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Are your words and actions out of whack?
"I tell my team all the time how great they are," one leader recently told me. Yet, I knew from conversations with her team members that they felt their leader did not see them as competent and did not trust them with high-level work. While she said how great they...
Thoughtful leaders invite questions
“The important thing is not to stop questioning.” ~Albert Einstein I would have liked to have met Albert Einstein. I think he’s cool. And not just because of his hair. I love that he was such a brilliant man, and yet when he was a child teachers thought he was stupid...
Why self-compassion is the essential Thoughtful Leadership practice
I know that we often promote Thoughtful Leadership skills and practices that others may not necessarily see as essential to leadership – like self-compassion. I’m here to argue that not only is self-compassion an essential Thoughtful Leadership practice, it is the...
How excuses and justifications get in your way
“Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” ~George Washington Carver Excuses drive me crazy. Whether it’s someone I work with who is making excuses about why they didn’t get something done, or a client making excuses...
Do your conversations build or damage?
Every conversation is an opportunity to build a relationship or damage one. This is a point we often share in our leadership programs and a principle that comes up with most coaching clients as well. Many of us spend a large portion of our day speaking with other...
Motivation is an internal job
“You can take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.” ~Jeanette Rankin We know how others should act. We know what they need to do. We know, often without a shadow of doubt, the best plans for their future and personal development. The...
Six steps to success in an interim role
There were two times I recall being in interim roles during my career. One went really well, and the other was a disaster. There are many reasons why people end up being an Interim (fill in the blank Title), but usually it stems from a boss resigning or leaving the...
Holding onto your vision even when you’re afraid (or it’s scary)
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." ~Audre Lorde Fear. I’ve heard it defined as False Evidence Appearing Real, which often helps me breathe and ease myself through...
The importance of a quiet mind
I was in a yoga class recently, and the instructor shared a quote from the Buddha. "When the mind is quiet, the Universe surrenders." It stayed with me. I see it in my clients. I see it in my colleagues, family members, and friends. I see it in myself. The racing mind...
One of the secrets of a happy life
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” ~Iris Murdoch Life is a series of moments. Of a “now.” And a “now.” And a “now.” We can get so caught up in the future we’re aiming for – the project that needs to be completed, the presentation next...
Getting on the same page when words and meanings differ
In my town there is a drawbridge that is often under repair. When it is being worked on and the spans are in the upright position, is the bridge open or is it closed? Some people will say it’s open because they see the spans up and open for boats to go through. Others...
One simple act can magnify your happiness
“Happiness is loving what you have and letting go of what you don’t have.” ~Anonymous My clients often come to their coaching session wanting to work through a tough situation with a colleague (or loved one). They explain what’s gone wrong or how misheard they feel,...
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