The final months of the year are often fraught with apprehension and stress. Then, before you know it, it’s a clean slate and we’re kicking off another year with new, more ambitious goals. We’re off to the races again! Is it any wonder that even the most centered leaders get a little out of sorts at times? I’m guessing that most of us have said something to someone that was not received … [Read more...]
Communication & Collaboration
Healthy Engagement Leads to Clear Skies
When your team is stuck or at odds with one another, it’s not unlike the weight we feel when the atmospheric pressure has dropped. We often feel drained, and we move more slowly. Some of us get a headache. Cultivating healthy engagement across the team is one way to raise the barometric pressure and make room for clear and inviting skies. Healthy engagement happens when your team and … [Read more...]
The Power of Networking
The case for maintaining and growing your network is compelling. The people in your network can help you find a job, develop your business, fill a position, get a second opinion, and bring a sense of well-being when needed most. Our network includes colleagues, business partners, associations, board members, clients, customers, community volunteers and, yes, our family and … [Read more...]
Mentoring: The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Mentoring is like an infinity loop in which both parties benefit and have the opportunity to experience each side of the relationship throughout their career -- and perhaps simultaneously. Meaning, you can mentor someone at the same time you are being mentored by someone else. Either way, a typical mentoring relationship occurs over four stages: Qualification of fit – Style match, … [Read more...]
Relationships Rule
Of the four Emotional Intelligence (EI) competencies, retaining, growing and managing relationships is one of the more challenging to master. For one, it requires an investment of time and energy, sometimes with no immediate “pay-off.” It invites vulnerability, which, let’s face it, is not always comfortable. It also depends on the other three EI skills (Self-Awareness, … [Read more...]
Put your Social Awareness Antenna to Work
You walk into a conference room for a 10AM meeting. Five minutes into the meeting, you notice the following: Two angst-ridden people from the same department tapping feverishly on their phones One person with his laptop open intensely pounding out an email The quiet person on your team sitting back from the table at the far end The not-so-quiet person on your team already energized and offering … [Read more...]
Manage Thyself
Managing oneself is a key aspect of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and confounds many leaders. Let’s face it, being aware of a behavior that doesn’t serve us well is one thing; it’s quite another to exercise a suitable alternative when we’re in the heat of the moment. Let’s begin by sharing some examples of what it means to self-manage. Leaders who self-manage well tend to… … call … [Read more...]
The Possible Dream … Work-Life Balance
An article from Entrepreneur highlights some interesting research noting that 66 percent of full-time employees strongly believe they don’t have work-life balance. In our “always on” world this is probably no surprise. Nonetheless, that does not mean a healthy work-life balance isn’t achievable for you and your team. Afterall, as a leader, your team looks to you to set the pace and to model … [Read more...]
Feedback … The Ultimate Leadership Advantage
The notion of perfection is a fallacy, especially when it comes to leadership. The most effective leaders are those willing to look in the mirror, embrace their blind spots and modify that which is not working well for them or others. Like an athlete at the top of her game, there is always opportunity to improve. While conducting a personal SWOT analysis helps you self-assess your leadership … [Read more...]
White Water Rafting Leadership Musings
It’s cliché, but true: Having all oars in the water at the same time makes for a smoother ride. And, so it was during our white water rafting adventure down the Black River in New York while on vacation recently. Eight family members in our bright yellow raft and our guide, Jasper, straight out of central casting. Upon arrival, we were stuffed into life jackets secured so tightly that we looked … [Read more...]