Last year, I, Wendy, painted my deck. I was sure it would be a long and painful experience, and I was disheartened even before I began. On the first day, I painted for three hours before losing motivation and going for a walk. On the second day, I did the same. Before starting work on the morning of day three, … Read More
Why Workplace Culture is Important for Resilience
We all want a workplace where people are healthy, effective, productive, empowered, and motivated to do great work in support of their organization’s mission and shared values. However, what happens when you toss a pandemic into the mix? COVID-19 has created extraordinary circumstances as nations, communities, families, and individuals are experiencing enormous changes. These changes are playing out in real … Read More
How to Lead Teams Remotely
In the new reality of working remotely due to COVID-19, many leaders are scrambling to adjust. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to connect with and lead others on your team in a virtual environment. Given that face-to-face leadership is extremely complex, even for seasoned and skilled leaders, leading an effective, efficient, high-performing team in a virtual environment is still a … Read More
Why Our Connections at Work Matter
[Excerpt from The Culture Question] When our children begin school, we anticipate that they will make friends, and we are sad for them if they don’t. When they become teenagers, we hope they will identify with healthy peer groups, and we worry about them if they fall in with the wrong crowd. When our parents grow elderly, we worry about … Read More
How to Talk About the Elephant in the Room
I’ve facilitated a fair number of high-stakes conversations over the years and am always struck when organizations ask me to lead a discussion about the elephant in the room. Rather than needing help with a conflict or to identify specific problems, they are simply asking me to start a conversation about a problem they are all aware of but can’t … Read More
How to Stay Focused on Your Work
I’ve become increasingly aware of how many distractions many of us encounter at work. With all the messaging apps, emails, phone calls, and Zoom meetings, there are so many possible interruptions that can prevent us from being productive. This is why one of the most important things I’ve learned over the last several years is how to stay focused. I … Read More
How to Embrace Change
Change and unpredictability can sometimes weave their way into nearly every facet of life. Whether it’s one’s career, workplace, finances, family life, or social interactions, there are often no scripts for navigating the world our new normal. The constant change and need to adapt has felt chaotic, leaving me to merely tolerate it and pivot accordingly when required. When we … Read More
Why Reading Together Is Important
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
