to understand it, so we test the waters, question, experiment and learn. But it can easily take a backseat as we get older. That’s unfortunate, because curiosity is a great tool to help us come back into the present moment—where we can view a situation from multiple angles and perspectives, putting us in position to make more optimal decisions.
Read MoreI recently completed a breakthrough offsite for a client whose leadership philosophy includes "trust, transparency, open communication, and collaboration." There's a good chance those four attributes appear in your organization's philosophy, too.
Here's my question: if you picked one of those four attributes to focus on upleveling, which one would you choose?
If you are:
Seeking practices and inspiration to lead during this time of constant change
Wrestling with a tough decision that will have a major impact on your team
Wanting to focus everyone on ending the year with momentum
I have an awesome podcast to add to your queue!
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