Those of us in leadership at ACHIEVE have often found our thinking propelled by what we read. In fact, we often exchange good books with each other to sharpen our thinking and work. Many of our innovations in marketing, management, and the services we offer have been informed by the books we have read. As many of you know, we … Read More
ACHIEVE Women in Leadership Survey Findings
In preparation for our live virtual ACHIEVE Women in Leadership Conference (September 23-24, 2020), we conducted a survey to gain insight into the experience of women in the workplace. We are so grateful to the more than 700 people who took the time to complete the survey. Their responses helped us gain an understanding of the gaps in gender experiences … Read More
How to Learn a New Skill in 4 Steps
The COVID-19 pandemic has been undeniably challenging for many but has also presented the opportunity for learning new skills – either by choice or as a requirement. If I am completely honest, I have become increasingly resistant to learning new skills as I get older! To be clear, I love the learning once it has actually occurred, but in those … Read More
4 Reasons Leaders Should be Active on Social Media
Most people have very strong opinions about social media. I recently had the opportunity to do a presentation on social media to an audience of my coworkers. One of the first questions I asked was, “Do you like social media?” I enjoyed watching the changing expressions across the Zoom call. Everyone had something to say, but there seemed to be … Read More
How to Work Like a Project Manager
Earlier this year I took some courses as part of a project management certificate program. While I wouldn’t consider myself an expert, one of my goals was to translate my learning into a few simple practices that I could share with my coworkers. That way we could apply them to the many small projects we work on throughout the year. … Read More
How Setting Goals Can Help You Make Tough Decisions
When faced with a tough decision, it is common to sometimes feel stuck and not know how to move forward. Whether you are thinking about changing jobs, starting a new hobby, or branching out from your social circle, it can be uncomfortable to try new things. At times when I’ve had to make a tough decision, I have found myself … Read More
How Design Thinking Can Benefit Your Organization
Design thinking is an approach to problem-solving that can be used in virtually any organization, team, or situation in which you are trying to actively engage staff or clients. It applies to leadership, product design, service design, and even effecting change within your organization. Design thinking is, simply put, thinking like a designer. When it comes to problem-solving in the … Read More
5 Tips for Fostering Psychological Safety in Your Workplace
This past week I read an article by leadership scholar, Amy Edmondson, on learning behavior in work teams. It struck me as both simple and profound. Although it was written in 1999, it seems particularly relevant today. Edmondson’s research points out that most organizations are not adaptive in new situations – they simply wait for things to return to the … Read More
How to Manage Difficult Emotions During COVID-19
As this pandemic continues to unfold, we have been called to action, adapting to changing career and financial statuses, caring for our health and that of our loved ones, managing relationships, and trying to make this summer fun amidst social distancing protocols (just to name a few). These challenges and the ensuing emotional strain have affected our overall sense of … Read More
How to Bring Reason Back Into Conversations
We often allow our predetermined beliefs to guide how we relate to other people. Look no further than politicians who speak about each other or groups they disagree with, using negative and, at times, highly charged rhetoric. I don’t know about you, but I find some despair and anxiety seeping into my psyche every time I read about, witness, or … Read More
