Ever read any self-help books? If so, you’re most likely familiar with the term “self-talk” which, as its name suggests, is the act of talking to oneself. There’s negative self-talk (“I’m such an idiot – why did I do that?”) and positive self-talk (“I am excellent at giving professional presentations”). Personally, I’ve done my share…
Zen of Jen
Zen of Jen – Practice Saying “No” with This Easy Exercise
Saying “no” isn’t easy for many people. From team members worried about speaking up to their boss, to saying no to a great “opportunity”, it can be difficult to figure out the right way to decline an offer. One of the main reasons we hesitate to say “no, thanks” is that we worry about the…
Zen of Jen – Take a Mental Staycation
At work, do you ever wish you could do the equivalent of putting yourself in timeout? Deadlines are looming, people are getting on your last nerve . . . you know the drill. But, it’s not always possible to physically leave the premises, or even vacate your office. How do you push the “reset” button…
Zen of Jen – Put Yourself in Timeout
When our kids were little, Mr. People Equation and I sometimes gave them “timeouts”. One thing we quickly discovered is that effective timeouts weren’t about punishment. Instead, timeouts helped our kids figure out when they had crossed a boundary that wasn’t OK to cross. When the Miller kiddos were very young, the boundaries were very…
Zen of Jen – I Have All the Time I Need
This is the first in a new series on my blog called “Zen of Jen”, in which I’ll share ideas for helping you maintain a sense of calm in your crazy work world. Hat tip to Dan McCarthy of the Great Leadership blog – whose comment in an email sparked this idea. Thanks, Dan! The…