If you think about true leaders, whether they are in a big or small company, in a service or product industry, one key attribute they must possess is being bold. The leader does not have to be loud or overly demonstrative but must come across that they are the one who is directing their organization. … Read more
Before one can become a leader, it is imperative to be aware of one’s own self. Too many leaders are not aware of how they behave and then are surprised when their interactions and relationships with others are not as fruitful as they can be. In addition, the way these leaders perceive themselves under normal … Read more
Storytelling is a critical skill in the business world but it tends to be overlooked. No one ever puts on a position description “Must have excellent storytelling ability”, however, if you want to capture the attention of your audience either in a meeting, presentation, or speech, you need to be able to tell a story … Read more
Recently my alma mater changed the name of their Alumni Relations department to Alumni Engagement, which supposedly other universities are doing as well. I thought this was a good idea because engaging someone is very different from relating to someone. The major difference is that you may feel there are commonalities with you and someone … Read more
When I was growing up my mother always said to me “don’t brag”. She still to this day feels the same way to the point that she does not even like newsy Christmas letters because she feels the senders are bragging. In her eyes, brag is a bad four letter word. How then in the … Read more
It takes courage to be vulnerable especially in the workplace! It can be very difficult and stressful to be “seen” by others when faced with challenging issues. By exposing ourselves to others to voice our opinion, we open ourselves up to possible ridicule. HOWEVER more importantly it can open the door to innovation and willingness … Read more
We all have a past and with that we all have a story. In telling our narrative to others, some highlight accomplishments while others tend to focus on inconsequential things or even possibly negative ones. These stories do help explain who we are and how we come to certain conclusions on issues. As we continue … Read more
When I was in school, there were certain classes I looked forward to getting my grades and others that I wished I could have had a pass/fail grade. I was a good student but certain subjects like trigonometry were just tough. Those tests and quizzes would come back with lots of red marks and a … Read more
Teaching on a college campus, I have witnessed such amazing young women really make an impact. They not only participate in class with interesting comments but they also handle themselves well in presentations even to very senior business leaders. They exude a youthful exuberance coupled with the confidence that they can do anything their passions … Read more
How often do you get out of your comfort zone? For many people, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable can cause a great deal of anxiety. However, the more you push yourself to get out of your comfort zone, the easier it becomes to do it. The end result is being able to take on new … Read more