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
Hey, this is just a quick note to all of you who are working on your presence in the world of Social Media. This is ‘old news’ already in some circles, but may still be very relevant for you. ~10 days ago Facebook opened up the opportunity for users to get their own vanity URL … Read more
My eldest child, Kelly (a regular reader of this blog), has been bugging me since I started it, asking, “when are you gonna write a column about ME?” For a long time I put her off by pointing out that this is my professional blog, not personal. Well, since I recently wrote about BOTH of … Read more
I am so excited! My oldest son got engaged last weekend to a wonderful young woman who makes him very happy. In the improbable manner of the world, Justin (from Cleveland) met Katie (from Pittsburgh) while they were attending a Second City Improv workshop (in Chicago) two summers ago. Apparently it was love at first sight. … Read more
“…there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Hamlet, Act II Scene 2 This quote from Shakespeare is one of my all-time favorites… and defines a foundational element of my coaching practice and life philosophy. Events are just events. Stuff happens. That’s it. THEN…we create a story to explain that event. … Read more
As more and more companies must make the difficult decision to reduce staff and send people packing, I’ve had many leaders come to me and ask for advice on what to tell people when they ask questions. When people suspect a lay off is pending, they shift into constant anxiety. Yet too many top leaders, … Read more
I could not resist pulling this two-minute video onto my blog. It resonated with me because, of all the leadership challenges that come up in coaching and training conversations, this is the most common area of concern (I can’t tell you more without giving away the twist). This is part of a new series of … Read more
<<Oh, this was too precious to pass up! Jim>> Memo from Management: All employees will be required to look happy while at work. Here is the new low cost, company approved solution to cope with multiple priorities and assignments! Each employee will be supplied 2 paper clips and rubber bands. (See Fig 1.) Fig 1. … Read more
Are you familiar with the concept, from improv theater, of “yes, and…”? It’s a skill that is useful in leadership and in life. It helps if you’re on stage giving a presentation to 100 people, and it helps when you are in conversation with one person. I teach this concept in my communication training and … Read more
This is a busy season for Performance Appraisal (PA) discussions, and this topic’s come up with several clients recently. Anxiety seems to be the most common emotion associated with PAs, both on the part of the receiver and the writer/manager. A little anxiety running up to the conversation can be helpful — it will keep … Read more