Be aware of what you are tolerating. Early in my coaching career, I was privileged to take several courses from Thomas Leonard who is regarded as the father of the modern coaching movement. One course, “Become a Toleration Free Zone,” was a literal eye-opener and has been a through line in much of my client…
While supporting a friend to create a communication strategy around a tricky subject that was rife with emotional triggers, I remember her saying, “Until I have scoured every inch of my side of the street to see what is mine to own, I can’t have a conversation.” This is leadership at its finest – the…
“Walk a mile in my shoes. Before you abuse, criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes.” The lyrics made famous by Joe South and The Believers in 1970 are a fitting argument for compassion and empathy when providing feedback. Emotionally Intelligent leaders understand the power and heart of empathy. They do not cross…
I have to admit, that despite the fact that I teach about it, I am not often comfortable offering or receiving feedback. When delivering it, I wonder if my direct and factual approach will hurt someone’s feelings, or maybe they won’t like me anymore. I also wonder if my feedback is my opinion or assumption…
In the last blog post, we talked about the state of today’s workforce engagement. Remember that Gallup revealed less than 30% of your employees are engaged with your company? This presents a great opportunity for all of us to step up as Emotionally Intelligent Leaders. A good many of the reasons for the disengagement could…
Get Engaged. Now! Last year the Gallup Organization issued its revised State of the American Workforce Report. Shockingly, it revealed that more than 70% of today’s workforce was disengaged. 70 percent! That means that seven out of 10 employees in your workplace are going through the motions, acting without purpose or – worse yet – merely…
A question was posed by my co-facilitator this week to a group we were working with. If you were at your best, what would you be? Great thought that prompted a learning process. I’m sharing it below. Do it and see what you find: When I am at my best I ________________ (fill in the blank)…
It’s Spring which means baseball for all! I was driving through my neighborhood and a familiar Spring sight caught my eye. The family playing in the driveway included a young toddler girl playing T-ball with her dad while mom watched. She was in a pink puffy jacket holding a big pink plastic bat about to…
We are all human and we all have egos. Ego is defined as the opinion that you have about yourself; a part of the mind that senses and adapts to the real world. The ego has a useful function. It helps us to discern, to understand to set boundaries, and to remember, evaluate, and plan.…
The infamous words of Marlon Brando in on the waterfront, the iconic movie of the 1950s, “I could have been a contender,” sets the tone for the masks we hide behind in our leadership. I coulda, I woulda, I shoulda, I might have, I ought to have… I could go on ad infinitum. This language…