Often when we look back at our life experiences, we can see signs of our strengths emerging early on. I vividly remember getting into an intense conversation with a good friend one day in high school. He felt passionately about the issue and so did I, but our debate remained respectful. At the end of the conversation, he looked at … Read More
4 Reasons Leaders Should Take Time Off
As leaders, many of us like the idea of taking time off, but we often hesitate to take a break when we move into leadership or supervisory roles. This is unfortunate, since not only have we earned that time off – it’s likely required for our well-being. Leaders often have the misassumption that they are indispensable to their team or … Read More
Why Vulnerability Makes a Better Leader
Early in my leadership role at ACHIEVE, I had an experience that shaped my understanding of what it means to be a good leader. A new staff person made a mistake that cost our organization a few hundred dollars. Understandably, she was embarrassed and anxious about it. When she told my colleague (her boss) what had happened, my colleague’s response … Read More
5 Steps to Building a Great Team
Over the past few years, I have come to appreciate the value of connected and healthy teams in the workplace. This became especially clear to me when we successfully planned and ran our first major conference. Conferences require vision, data management, marketing, speaker coordination, coaching, customer service, and so much more. It takes a whole team of talented people who … Read More
6 Ways to Develop as a Leader
While I only cook about once a week, sometimes I like to try making something new beyond my go-to meals of spaghetti and hamburgers. By no means am I a chef, but I do have some cooking instincts. And given that I’m not very patient, I don’t have the desire to read long and convoluted recipes, and I definitely don’t … Read More
How to Address Workplace Concerns During the Pandemic
Are you a leader, employer, or manager? What kinds of challenges have been coming your way these days? I believe most people prior to the pandemic may have been somewhat envious of those in leadership positions. Leaders were able to garner respect and effect change in the particular sector they worked in. However, my guess is that most people now … Read More
3 Ways Leaders Can Support a Return to the Workplace
After over 15 months of working from home, many employees will be returning to their pre-COVID workplaces. With the rollout of vaccines and easing of public health restrictions, many workplaces are planning to return to a new normal when it comes to business operations. Some will be returning with high levels of anxiety and uncertainty about what the new normal … Read More
8 Truths About Leading Through Conflict
Early in my career, I worked as a mediator and saw firsthand how poorly managed conflict can impact a workplace. After years of simmering conflict, the owners of a welding business had finally decided to hire external mediators for some help. Many small unresolved grievances had built up over time amongst the staff, and when someone had a complaint about … Read More
4 Ways to Support Your Team During Stressful Times
I have worked in the health care field for 15 years and there has been no shortage of pressure, from increasing work demands to difficult situations with coworkers or customers requesting services that are outside the norm. Although some pressure can be helpful to motivate individuals, when stressors become long-term and/or unmanageable, leaders need to consider how they can mitigate … Read More
Why Clarity in Decision-Making is Crucial
“I’m so frustrated!” exclaimed the person I was speaking with. “I can’t believe I even bothered to say anything at the meeting. They already knew what decision they were going to make. They just held the meeting to pretend they cared about what we had to say!” Unfortunately, I’ve heard this sentiment many times throughout my experiences as an organizational … Read More
