Language Matters
While the adage “stick and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me” might ring true to some people, I think we can all agree that the language choices we make can have immense impact. It isn’t very difficult to see how the language and names we use for people can be […]
The Coach’s Mind
What does it mean for someone to be whole? How does the way a leader thinks about their subordinates impact their actions and leadership style? The Co-Active Coaching Model describes wholeness as an essential characteristic of people and therefore a state of being that must be cultivated in order to achieve the greatest success. In […]
Understanding and Utilizing Communication Loops
Any time you are working with people, communication is wildly important to success. While this is an established and accepted fact, the data to back this up might surprise you. A recent study by Dynamic Signal shows that 80% of the US workforce is feeling stressed by poor communication and over half have witnessed negative […]
Using a Meeting as a Connection Opportunity
What’s your first reaction when you have to lead, attend, or organize a meeting at work? If you’re like most people, you probably roll your eyes, and maybe feel some mix of dread, anxiety, or irritation in your body before a meeting. While I wish this wasn’t the case, these reactions are all too common […]
I Get a Little Fiery about Quarterlies
A new client showed me her management guidebook, which stated, “Quarterlies may be called ‘quarterlies’ but their frequency may vary.” If they are quarterly, then they occur quarterly! Consistency and intentionality are foundational to this process. Yes, I get a little fiery about quarterlies. I love them so much! Why? Because regularly planned and structured […]
How to Effectively Check-in with Your Team
This may come as a surprise to you, but in order to be a People First leader, you need to actually care about your people. Now, I’m being playful here, but sometimes there is so much happening day to day with the business that we lose sight of the basics. So how do we consistently […]
How Transparent should I be with My Team?
I get this question all the time. Don’t hate me, but the answer to this question is…it depends. Consider Your Natural Tendencies– What is your mindset about transparency? It’s not surprising that we need to start with our own mindset, beliefs, and natural tendencies! Each of us has different beliefs and experiences with transparency (or […]
Don’t Be A Jerk
Having lunch with a friend of mine the other day, we got to talking about The Great Resignation and what’s going to entice people to stay with a company. We realized that right now, the bottom line is to simply not be a jerk. While research shows that people leave their jobs because of their […]
Self-Limiting Beliefs
Recently, I was fortunate enough to visit one of my favorite retreat hotels in Tucson. The guests and the staff are always friendly, so, not surprising for me, I ended up chatting with everybody. While I was in the buffet line, another guest told me how glad she was that she had enjoyed 5 whole […]
Accountability Starts with YOU
Has someone ever let you down and your first thought is “why did they do that”? I’m guilty of this default statement too. I need to actively step back and ask, “what was my role in this situation?” That’s personal accountability. Before we can hold others accountable, recognize that accountability starts with you. People have all […]