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What really matters in this moment?
It’s a beautiful spring day. It’s the first beautiful spring day. And just as I was about to settle into my to-do list and heaping “got to get this done” pile, a friend texted me. “You up for a walk?” Now, I know that I didn’t have time to take a walk. There were...
Follow your bliss
“If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.” ~Joseph Campbell Recently a client was discussing her upcoming choice between two new jobs. The discussion seemed like a cost-benefit analysis – all head and very little...
Is thinking getting in your way?
If you have been a reader of our blog for any amount of time, you know that we believe strongly in Thoughtful Leadership – being mindful, intentional and self-aware in your leadership actions. So, when I saw the title of a recent s+b article, Hey Leaders: Stop...
How not to get a handful of mud
"When you reach for the stars you may not get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either." ~Leo Burnett I was talking with a client the other day and he told me about a key project he wanted to take the lead on, but was afraid to ask for. "What if my boss...
Three surefire ways to form a new habit
Some of us set goals. We determine how we want to change, or what we want to achieve, or how we’ll better ourselves or our lives – and we declare our resolutions. “From now on, I’ll run three times a week,” we announce. “I’m going to speak up in every meeting at...
Why your way of leading isn’t working
“The key to leadership is influence not authority.” ~Kenneth Blanchard There is a leadership fact that I always share with clients. The higher up the food chain you go in an organization, the more your job is not about doing specific tasks. In fact, at times it's not...
Eight tips for having that difficult conversation with your boss
Recently I had dinner with a friend that I had not seen in years and we had a lot of catching up to do. He shared with me some of his challenges and wins on the work front and I was struck by one story, in particular, that echoed circumstances that I have heard from...
Choose happiness
"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling." ~Margaret Lee Runbeck Have you heard, "the joy is in the journey?" Most of us have heard this saying, but I think few of us really believe it. Few of us are willing to focus on the journey rather...
Thoughtful leadership in action
By now, if you are a regular subscriber to our blog, you have read a lot about our philosophy of Thoughtful Leadership™ – stepping away from the chaos and frenzy of the day-to-day to lead with intention, purposeful action, and self-reflection. We not only like to...
It’s my (your) responsibility
“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” ~Mahatma Gandhi A neighbor stopped me the other day to complain about construction vehicles traveling through the area. She was concerned about the noise and safety of such large trucks going past her house....
Three questions to challenge your assumptions about your co-worker
Recently, I presented a program on the Introverted Leader. When I mentioned this to a friend, she said, “Oh wow. A roomful of introverts? That’s going to be a long morning with no one talking!” Of course, that was not the case. In fact, having more than 50 mostly...
Why self-respect is a key leadership skill
"He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow As coaches we recommend, and deliver, 360° feedback to our clients often. We are firm believers in getting feedback - in hearing others'...