01
Jun

Three Keys to Courageous Conversations

I’m prepping for a Courageous Conversations workshop tomorrow and as I’m reviewing the materials, I’m remembering the feedback and “a-ha” moments that we often get when we deliver this training to leaders. There are three things that stand out to me as I look back at what past participants said about their most important …
14
Apr

Leadership is Not About Making Time To Lead

One of the most common obstacles I hear from leaders who say they want to improve their leadership impact is that they simply don’t have time. They don’t have time to have weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one conversations. They don’t have time to have team meetings. They don’t have time to spend reflecting on how they have demonstrated …
16
Mar

What’s Your Legacy? A Visionary Founder’s Passing Has Me Thinking…

A few days ago, the founder of the company where I started my career passed away. Paul Jeffery was a true entrepreneur and visionary. He founded Kelsey’s and Montana’s restaurants and created the organization where I learned how awesome culture and work could be. His legacy is strong, and impacted thousands. There is so much I could say …
15
Mar

How One Leader Took “Happiness” Away from Human Resources

There is a lot of discussion these days about the impact of happiness on workplace engagement and productivity. In Shawn Achor’s book., The Happiness Advantage, he shares findings about the impact of Happiness – that it leads to a 23% reduction in stress and 31% increase in productivity. (Shawn Achor is speaking at WorkHuman in May – …
08
Mar

10 Great Pieces of Leadership Advice for Women (and Men) Leaders

I had the opportunity to sit in on a client’s International Women’s Day Panel discussion today. They had 4 fabulous female leaders share their lessons, challenges, and advice with their team at their head office. The leaders represented different ages, functions, and levels within the organization. They shared openly and vulnerably, and …
24
Feb

10 Coaching Questions To Ask Yourself to Solve Your Leadership Challenges

I spend a lot of time discussing leadership challenges with leaders at all levels. The reason for all of these discussions? Leading people is difficult. It requires a commitment much greater than doing “just a job”. It requires positivity, resilience, and a lot of self-awareness and introspection. Oftentimes, leadership challenges start …
03
Feb

When Being Right is Wrong for Leaders

A few conversations I’ve had lately have gotten me thinking about how being right often becomes a derailer for leaders. In one conversation, two people were arguing about something completely inconsequential. They were both so adamant about being right about the subject that voices were raised, tension was high, and others in the room felt …
10
Sep

Why It Matters That I’m Working On Vacation

I’m writing this while I sit on the beach at a lakeside cottage. The sun is dancing on the water, the sand is warm on my feet, and whenever I feel a little too hot, I take a quick walk through the waves while my dog barks from the paw-deep shoreline. I’m not saying this to make you envious, although it is beautiful here. I’m not saying …