A Key Self-Awareness Tip: Ask “What” Not “Why”
I am obsessed with Tasha Eurich's book, Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think. Self-awareness has always seemed to me such a key skill for leadership and life, in general. But Eurich...
read more
Fear Creates Courage
"Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured. Without it, we wouldn’t even know what it means to be brave." ~ Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck Dictionary.com defines courage as "the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face...
read more
How To Stop Worrying What Other People Think About You
Most of us are guilty of worrying too much about what others think of us. Studies show that we consistently overestimate how much, and how badly, others think about us and our failings. An unfortunate consequence of this is that we are far more inhibited and far less...
read more
Leading When the Future Is Fuzzy
We frequently find ourselves managing in situations of strategic ambiguity—when it isn’t clear where you’re going or how you’ll get there. It can feel like slogging through mud. Investments are stalled. Decisions are deferred. Resources are frozen. Fear, uncertainty,...
read more
Change Your Perspective, Change Your Life
Too often, we think of "success" or "doing what we love" as an end. It's some destination that we have to reach. What many people fail to realize is that both of those terms are more of an approach to the journey, not the end of the journey itself. You are...
read more
The World’s Worst Boss
"That would be you."Even if you’re not self-employed, your boss is you. You manage your career, your day, your responses. You manage how you sell your services and your education and the way you talk to yourself."Odds are, you’re doing it poorly." ~ Seth Godin Those...
read more
Ideas to Jumpstart Your 2019 Career Success
With the new year comes the chance of revitalizing your work and your future. In no particular order, here are brainstormed ideas to jumpstart your efforts to career success in 2019: Maintain a good work-life balance. A healthy balance can make all the difference...
read more
The Power of Asking Great Questions
How well do you ask questions? From my experience, most leaders don’t think about this skill. After all, you don’t usually find “the ability to ask questions” on any list of managerial competencies. But asking questions effectively is a major underlying part of a...
read more
5 Tips On How To Outsmart Your Negativity Bias
Our brain evolved to ensure our ancestors' survival. It did this by using three cunning tactics to keep us safe: Our brain is hardwired to overestimate threats so we wouldn't take unnecessary risks. Our brain is naturally anxious and wary of change and unfamiliar...
read more
5 Tips for When Your Company’s Been Acquired
When a company is acquired, employees can be among the last to hear about it — instead, rumors may surface in the media before the deal is even announced. Once it’s official, the organization generally tries to allay employees’ fears, assuring them that they will be...
read more
5 Ways to Thrive After Being Laid-Off
I laughed out loud when I told a client that I had been laid off five times and that it was the best training for human resources that I ever received. He was aghast that it was five times, I suppose. These days, being laid off is part of the career journey. You'd be...
read more
3 Ways To Thrive with a “Debbie Downer” Co-Worker
Being around people who have a consistent negative disposition is a challenge. Some playfully call these individuals “Debbie Downers." Others call these individuals “energy vampires” and for good reason. As you may have noticed, it's really hard to be around negative...
read more
5 Tips on How to Deal with a Bad Boss
If you have a bad boss right now, my condolences. We have all had them and chances are you've had more bad bosses than bosses you could respect and model. It can be tricky to manage up when your direct manager is below average, but it is possible. Here are a few...
read more
How to Facilitate a Career Discussion with Your Manager
You are great at what you do, but don’t have a clear path for getting promoted to bigger and better things. It’s a challenge many employees face today. Business News Daily reported that less than 50% of employees see viable career roadmap with their companies. Based...
read more
4 Tips on How to Align with Corporate Change When You Don’t Agree
Every leader, at some point in their career, will be challenged with supporting and implementing changes they don’t agree with. You may disagree with the change, but you’re stuck with it. How can you authentically move forward? Here are 4 tips to help guide you...
read more
No Passion for Your Job? Follow Your Curiosity
With my work, I chat with many professionals sitting in their office/cubical day after day. They ask how they can find their passions when spending their days bogged down with projects that seem to have no lasting value. They want to do more with their lives but don't...
read more
What Can I Do if I Hate My Job But Can’t Afford to Leave?
OK. So… you hate your job, but the money is too good to jump ship. You feel trapped by what are called “golden handcuffs.” Grinning and bearing it only lasts so long. Your frustrations will explode sooner or later; and, most likely on some undeserving spouse,...
read more
How to Advance Your Career Without Your Boss’ Help
A role model, mentor or coach can help you achieve your career goals and get ahead in an organization. The first place we typically look for a mentor is our immediate boss, the person who is closest to our work. But in my experience, having a career-supporting boss is...
read more
6 Tactics To Use If Your Boss Doesn’t Like You
Even though managers should try to remain objective at work, it's no secret that your boss has a fave at the office—and it's not you. Since you have your mind and heart set on moving up in your career, what are your options? Should you focus on winning over your...
read more
6 Ways To Make Your Job Suck Less
Can't quit your job just yet for the sake of the benefits, paycheck, or just plain fear? Or maybe you've been at the same company for years and know that moving on would mean a big drop in salary. Yet, you slog in each day to a job that just plain sucks. People get...
read more
Go Slow to Go Fast
Chronic rushing through a never-ending to-do list feeds anxiety and heightens stress levels. Due to the epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, released in the brain during stressful periods, our brains get “hooked” on the stimulation of activity. Our bodies become...
read more
How to Increase Your Confidence
CALL TO ACTION: Feeling less than confident at work? Let’s strategize on how to up your energy and feel more capable at work. Slot a complimentary 30-min consult here: Schedule Free Consult. Have you lost confidence in your ability to do your job? Perhaps your...
read more
How to Stand Out from Other Candidates
CALL TO ACTION: Feeling less than confident with interviews or big presentation coming up? Let’s outline the best strategy to impress and knock it out of the ballpark! Slot a complimentary 30-min consult here: Schedule Free Consult. As an HR professional, selecting...
read more
The Power of Reflection
CALL TO ACTION: Feel stuck in your job? Let’s outline your best strategy to success. Schedule a complimentary 30-min consult here: Schedule Free Consult. Reflecting on life and work events, no matter how big or small, is a very powerful tool for developing yourself...
read more
How Teams Can Improve Your Self-Awareness
CALL TO ACTION: Want to improve your self-awareness? Let’s outline your best strategy to success. Schedule a complimentary 30-min consult here: Schedule Free Consult. There are many compelling reasons to build a high-performing team. Great teams deliver stronger...
read more
3 Steps to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) – A Foundation of Leadership
EQ describes a person’s capacity to identify emotions. Not only other people’s emotions, but also your own emotions. In fact, I believe that you have to start with identifying your own emotions before you can lead others. So EQ is very closely related...
read more
5 Ways to Boost Your Career Success
Sit down and define what you are looking for out of your career. If you haven’t defined your own career success, it means someone else has already done it for you. That may be good or it may be a hot mess, which is what happened to me. I thrashed around for years...
read more
Finding Purpose in Your Job
Do you dread going into the office Monday morning? Maybe a new boss has entered the equation, creating a rift between how you once felt and how you now feel. Perhaps your company has recently been acquired, changing the culture. Maybe you simply have outgrown your...
read more
Career Stallers: 19 Behaviors That Will Derail Your Career
As a professional development coach, I have partnered with many professionals who wanted to advance their careers through promotion. Throughout the years of helping folks do just that, I have observed two very different kinds of promotions each one requiring a...
read more
5 Ways to Stand Out When Interviewing
You've just landed a job interview for a position you really want. Congratulations! Now, you know you only get one chance to impress, but how exactly do you do that? Here are my top 5 ways to ace the interviewing process and stand out from other candidates. 1. ...
read more
What Makes High-Performing Teams Work – Part 3 of 3
Daniel Coyle, the author of The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, spent four years researching many successful teams to better understand how groups thrive, along with what doesn’t work. "While culture can feel like magic, it’s not," says Coyle....
read more
What Makes High-Performing Teams Work – Part 2 of 3
Daniel Coyle, in his new book, The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, explores and answers two primary questions: Where does great culture come from? And how do you build and sustain it in your teams or strengthen in a culture that needs fixing?...
read more
What Makes High-Performing Teams Work – Part 1 of 3
Daniel Coyle, the author of The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, spent four years researching many successful teams to better understand how groups thrive, along with what doesn’t work. "While culture can feel like magic, it’s not," says Coyle....
read more
Networking – How to Genuinely Engage with Others
I am a "podcast-aholic," with multiple episodes constantly at the ready. Hearing interviews with authors of new books are one of my favorite ways to learn something new. I recently honed in on an interview with David Burkus about his new book, "Friend of a Friend: The...
read more
5 Ways to Build Trust at Work
“It is the one quality that cannot be acquired, it must be earned.” –Warren Bennis, on trust You won’t find this in your new employee orientation guide or on a job description, but building trust with your leaders, peers and clients, is one of the most important...
read more
Impostor Syndrome – What it is and How to Mitigate it
Impostor syndrome is defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Impostors’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraud. This self-doubt overrides feelings of accomplishment despite success or external...
read more
5 Ways to Nurture Your Network
Having a large network is great, but you must nurture these relationships. Otherwise, people can quickly forget about you. The goal is to stay “top of mind,” which can only happen if you make regular efforts to stay in contact and engage in meaningful communication...
read more
4 Ways to Look Confident When Presenting
The key to a good presentation is confidence. While some people have a knack for public speaking and giving presentations, it doesn't come so naturally to others. Fear can keep us stuck, possibly not moving forward in our careers by stepping up and being a presenter....
read more
Why Am I Not Getting Hired?
Many of you may ask yourself that question when you did not get the job, promotion, or even lateral position within your organization. You felt energized after the interviews and yet surprisingly, did not get the role. Why not? What could you have done differently?...
read more
Managing Yourself While in a Toxic Workplace
I would bet most of you have experienced a toxic workplace. It could have been caused by one venomous leader or a whole organization. The "dis-ease" could be from a mismatch in your values and the organization's values and practices. There are many reasons. But you...
read more
6 Tips on How to Collaborate With Difficult People
When someone you work with is difficult and annoys you, it’s tempting to avoid the person as much as possible. But this isn’t always feasible and often only makes the situation worse. You’re better off cultivating some empathy. How can you do that with a colleague who...
read more
5 Ways to Make “High Quality Connections” at Work
In last week's blog, I wrote about office politics and how important it is to make "high-quality connections" throughout your organization. Here I will dive deeper into what these connections look like and how you can make them part of your communication style. Think...
read more
4 Ways Office Politics Can Help Your Career
You can’t avoid office politics. It’s a fact of life. You may have negative feelings about it. You may think you’re taking the high road by ignoring it. However, your lack of attention to what’s happening in the workplace can be extremely dangerous. Office politics...
read more
3 Tips on How to Not Take Anything Personally
In The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz, the second agreement is “Don’t take anything personally.” Ruiz writes: “Even when a situation seems so personal, even if others insult you directly, it has nothing...
read more
4 Steps to Boost Your Self-Confidence
Last week, I shared "6 Steps to Boost Your Self-Confidence." The steps were: Visualize yourself as you want to be. Do one thing that scares you everyday. Question your "Inner Critic." Set yourself up to win. Stand tall. Forgive yourself. I received so many "thank...
read more
6 Steps to Boost Your Self-Confidence
Many of my clients come to me with the desire for a new job, new leadership skills, recrafting their current job or needing to figure out how to get "unstuck" in their lives. At the center of those tactical shifts is the prerequisite of having enough self-confidence...
read more
How to Remain Calm Under Pressure – Strengthen Your Resilience Skills
Two weeks ago, I discussed resilience (article) and referenced Reivich and Shatté’s book, The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles. They define resilience as a compilation of seven measurable factors: Emotional...
read more
If Willpower Doesn’t Work, What Does?
We rely on willpower to create change in our lives...but what if we're thinking about it all wrong? In Willpower Doesn't Work, Benjamin Hardy explains that willpower is nothing more than a deterrent that is bound to fail. Instead of "white-knuckling" your way to...
read more
Resilience – The Difference Between Surviving or Thriving
We are working with greater uncertainty, ambiguity and change than ever before. Resilience is about dealing effectively with – and making the most of – what we experience in everyday life. It is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and is essential for...
read more
Acting Confident When You’re Not
Confidence is highly coveted, yet often elusive. We dedicate time and energy to cultivating the feeling so we can tap into it when we need it most: at work, in business meetings, during tough conversations. Fortunately, there are a few science-backed tricks to get us...
read more
Why You’re Stuck and What To Do About It
We often feel stuck when we don't know what to do. I have been there many times as have my clients. We paralyze ourselves with ongoing dreams of what else we'd like to do and then, reality slaps us around with how insane that idea is because we can't lose this regular...
read more
Tips for Resolving Workplace Conflict
Conflict is an inevitable part of work. We've all seen situations where people with different goals and needs have clashed, and we've all witnessed the often intense personal animosity that can result. But, conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. When you resolve it...
read more
How to Climb Out of a Career Rut
With the U.S. economy on solid footing, American workers may be feeling better about their career prospects, but most aren’t thrilled with their actual jobs. In fact, two-thirds are disengaged at work, or worse, according to a new Gallup study on the American...
read more
Why Experience and Power Hinder Self-Awareness
This week I conclude my series summarizing the Harvard Business Review article, "What Self-Awareness Really Is (And How To Cultivate It)" by Tasha Eurich, PhD. HBR Article. After multiple studies, Dr. Eurich concluded her research with three findings: There are two...
read moreWhy You Need Both Types of Self-Awareness – Internal and External
Harvard Business Review recently published“What Self-Awareness Really Is (And How To Cultivate It)” HBR Article. Based on multiple research studies, the author, Tasha Eurich, PhD, unearthed the following conclusions: There Are Two Types of Self-Awareness: Internal...
read more
Why Introspection Doesn’t Always Improve Self-Awareness
Harvard Business Review recently published an article that blew the top of my head off. The article was “What Self-Awareness Really Is (And How To Cultivate It)” HBR Article. Based on multiple research studies, the author, Tasha Eurich, PhD, unearthed the following...
read more
Job Crafting – Create Meaning in Your Work
My client came to me wanting to regain her "new hire energy" for her current job. She felt stagnant and trapped by the tension between day-to-day demands and what she really wanted to be doing. Sound familiar? Over the past couple years, I’ve spoken with hundreds of...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 9 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 8 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 7 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 6 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 5 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 4 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 3 of 9
9 Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine -> Wheel of Life Imagine -> Visualization The Framework of Change -> The Hero’s Journey The Framework of Change -> The Change Cycle Plan -> Turtle Steps Plan -> Strategy for Obstacles &...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 2 of 9
Steps to Create Your Best Year Yet: Mindset Imagine Wheel of Life Visualization The Framework of Change The Hero’s Journey The Change Cycle Plan Turtle Steps Strategy for Obstacles & Setbacks Reward & Celebration Rinse & Repeat Steps 1 - 4 Step 2 –...
read more
How to Create Your Best Year Yet – Part 1 of 9
For the next nine weeks, I will share the steps I walk my clients through to change their lives. You can focus on one part of your life, say, work, or invest your efforts in a number of areas, from health, relationship, or your desire to get involved in your...
read more
Stuck? Move! You are Not a Tree!
As a personal development coach, I have spoken to hundreds of people who are bored, paralyzed or victimized by aspects of their lives: job, career, relationship, health issues, etc. They say they hate the situation but drag themselves through it day after day, which...
read more
Worry Wart — Why We Have a Negativity Bias
I can have a great day rich with the things I love but, as I wind down for the evening, why do I focus on that one mean and anonymous comment I received on social media? Why do we focus on the negative so much? You can thank our brain's evolutionary negativity bias....
read more
Your Inner Critic: The Meanest Bully Ever
The "Inner Critic" is that voice in your head that is constantly chattering away about your performance, appearance, intelligence, social skills... well, you name it and the Inner Critic has a dark opinion about it. Wikipedia defines Inner Critic as: "a...
read more
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life – Part 4 of 4
Step 1: Notice your thoughts. Notice that you are not your thoughts.. Step 2: Write down your thoughts. Step 3: Evaluate how those thoughts make you feel. Step 4: Challenge and replace painful thoughts with empowering thoughts. This fourth and final step to changing...
read more
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life – Part 3 of 4
Step 1: Notice your thoughts. Notice that you are the observer of these thoughts. Step 2: Write down the thoughts. Step 3 is to evaluate the thoughts you wrote down. For each thought, ask yourself: How do I feel when I think this thought? Take time to explore your...
read more
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life – Part 2 of 4
In last week's post, I shared the first step in how to change your thoughts -- Step 1: Notice your thoughts. Also notice that you are not your thoughts. You are the watcher observing what your mind is thinking. Step 2 in this process is to write down those ramblings...
read more
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life – Part 1 of 4
You know that voice in your head? It's chatters away 24/7. It can sound something like this: "Look at your gut! When did that happen? Good lord -- have you no pride?" "Oh, god! This clerk is the SLOWEST! I am going to be so late now!" "You were INSANE to quit your...
read more
Embrace Your Inner Critic – How to Turn Critic into Coach
My inner critic can sound like my father, my scary sixth-grade teacher, or my "mean girl" Brownie troop. She lives to relentlessly berate me. Her purpose is to keep me safe from saber tooth tigers, which I think is a bit extreme. Call me crazy. Her words vary, but her...
read more
Story Fondling – How to Stay Stuck
Being stuck - feeling powerless and confused - happens to all of us at some time or another. We have a problem and can't seem to find a way out. Why is that? When we stay focused on the problem, it prevents us from having to come up with a solution. We love our...
read more
Networking & Referrals – It’s a Give and Take Proposition
Let's talk about networking & referrals -- most of us dread networking like the plague but it is THE most essential way to find a new job. In fact, LinkedIn’s 2016 research states that 85% of jobs were filled by REFERRALS. Yes… 85%! How do you get referrals?...
read more
Turtles Win the Career Marathon – How Small Shifts Make Big Changes
I have been thinking about the career journeys of my clients. There are the "high engagement" times and there are the "low engagement" times, and many moments in between. We do this exercise so we can extract the elements of what they love to do, like to do and don't...
read more
What Kind of Christmas Cookie are You?
I don't know about you but this time of year is rather crazy-making. Parties, presents to buy and wrap, tree to select, buy, decorate, keep alive. It can go on and on especially if you let yourself get sucked up into the HO-HO Vortex. I challenge you to not get...
read more
3 Steps to Finding Bliss in Your Job
As a career coach, I have spoken to hundreds of people who are bored, paralyzed or victimized by their 9-5 job. They say they hate it but drag themselves in day after day, which quickly becomes year after year. Can you relate? Ask them why and you’ll get the usual...
read more
The Energy of Giving
I love to see formerly abused animals blossom under new love and care. I am amazed every time I see an abused dog, cat, horse, cow, etc. who is now safe at a sanctuary (CircleL.org or BestFriends.org, my two favorites) start to trust humans again. It empowers...
read more
The Power of Trust
I have had the most amazing experience these last fourteen months. I volunteer at a ranch sanctuary (CircleL.org) and I started working with a very abused horse named Starlight. She had been at the ranch a few years already (brought to them by the authorities) and no...
read more
Notice Your Thoughts
For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with low self-esteem. "I am not enough" is like a banner that I whip out and wave whenever I feel fear or when I tried and failed at something. The thought holds me back from all the things I really want in life. Over...
read more
What is Your Body Telling You?
I recently went on two amazing and unrelated trips which just happen to be back-to-back weekends. Each event alone would have wiped me out with the crazy airport shuffle, but having them be right beside each other on the schedule put me flat on my back....
read more
What Advice Would You Give Your “One Year Older” Self?
While hiking a winding trail the other day, my little dog ahead of me scouting for varmints, I paused to look at the buds popping out on the trees and bushes. There are so many things that you can count on and Spring is one of my favorites. I thought back to last...
read more
Your New BFF – Fear
Fear is one of those four letter words that sends me into a fetal position under my desk. When I feel it, I want to ignore it, shame myself for feeling it or even worse, dive in carelessly by "pulling up my big girl panties." I can tell you that none of those...
read more
My Hero’s Journey
Some of you may be acquainted with Joseph Campbell’s work from his book, “A Hero With a Thousand Faces.” For those of you who are not familiar with Campbell’s work, here is a brief summary of what he calls “The Hero’s Journey:” “A hero ventures forth from the world of...
read more
That Voice In Your Head
I had a goal. This was a big goal. I dreamed and schemed about achieving this goal for over three years. It took a lot of time, money, more time and more money than I thought it was going to take to achieve this goal. But yesterday, the work paid off. I achieved...
read more