I love to garden so I find this time of year a bit sad. Although many of my plants and bushes have turned into pretty shades of brown, yellow, orange, and rust color, it still is upsetting that winter will soon be here. I also can’t stand pulling out my vegetable plants that are all … Read more
I recently completed a series of trainings for a trade association centered around effective leadership practices. When we were working on the communications module, it became clear that these individuals were being asked for information multiple times which was taking them away from more important responsibilities. Collectively we discussed why this occurs so frequently. Was … Read more
As September comes to a close, I feel like I have worn out my sneakers. After a slower paced summer, this past month has seemed like a fast sprint. I am not only teaching four classes, conducting several corporate trainings, and managing my coaching clients each week, but it seems like I am getting deluged … Read more
Forget what Hallmark and others say that January 1st kicks off the new year. I always feel that the new year for me starts the Tuesday after Labor Day. This view started even before I became an Adjunct Professor but obviously it means even more now. It is a time for a fresh start with … Read more
When my parents had parties, my father used to joke that my mother cleaned so much that she even cleaned the third-floor silver. My mother took great pride in our home so if someone told her that the house was immaculate, she was thrilled. I admit that when I have company over, I only clean … Read more
It seems that there is an uptick in the number of employees complaining that their bosses are micromanaging more, or at least trying to be a bit more controlling than they used to be. I used to think that it was this way because leaders’ roles are multi-faceted so trying to minimize mistakes and reduce … Read more
This phrase means that it is better to say nothing than to speak. It was also a title of a song that was recorded by the American rock band the Four Seasons. After reading Gretchen Rubin’s book, Life in Five Senses, I feel that silence also means tuning out all the “noise” that we are … Read more
Recently I asked my students in my Team Building and Conflict Resolution class, who are all seniors, what they want future employers to know. Many of them say they are tired of being called “lazy” and that they have a poor work ethic. They gave examples where they finished their work (in some cases faster … Read more
I conduct several trainings a week besides teaching college students at two different universities. It is always interesting to me who really retains the information they are taught and who barely remembers it after they leave the room. This reminds me of when I was growing up and had to learn a lot of facts … Read more
Wheaties, the first ready-to-eat cereal that was invented in 1921, is known for being “the breakfast of champions”. So that got me thinking – what is the breakfast of leaders? I am not referring to actual food but what do effective leaders do to start their day? The many books I have read on leadership, … Read more