Listen as a podcast Melissa is a hard-working leader in her organization who found herself entangled in a vicious cycle of self-criticism. She received feedback about the need to hone her listening skills and adapt her approach to be more audience-focused. Despite her efforts, she grappled with quietening her mind during conversations and presentations. Her
Category Archives: blog post
13
Jul
Jul
Stepping into a new leadership role can feel like landing on an alien planet. You’re dealing with new rules, new people, and tons of requests that all seem to expect you to have a magic crystal ball. They want an answer now, but you’re still trying to figure out what the question is. It’s rough,
02
Jul
Jul
Listen as a podcast As managers, it is important to be aware of the potential impact of tragic events on our employees, especially in the aftermath of recent shootings, natural disasters, or other tragic events. These events can flood our news feeds and can have a significant effect on the mental and emotional well-being of
04
Jun
Jun
Just two years into my first dream job, I got fired. Like many new managers, I had been promoted because I was ambitious and good at the front-line work. But as soon as I was promoted I started using my authority to boss people around. I assumed I was right and they were wrong, and
31
May
May
Listen as a podcast I was working with an IT manager for a small nonprofit, and while he cared about the team members reporting to him, he wondered sometimes if they didn’t deserve a manager who could pump them up, Ted Lasso style. Fortunately we were able to find ways he could be his authentic
15
May
May
My client, a construction manager, was working on three buildings simultaneously. He was juggling three different architects and three separate contractor teams. If that wasn’t enough, he and his wife were renovating a rowhouse in anticipation of their first child. He said he wanted to talk about time management and prioritization. Soon, he opened up
12
Mar
Mar
I sat across from my colleague Brenda with a growing sense of discomfort. I had accepted an assignment from the boss, but I heard from my colleague an undercurrent of doubt—or so it seemed. It was so subtle that I couldn’t quite tell what was going on. Did Brenda not believe I could do it?
13
Feb
Feb
Listen as a podcast When something goes wrong, it’s easy to look for someone to blame. Accountability doesn’t always have to be reactive (see here for my thoughts on proactively managing accountability). But simply pointing fingers doesn’t solve the problem. The FORD Method helps us dig deeper to find out why things went wrong, and
blog post
Navigate Leadership Challenges by Embracing Self-Compassion, Boundaries, and High-ROI Activities
13
Feb
Feb
When my clients struggle to balance empathy with accountability when they’re busy, I remind them that their personal well-being is the foundation of high performance. I have seen too many leaders burn themselves out by ignoring the very practices that sustain their resilience. If you’re feeling depleted or craving an extended vacation, it’s time to
