Playing Whack-a-Mole #190 If you’ve ever seen a game of Whack-a-Mole, you understand the sense of anxiety it creates. When it’s time to hit the moles, they seem to accelerate faster than you can react and it causes stress. Metaphorically speaking, this can be what a day in the life of any leader can feel like. I had a Whack-a-Mole…
Filling the Space We Have #189 I bought a new truck recently. It’s larger and newer than any car or truck I’ve owned. It’s technology with wheels, a very lovely ride, and has an amazing sound system. What more could I want, right? Not so. I don’t like how big this truck is. I am learning to drive differently than…
A Safe Space #188 Making it safe for people to tell you the truth is a muscle worth building. We all brush by opportunities to open the door and talk about deeper subjects, difficulties, vulnerabilities, and open wounds every day. When my Mom was in her years declining from Alzheimer’s, I longed to have deeper conversations with people about how…
Motivation is an Inside Job #187 A goal is not enough. It’s important, but it won’t motivate you when things are tough. How do you find your mojo if you really want to attain something but your mood isn’t supporting you? You can use external means: Great music, a quote, YouTube, a book – all for inspiration Work with someone…
There’s No Emergency #186 One of my colleagues was having a tough time with overcommitment and she felt completely swamped. She was chatting with several of us and asked, “who will I disappoint today?” What a rough question. No good answer can follow it. It suggests there is no way to honor my commitments, so I accept there’s nothing I…
Measuring Culture #185 While working on annual planning with a client, we embarked on a robust conversation about culture. The company will be 100 years old in just a few years, and the leadership team maintains a century-long commitment to excellence. One of the team members offered a great question to measure culture with: “How did you help your coworkers…
Sorry, Not Sorry #184 Language is important. For many female leaders that 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 is beginning with appreciation instead. An example would be when I would’ve liked to have responded in…
KISS #183 Life seems to ebb and flow, to speed and relax. It could be seasonal, work or personally related. As the holidays approach, it certainly seems many people’s lives accelerate with events and festivities packed in all at once to celebrate the season. It happens every year, yet many people seem exhausted, irritable or challenged with the pace. Slowing…
Overwhelmed or Grateful? #182 What I’ve noticed is my life never really slows down. I’ve lived in the illusion that most of my world will correct itself once I get “this” or “that” happens. It could be an event, a series of events, a project, a set of tasks, a string of travel, family events, the holidays, or celebrations. It…
Don’t Wait #181 If you want something, do you wait for it? I don’t. In my twenties, when I wanted a job, I met with the owners of a small training company and expressed my interest in working for them. They told me they couldn’t afford to hire any employees at the time. Though I was disappointed, I began to…