Proactive vs. Reactive Living
The endless cycle of reactionary, victim-oriented living is a truly catabolic, energy-draining mode of existence. What will it take for us to channel that into productive, anabolic energy? Energy that allows us to anticipate and plan with confidence? Over the last few weeks, as I’ve read, watched, and listened to friends, newscasters, pundits, and experts […]
The individual art of appreciation
Appreciation vs. Recognition. Subtly different. Equally important. How do you like to be appreciated? When is the last time you actually thought about that question? When is the last time you considered how someone else might like to be appreciated? Notice I’m asking about appreciation rather than recognition. It’s subtle but different. How? Appreciation is […]
Killing the myth of executive presence
Executive presence. The phrase makes me alternately cringe and run screaming from the room. It is, quite possibly, the most ambiguous, potentially negative piece of gooey, undefined feedback any manager or leader can give to an employee. In its squishiness as a piece of developmental feedback it leads to people questioning themselves. What are […]
Leading yourself with – and through – grief
This past week I honored the one-year milestone since my sister and best friend passed away after an excruciating battle with colon cancer. In her memory I donated to her favorite charity via a charitable giving fund I’ve set-up in her honor. My family spent the day in the sunshine, laughing with friends visiting from […]
Camelot syndrome: the enemy of change
Ah, nostalgia. There’s nothing like an afternoon browsing through old photos, recalling stories of fun and mischief with old friends. Remembering when you or your kids were young and full of surprises. The warm glow of happy memories. There is also a darker side to these walks down memory lane. Isn’t it fascinating the […]
Plant (or transplant) yourself where you can bloom
My Grandma Abernathy – who was the model of patience, resilience, and kindness – had a go-to phrase: “Bloom where you’re planted.” For most of my life I not only respected her belief in that phrase, but I actually held it up as a model for living. Until the day I realized my job and […]
Hammer in search of a nail
Employee Engagement. Voice of the Employee. Pulse Survey. Employee Experience. Team Engagement Assessment. Do any of these terms ring a bell? Do they possibly send you into a panic? Or a place of exhaustion and fatigue? Don’t get me wrong. I am an advocate for employee engagement work, when it’s done the right […]
The impact of intentional “no”
Take a moment and allow the statement below to sink in: Let the power of your “no” increase the value of your “yes.” I heard this last weekend while in the middle of a Peloton Mental Health Awareness workout. The truth of it almost knocked me off my tread, and I had to […]
And.
The title of this article includes one of the most powerful words in my personal vocabulary. I know it might seem like a passive, filler word to many people. For others, possibly poor grammar. But for me, it says so much more than simply And. The first time I realized the power of this […]
Friendship Inventory
Recently a handful of attention-grabbing headlines have caught my eye, all related to what is being called the “loneliness epidemic” in America. As an unapologetic introvert who has learned to be extroverted when needed, I am always interested in the surveys, research, assumptions, and judgements made in these stories. Let me first fully acknowledge […]