You’re a professional, right? Yep, that’s what I thought. Me too. One of the hallmarks of professionalism is emotional restraint; I pride myself on my ability to zip my lips when needed. But once in awhile, I experience a momentary lapse—times when exasperation or sarcasm gets the best of me and I say something I…
Navigating Snarky Colleagues: Staying Professional for a Healthy Workplace
Here’s an interesting question about workplace communication: What do you say to someone who says, “Want some cheese with that whine?” to you at work? Google is sending folks to this blog with those keywords, so apparently, there are people who are grappling with it. So, let’s take a look at how to handle the…
The Stories that Undermine Your Ability to Delegate
What are the stories we tell ourselves? It’s a simple question, yet one rich with possibility. In my years of creating leadership development programs, one of the “stories” that continually surfaces with leaders is the story of “I need to do X for my direct reports because they are not yet ready/willing/able to do it…
Psychological Safety: Pro Tips for Leaders
You’ve no doubt heard about the concept of psychological safety–the words and actions that leaders use to foster the belief among their teams that it’s ok to speak up, voice differing opinions and be truthful. Have you actively considered creating a speak-up culture? Putting intention behind this concept will create a much stronger chance that…
The Secret to Building Trust in a Team: Leadership Vulnerability
What’s the secret to building a trusting team dynamic? From the many actions leaders take to build trust, there is one that research finds to be a game-changer: vulnerability. Leaders who are willing to share their small weaknesses are better able to connect with their teams and build stronger relationships. Want to learn the benefits…