What if you approached every conversation as if it could become the most important conversation you might ever have? How would your meetings flow – online or in person? How would your primary relationships feel? How would your friends interact with you? What difference would it make with your kids/young people in your life? How would people experience you as a leader? How would your…
David Cooperrider said, “Our organizational lives and the lives of others flourish or flounder one conversation at a time.” To consider the magnitude of this statement leaves me thinking of how often I casually talk and listen. If I take this statement as an opening, it makes me pause. I’m pausing to consider: What would be possible if I took this comment as truth? Who…
When you enter into a conversation with strongly opposing views, how do you stay neutral? For me, it means I need to suspend what I know and believe during that conversation. The process of suspension means I hold my assumptions, beliefs and opinions out for examination with a willingness to be influenced. The critical words above are “willingness to be influenced.” It…
Are you experiencing stress right now? Is it more than your usual amount? Have you tried all the self-care options you can? If not, try some. Have you talked with friends, family and anyone who’ll listen, and you feel a bit better, but it’s only a short while? Did that bottle of wine help, until the emotions you’re packing down welled up…
I’m asking myself a question these days which moves me in much more certain directions. It’s become the mantra I need at this time in my life and in business. The question is clarifying. It helps me say “no” much more confidently. Saying no has created space and confidence as more and more situations are calling for my attention. What’s the…
Do you realize how you’re showing up? I’ve had some interesting interactions as people seem to be crispier right now. My role has been to recognize the confrontation while also gracefully helping people work through the tough stuff. It’s been interesting and challenging. Seeing leaders behave in ways they realize are unbecoming, hurtful or disrespectful only increases a downward spiral of…
Saying no can be easy. I realize it’s easy to say no to things you don’t like – for me, that is running. If someone asks me to run, it’s an easy no. I don’t enjoy it and never have. Then, Amy Ronneberg asked me to run a 5K with her. She was dealing with health issues and was intending to run this 5K as a fundraiser one…
Validation is underrated. When you are a knowledge worker like I am, it can be lonely. Not just running your business, but in validating that the content you’re sharing matters in any sort of way. As I create the blog, podcast, video, and new courses, I wonder at times if it matters. Does it matter beyond the discipline of doing…
Focus. We sometimes talk about it like a talent we can call upon at will or an elixir we can consume. Sometimes it feels like you’re right on track, incredibly focused. There’s a flow and ease with all you’re doing. Then, there are the other times. The times when you feel scattered, overwhelmed, anxious or distracted. It feels more productive to be focused, and if you, like me, have an orientation toward being a doer,…
I’ve begun several blogs with “how are you?” followed by “no, really.” It seems appropriate again, which I interpret to mean we’re all tired. Tired of the pandemic, tired of change, tired of politics, tired of solving problems that feel unsolvable in the near term (like labor and supply chain) and tired of feeling like we have to navigate everyone’s…