Some people push back when you ask them to take a positive approach in their leadership. They equate positivity with being nice, but being kind is deeper than empty hype like, “Good job” or “Nice work” or “Super!” You can’t … Read More
Star Wars nerds everywhere are scrolling to the bottom of this post to let me know I got the quote wrong. But, if you give me a few minutes, I will explain. Yes, the quote is wrong in the sense … Read More
You will need a piece of paper or a Post-It note for this blog. On that paper, write down an answer to one of these questions: What is your most troubling current issue? What is one task on your list … Read More
I used to espouse this as a general rule: Successful leaders avoid saying “I,” “me,” and “myself” when offering thoughts and assigning tasks. Using team-oriented “we” language keeps the focus on others instead of the leader. However… I’ve revised my … Read More
Jim, the principal at my first teaching job, often said, “Most days, we have fun around here.” He said this to me at my job interview and followed it with “…and you can’t say that about most jobs.” I accepted … Read More
We all know the value of modeling for team members. We also know it’s appropriate to delegate tasks in order to develop others. Here are some thoughts on the relationship between modeling and delegation: Delegated work makes people feel valued, … Read More
We are at our best when we feel in control of our fate. In other words, when we have a sense of autonomy, we are more likely to make better choices and take ownership of those choices. Additionally, we inspire … Read More
I got really annoyed at a hotel front desk clerk once. It was my first time at the hotel, too. One of the hotel staff originally said we (my extended family and I) would have adjoining rooms, but when we … Read More
Regardless of your life roles, it is easy to get overwhelmed, overworked, and exhausted. We think thoughts like: “I have to finish this right now.” “I can’t let them down.” “People depend on me.” “I can’t fail.” “No one else … Read More
There are three steps to understanding and addressing Unconscious Bias: Two weeks ago, we started an exercise on the first step, identifying bias. Last week, we focused on cultivating additional connection. Today we will dive into the final step. Step … Read More