We tend to overestimate the short term and underestimate the long term. If you’ve ever felt like your hair was on fire and waking up was a fire drill, heed the words above. Try ten-year planning. Sit down to plan out 10 years and think about what each year means, what will be accomplished, and what matters. It’s a good…
It’s hard to wait when you have a need. If you’re impatient like me, you don’t enjoy waiting anyway, and to wait and be patient while doing so – especially when you have a need – is challenging. Set the bar high and let yourself embrace the journey. Excellence is worth it. The question becomes: What’s the price of settling?…
In the midst of year end, strategic planning, and all the things leadership teams discuss and debate at the end of the year, conflict is inevitable. I noted a great quote from one of my leadership teams today, “we debate to learn, we don’t debate to win.” This is a simple phrase which keeps the outcome clear, lets us debate…
Sometimes, the right question finds you at the right time. As I was reading through some of my journal notes, I found myself learning and re-learning some magnificent lessons. When you’re up early and you have this divine space and time where no one needs you, the day hasn’t begun for the world, and there is nothing but you and…
Language is important. For many female leaders I know, myself included, we say we’re sorry when we shouldn’t. It’s an immediate flag screaming “less than” when you’re speaking. One of the ways I’ve corrected this in my writing, especially email, is to begin with appreciation instead. An example would be when I would’ve liked to have responded in a timelier…
Productive, not busy. They’re not the same, yet we can use the words as if they are. We all fall into the trap of busyness. It’s in our language and our psyche. When we’re “too busy” we become stressed, and often are less productive. Imagine if you changed your language from busy to productive. Can you be “too productive” and…
Today I’m thinking about great questions, so I’m including some random, unrelated questions in my recent reading. I hope one or more of them inspires some great thinking on your part!
Recently, I was leading a retreat at an all-inclusive location. It was amazing, and because everything was taken care of, really left us all to do one thing – take care of ourselves. For most leaders, this is a foreign experience. Simple things like sleep, the healthy foods which were abundantly provided, the non-digital environment which encouraged presence, learning, and…
Small acts. These are the most significant things we do. Though we’d like to believe it’s the big, challenging, difficult things, it’s not. It’s the consistent small, thoughtful, kind gestures that matter most. When you receive the note, text, or call that says, “I was just thinking of you.” It’s the person who calls to listen…fully. It’s the ride when…
In our ever-changing world right now, this is the question I ask most often. Wherever I’m seeing or hearing changes, I ask myself “what can I do to help?” So much of what’s happening with clients, colleagues, family, friends, our communities and the world feels out of our control and it is. When you ask what CAN I do, it…