Think back to when you began your school years. Did you wake up eager and ready for the learning and relationship challenges that were there each day? Were you a social butterfly or more prone to stand on the sidelines? Were you an academic star or just muddled through? There is lots of conflicting research about what really matters in the process to educate children. It … [Read more...]
Community Builder Par Excellent
I had the opportunity to interview a mover and shaker, whose passion for reaching out into the community made me want to quit my job and work with her. Susan Bass Levin is the head of the Cooper Hospital Foundation in New Jersey. A lawyer by training and an entrepreneur and community advocate in her hear,t she listened to an internal drum beat that said “see a problem-fix a … [Read more...]
Leadership Challenges: Start with a Strong Spine
When we meet people, we are always looking for the core of who they are. Sometimes we just observe, other times we ask lots of questions. When I met Peggy McColl at the 21st Century Book Marketing Conference in San Diego, I first observed. A seasoned speaker she was engaging and had a wealth of important information about the power of online marketing to capture … [Read more...]
Business Leadership: Recycling Conflict
Last week I was delighted to be a workshop presenter at the HBA Conference in Philadelphia. The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association is filled with many of the brightest executive women I have met. The key to the success of the two day program is the care and constant tending the presenters get once they have been chosen. Interestingly, I mused about this after the … [Read more...]
Leadership Strategies: 3 Rules for Ruling your Business
All entrepreneurs are smart and quick, and love taking risks. Otherwise you would be working for a company where you would have a paycheck safely in your hands every week or two. Sometimes the pace is so fast you have to be reminded to exhale. So here are some ideas to help you take your leadership skills to the next level in a smart and quick way that will benefit you both … [Read more...]
The “Knots” of Conflict
I recently had a call from a coaching client, Diane, who was beyond annoyed. She thought she had “this conflict thing” handled, in the bag, never to upset her ever again. She had done so much work on constructive ways to respond to those who pressed her buttons. She loved being in the safe stress zone at work. That was until last week. “What a bummer” she repeated over and … [Read more...]
Leadership Legacies: Do We Leave Them Happily Ever After?
The caller’s name was familiar. I listened intently and searched my long term memory bank for a clue. Then it clicked. Memories from 18 years ago began to flash and finally gain focus. She talked about the Leadership in Action trip we led to Peru and her expressive voice was smiling as we shared memories. We had all been so open, so trim, so full of adventure and Connie … [Read more...]
Work Drama Mimics Family Drama
“Can you believe it?” said the frustrated voice on the other end of the line. .. “She did it again!” the voice was getting louder. “I think it may be time for me to quit, I can never please her.” This was the essence of the frantic phone call from one of my coaching clients. “Real life is much more intriguing than fiction” was my thought as I began to dig into the drama … [Read more...]
Leadership and Asking Deep Questions
I was thrilled with the questions that Avil Beckford asked me when she interviewed me about my book , "Don't Bring It to Work". Avil’s blog, the Invisible Mentor is one of the best on the web. She has a keen ability to ask deep, probing questions that make you think and dive deep for the pearls in your life. As you read, ask yourself the same questions. It can help you gain a … [Read more...]
Leadership and Helping Hands
It was a miserable day. Not the worst of my life, mind you, but high enough up there that I can remember every moment of the hurts and insults, courage and frustration that happened from morning to late in the afternoon. I was in an awful position. I was scheduled to teach about resilience and the importance of primary relationships at an all-day meeting for children and … [Read more...]