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I have an insatiable curiosity about what’s going on in the world of coaching, business, and leadership, so I stay up to date on all the latest thinking. Read my blog and follow me on twitter and you can, too.
Look Up. Just For a Second
My whole body inhaled when I read a recent article from Pam McLean – Founder and Chief Knowledge Officer of the Hudson Institute of Coaching – on the practice of seeking awe in everyday life. Her ideas stayed with me, and I wanted to explore them in my own way. So here we are.
When You’re Not at Your Best
Have you ever been in the middle of a frustrating meeting, a difficult conversation, or a parenting moment, and thought, who IS this person, and why are they wearing my face?
You snapped when you meant to listen. You shut down when you meant to lead. You defaulted to some version of you that felt suspiciously like your 14-year-old self.
Ten Seconds That Can Change Someone’s Day (And Your Own)
That colour looks really nice on you.
Great job on your presentation. I really think people heard what you said.
Thank you for the extra work you put into that project; you made it so much better than it would have been otherwise.
Read those three sentences again and, this time, imagine hearing someone saying them to you. I’ll wait …
… How do you feel? They’re “just” words and, in this case, completely made up scenarios, but do you notice feeling a little lighter, a little happier, a little more confident?
The “Bring Your Whole Self to Work” Lie
I’ve been sitting with something Susan David shared in her newsletter late last year. It just won’t leave me alone. She distinguished between cultures of “human doing” versus “human being,” noting that when we evaluate people solely on output, we abandon a human-first approach. Her punch line got me: “The best workplaces don’t just measure what you do, they recognize who you are.”
Excellence is a Trap
I just re-read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, and I’m cornering anyone who’ll listen. I’ve come back to it and loved it as much as the first time. This book explains something I see with my clients all the time: brilliant leaders who are weirdly allergic to their own success.
Why Your Team Member Drives You Crazy
In my last blog, I wrote about how becoming aware of anxiety (making it “object” instead of being “subject” to it) can change your leadership game. We talked about the invisible lenses we wear that shape everything we see without us even noticing. This time, I want to talk about why understanding ‘forms of mind’ might save your sanity when dealing with your team.
