People don’t like to be uncomfortable. I cannot recall the last time I had a conversation a leader where the subject of “difficult conversations” about performance did not come up as one of their most feared situations. Second to that is concern about telling people that “change is coming.” Meanwhile, we face the reality that … Read more
Have you ever watched an auto race? Cars race around the track and race around the track at high speeds, and occasionally pull into the Pit where their Pit Crew come screaming into action. The car is jacked up on hydraulic lifts and instantly the crew swarm the car like ants on a sugar cookie. … Read more
Studies in the workplace have concluded that the best leaders hit or exceed what’s considered the ideal balance of positive interactions to negative ones. Well, guess what? It’s not just about the workplace! In this less-than-90-second video, John Gottman shares what he knows from two decades of studying personal relationships. (John is the guy who … Read more
“You can’t change other people. You can only change how you respond to them.” I first heard this life lesson from a mentor when I was a newly minted supervisor 30 years ago. At the time I was struggling with how to manage several very difficult personalities on my team. What I learned in that … Read more
Any emotion that you WANT to experience more can become more natural if you play the role, or practice it, more often. Let’s look at assertiveness. In assertiveness, you are able to stand up for yourself or your position from a place of confidence. When you practice assertiveness, you are more likely to get your … Read more
A common concern I hear from my executive clients is that they have great difficulty with strategy time. The issue usually presents itself like this: “I can’t find the time to think when I’m constantly being interrupted.” OK, why are you constantly being interrupted? The response is usually a form of, “we have an Open … Read more
Our ability to grow is directly proportional to our ability to entertain the uncomfortable. –Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use it for Life A recent email exchange within one of my coaching groups addressed our discomfort with being stretched outside our comfort zone. One of my colleagues, Carole, shared this recent story, … Read more
So, I’m speaking at a conference about happiness and leadership, and I’ve just finished describing a practice for sharing Gratitude to build a more positive workplace. I invite everyone in the room to experience the power of gratitude, so they are to pair up and share something from the past 24 hours for which they … Read more
A good friend is currently tied up in knots about her workplace culture. The company owner rarely shows up to provide guidance, yet resists giving others the power to put rules and policies into place. So the workplace is chaotic, morale is falling, and my friend is debating whether she will continue to work at … Read more
A reader from Singapore sent me this cartoon. Happiness in the workplace is a global concern. In an era of cost-cutting and bad news, this presents a clever, low-cost strategy for improving morale ** **Funny, yes? The thing is, studies have shown that even FAKE SMILES can have an impact on mood. That stems in … Read more