Even the best leaders live with limiting beliefs and assumptions that compromise decision-making and ultimately, their value. One of my favorite questions for inviting reflection and challenging limiting beliefs and assumptions is: “How True is it?” Here are a few examples of limiting beliefs and assumptions that keep leaders from playing all-in and initiating change for themselves and … [Read more...]
Where do you take yourself out of the game?
We all have our tipping points: We decide whether to “pass” or roll the dice depending on the risk we assign to the next move. While we know intellectually that growth and change rarely happen without some level of discomfort, most of us are not inclined to put ourselves in harm’s way. We’d much prefer to remain safe and dodge the prickly emotions that arise if our actions don’t yield … [Read more...]
What Are You Tolerating?
This is the “finger in the rib” question. If you put your index finger on your rib and apply light pressure, most people feel irritated, but still are able to carry on. Over time, you may even start accepting the annoyance as “normal” and a part of what you signed up for when you took this position. Our self-talk includes phrases like, “well, nothing’s perfect,” or “I have bigger battles to … [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...]
Brand YOU
What is meant by your leadership brand and why it’s important? For starters, your leadership brand is how you convey value. It’s the distinct set of talents and personality traits for which you are known. Your leadership brand is reinforced by how you “show-up” and behave on a daily basis. If I were to ask you to select key words to describe the leadership brand of Elon Musk, for instance, you’d … [Read more...]
What Can You Control, Really?
Woo! There’s A LOT going on across the world stage right now. These are not your garden-variety gnat-type changes that annoy you for a little while, or are easily remedied by clearing out the fruit bowl. No, the pace and magnitude of change is more like one of those tenacious, squawking seagulls at the beach that make you cover your picnic basket and grab a stick to protect the … [Read more...]
How To Minimize “Shiny Object Syndrome”
Is there any better place than the land of adolescents for harvesting lessons learned in dealing with distractions? My husband teaches high school English (ever-courageous soul). One of his favorite principals, now retired, had two questions he would ask students when he’d see them wandering the halls during class times: Where are you supposed to be right now? What is the most important … [Read more...]
Put Your Superpowers to Work
Quick! Answer the following questions: Spreadsheet or doc person? Big picture or detail driven? Phone, email, text or Slack communicator? People or data preference? Siri or Google search? White board thinker or mull privately? Generally, we have an affinity for how we think, communicate and make decisions. Tapping into the skills that come naturally to you is vital to capitalizing on your … [Read more...]
The “What” and the “How”
I’m intrigued by the concept of leverage…the notion of getting more with less energy. Archimedes understood the power of leverage when he said, “Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the earth.” In today’s pile-it-on world, doing more with less is the order of the day, and nary a client isn’t struggling with how to keep the lever in balance. Early in your career, you are usually … [Read more...]
Roving Aimlessly?
Whether you set goals at the start of the New Year, the start of the school year, or on your birthday, the reality is distractions can be hard to ignore and even the best-made plans may feel at risk. A few months after setting goals you may give in to the fear that this time it won’t, in fact, be different. You respond by continuing to run full speed ahead - toward what, you’re not sure. … [Read more...]