It happened while I was cleaning up the dinner dishes. While I stood at my kitchen sink, scrubbing pans, the thought formed, completely unbidden: I want to be a writer. It was a June night; my family was outside enjoying one of the first warm days of our soon-to-be Michigan summer. And I was inside,…
Authenticity
Is a Global CEO’s Grueling Travel Schedule Necessary?
Is a burned-out CEO the New Normal of the globally connected world? That seems to be the premise of a recent article I read titled, “Death on a Moscow Runway: The Modern, Homeless CEO.” (How’s that for grim imagery?) I take issue with the idea that CEO’s must be this super-human person that “has” to…
Leaders – Use These Tips to Stay Relevant with Younger Workers
How do you stay current with popular culture references and changes in language? If you’re in a leadership position and have accumulated more than four decades of life experience, chances are that your younger team members might from time to time confound you with an unfamiliar phrase. Take for example, the term “struggle bus” which…
Social Intelligence – It’s Hardly Ever About You
It’s hardly ever about you. That’s a key take-away I gleaned from GRAPE’s October presenter, leadership coach Tamara Rosier, who spoke about “Social Intelligence: What it Is and Why It Matters”. Now, you might think that I’m talking about selfishness (or selflessness) but in the context of social intelligence, it’s really about how much we…
Zen of Jen: Who are You Really Talking To?
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…