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Oops, did I say that out loud?
When I was in business school, they called it a “Lisa Kohn” if you were talking about someone and they were right behind you. Seriously, they did. I wish I could say that I did nothing to deserve that reputation, but I’m afraid that’s not true. I am happy to report...
Are you being conquered?
“He who angers you, conquers you.” ~Elizabeth Kenny I need this quote right now. Someone is getting under my skin…and I have to remember that I’m allowing them to. I have a choice. When I let someone anger me, I give my power away to them. I let them conquer me. I let...
I have too much to do…what now?
Recently many, if not nearly all, of my coaching sessions seem to have a recurring theme, and when many, if not all, of my clients are stuck in the same place or facing the same issue, I begin to sense a pattern. An epidemic of sorts. How do we stay on top of all we...
Why we’re afraid to share ideas, and how we can encourage sharing anyway
"Many great ideas have been lost because the people who had them could not stand being laughed at." ~Unknown I think public humiliation – or even the possibility of public humiliation – is something many, if not all of us, avoid at all costs. We can be quite terrified...
Inspiration is one of the leadership secret ingredients
One common tenet of great leadership that many experts and gurus espouse is inspiration. They say that in order to be a great leader, you must be inspiring – you must carry yourself in a way that makes people want to follow you, be a role model, and energize and rally...
No one is responsible but you
“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” ~Carol Burnett Talk about personal responsibility and personal accountability. No one can change my life for me…no one is responsible for what I achieve and how I live, but me. I like these words. So often we find...
Remember me? I’m your creative side
One of the many things I love about being a coach is how much I learn from and with my clients. A couple of years ago I was reviewing a values assessment with one of my clients, and Creativity was one of his top values. We had a very revealing coaching conversation...
Letting go of what you are…to be what you might become
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao Tzu We can limit ourselves by the stories we tell ourselves. If we’ve defined ourselves as quiet and thoughtful, we may rarely speak up in a meeting. If we’ve defined ourselves as brash, we might never make...
5 ways to take back your power
You recognize the feeling. And it’s not a good feeling. The email flashes on your screen from “her.” Your nemesis. Every email that comes from her upsets you, because she is so controlling. She denigrates your ideas, undercuts your authority, and questions your...
Lead with your ears not your tongue
“Listen, or thy tongue will keep thee deaf.” ~Native American Proverb Have you ever been in the midst of a conversation, and realized you were just waiting for the other person to take a breath so that you could share your next thought, or dispute their last...
Vulnerability is not a dirty word, it’s a leadership skill
Somehow, I think we’ve all created – and perpetuated – the myth that leaders need to be strong and infallible. That there can be no cracks in your armor or skeletons in your closet. That it’s best to look like you always have it together and aren’t ever questioning or...
Don’t let the seriousness of leadership get in your way
"Men go forth to wonder at the heights of mountains, the extent of the oceans, and the courses of the stars, and omit to wonder at themselves." ~St. Augustine Human beings are, in general, captivated by, motivated by, and inspired by wonder. We are social animals, and...
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