The greatest compliment that was ever paid to me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer” ~ Henry David Thoreau I was anxiously waiting to meet my new ophthalmologist to help me with a confusing eye issue. He entered the room and viewed my name at the top of […]
I was driving down a two-lane road that cut through a dense, wet forest. It was raining and off in the distance I could see a person waving at the passing cars. This was not a Queen Elizabeth-style wrist-rotation wave, mind you—but a full-blown overhead-arching howdy-do to each car that drove by. I smiled in […]
Are you burning out from the entrepreneurial grind? That’s the question a friend asked recently, and I was startled. Burnout? Grind? Me? No! But her question got my attention. Thinking about it, the only time work became a grind was when I decided I’d be more effective and accepted if I were more like, well, […]
What does our professional work-life have in common with a bunch of strangers in the wilderness? Actually, a lot. Both require the ability to solve complicated stuff, under duress, for extended periods of time, while working with people we don’t necessarily understand or even like. Kinda like getting married before we’ve even had a chance […]
Last week, a dear friend who leads women’s coaching groups, sent me a photo of her web conference set-up. I laughed so hard I was crying. Renovations were going on outside her apartment windows and the only place to avoid the construction and jack hammers was, well, the bathroom. She was poised on the rim […]
We vacationed this summer on an island nestled on a remote lake in Maine. Guests had their own cottages and the lodge was the only location to access Wi-Fi. I had no phone service whatsoever. However, what I did have – we all had – was an abundance of hospitality from staff and guests alike. At […]
I did it again. This morning I watched helplessly as the steel cut oats violently erupted up and over the saucepan, splattering a frothy film that seared a hard crust all over the stove. A spectacular mess. This puzzles me because I’m an accomplished cook, as I should be. As former co-entrepreneur of an all-natural […]
Last month, I was the first to arrive at a facility where I’ve led trainings in the past. It was a frosty, New England morning, and also chilly inside. I poked my head into the kitchen and asked if I could turn up the heat. It was set at 60 degrees. The server responded that they […]
Feedback is an invaluable tool to enhance team and individual performance. It’s your gift of data to your team and directly tied to psychological safety. It’s also grossly misunderstood, undervalued and underutilized. According to psychologist Richard L. Williams, there are only two types of feedback that matter: Positive Feedback– For behavior repetition Corrective Feedback – […]