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 […]
Meaningful year-end recognition (after a tough year)
Earlier this week Merriam-Webster announced this year’s “word of the year” – Authentic. While this word might feel overused, misused, and sometimes (ahem)…inauthentic, it IS a powerful word. Why? Because it starts with being true to yourself, “true to one’s own personality, spirit or character.” Leading with authenticity towards yourself naturally translates into showing up with genuine […]
Climbing the Career…Trellis?
“People spend their whole lives climbing that ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall. – Thomas Merton As a child of the 1970s-80s I was brought up to believe the “right” path to success was to attend a good college after […]
#simplicity
“Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest.” – Leo Babauta I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. For me, they tend to feel overly focused on “fixing” our perceived failures, problems, weaknesses. As someone who firmly believes in strengths-based development I can’t help but wonder how much fun it really is […]
Clarity
Purpose. Vision. Action. Clarity. These are the Leadership Pillars of Success. When a leader is equipped with these tools or “pillars,” and communicates them clearly to their team, it is the formula for success. Unfortunately, it is rare to find all four cared for and maintained by leaders, which ultimately leads to confusion, and burnout […]