• A Coaching Story

    Situation: Sharon and her husband had been running a family-owned business for almost 20 years. Over the years, the business began failing. Having lost a major client, not being able to keep up with expensive technology, and competing with other larger companies who were able to produce faster...
    Situation: Lenny was a new coaching client that had just been promoted to a new position, previously held by Brenda (A Coaching Story XII) who was also just promoted. This was going to be a real stretch from what he had been doing before – at a new location in a new state. Having worked with...
    Situation: Brenda came to her new position as the leader of operations at a work site. Her predecessor, Mike, was being moved into a new position as a final step before his imminent retirement. This decision was made by their manager, Keith. Keith felt that it would be helpful to have Mike and...
  • Coaching

    2023年4月4日
    Isn’t life moving faster than ever? Don’t we see it in every part of our lives? Everyone around us is also moving a fast pace. Technology was supposed to make our lives easier. Phones ring. Emails interrupt us. Texts fly in. To slow down takes a major effort. In coaching it’s all about...
    A close friend shared this inspirational message. A new year has begun. A great deal of pressure is placed on this big change. People expect changes to happen in their lives, expect new opportunities and perhaps a redefined hope that may be generally hard to find. A date in the calendar alone...
    Once when I was a leader in a networking group, my cell phone rang on the way to a weekly meeting. The member was calling to let me know that he had a tire blowout and was not going to make the meeting that morning. He also shared that he’d been procrastinating taking care of his vehicle and...
  • Communication

    Every day and in every situation, we are at a crossroads, whether it’s apparent or not. We can either go in one direction or another. We can enter the situation with a focus on what is positive, or we can move towards the darker side. Nothing is ever perfect but how about “pretty darn good” -...
    2024年2月6日
    In customer service training, they often share that a smile can be “heard” over the telephone. And in today’s world, this transcends to our electronic communication as well – email, texting, etc. So why exactly is this true? Physically, when we smile, we are sending a message to our own bodies...
    2024年1月23日
    Wow! This is a topic about which I could write several posts. We have boundaries in our personal lives and in our professional lives as well. When American pioneers first began going out West to settle in wide open spaces, they would often set up fences around their property. These fences would...
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  • Conflict

    2024年1月23日
    Wow! This is a topic about which I could write several posts. We have boundaries in our personal lives and in our professional lives as well. When American pioneers first began going out West to settle in wide open spaces, they would often set up fences around their property. These fences would...
    Today’s message is an excerpt from The Manager’s Conflict Resolution Handbook; Geller and Cottrell. Get all the facts and clearly identify the problem.Encourage people to challenge the status quo so that all different opinions are on the table from the outset.Do your best to see the positive in...
    2023年2月21日
    We could all learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors; but they all must live in the same box. Agile emotional intelligence is the ability to read the emotional and interpersonal needs of a situation and...
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  • Customer Service

    2024年2月6日
    In customer service training, they often share that a smile can be “heard” over the telephone....
    As I was cruising down the interstate this week, a striking company slogan emblazoned on the side...
    2023年5月9日
    When I travel for business or leisure, I expect a clean, comfortable, and quiet room. Once when...
  • Diversity

    The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration for many faiths. From November 1st to January 15th, there are approximately 29 holidays observed by 7 of the world's major religions. With such rich diversity, how can we be inclusive in our holiday greetings?   I choose to wish people "Happy...
    When interacting with others professionally or personally, consider, that like we do, they have their strengths and they have their areas of development. We all do! If we look at others with a sense of understanding rather than blame, we’d all be better off. If we think about it, is it that they...
    2020年7月14日
    For the longest time, when organizations looked at diversity, they focused on race and gender. Add ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, language, family, culture, region, and so on. Multi-generational issues is a hot topic right now, helping people understand that there are differences in how...
  • Expectations

    2024年1月23日
    Wow! This is a topic about which I could write several posts. We have boundaries in our personal lives and in our professional lives as well. When American pioneers first began going out West to settle in wide open spaces, they would often set up fences around their property. These fences would...
    When we use the word “if” in our vocabulary, we are bringing in the possibility of non-occurrence and this has a foundation in doubt. When you are speaking or simply thinking about what you want, consider choosing the word “when” instead. It’s a simple difference but look at the impact of the...
    In the dynamic landscape of professional life, navigating through challenges often feels like steering through the unpredictable winds during a plane journey. Have you ever found yourself caught in the turbulence of unexpected obstacles, feeling like every step forward is met with an equal force...
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  • Goal Setting

    Every day and in every situation, we are at a crossroads, whether it’s apparent or not. We can either go in one direction or another. We can enter the situation with a focus on what is positive, or we can move towards the darker side. Nothing is ever perfect but how about “pretty darn good” -...
    When we use the word “if” in our vocabulary, we are bringing in the possibility of non-occurrence and this has a foundation in doubt. When you are speaking or simply thinking about what you want, consider choosing the word “when” instead. It’s a simple difference but look at the impact of the...
    2023年12月19日
    In the world of Human Resources, we are constantly navigating the ever-evolving dynamics of the workplace. Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily operations, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture: the impact of our work on the lives and well-being of individuals. As we delve deeper into...
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  • Motivation

    When we are young and just entering the workforce, we often have ideals and enthusiasm for how great things are going to be. After a while in our first, second, or perhaps fifth job, we begin to realize that things may not be just so because others don’t share our perspective. Quickly we can...
    2023年6月13日
    Happy Flag Day! Like many of you who are experiencing milestones with family and friends, years ago we attended our niece’s 8th grade graduation. During the ceremony, the principal reminded everyone of the daily ritual of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and their own school’s Pledge. Would...
    For some time now, I have been playing Solitaire (the card game) again. As a child, I remember learning it, and a variation of it, from grandparents on both sides of my family. In Russian, it was called “Patience”. Fast forward to a world that my grandparents could have never imagined – with...
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  • Networking

    Once when visiting family and friends in Illinois (outside of St. Louis), a cousin’s daughter shared that at her high school, they are all issued laptops on which to take notes in their classes. They also had all their textbooks loaded which was probably a positive thing. She shared that she...
    A few years ago, a professional colleague approached me since she was in transition, having just lost her job. We were members of the same professional organization, but she was prohibited from attending on a regular basis by her supervisor who was also a member. So, she was turning to me for...
    In business, I have many opportunities to meet new people and to network. At a recent professional meeting, someone I did not know sat next to me. After we exchanged names and where we work, the didactic exchange was soon over. From that point on, this individual continued talking about himself...
  • Obstacles

    In the dynamic landscape of professional life, navigating through challenges often feels like steering through the unpredictable winds during a plane journey. Have you ever found yourself caught in the turbulence of unexpected obstacles, feeling like every step forward is met with an equal force...
    Picture this: a bustling office, the hum of productivity filling the air, emails zipping back and forth, and suddenly - a glitch in the system. It's the kind of hiccup that prompts a deeper reflection on our reliance on technology in the workplace.   Just recently, my company's server hit a snag,...
    For several years, I supported my local HR professional colleagues by facilitating study group sessions in preparation for a credentialing exam. Then, our national organization shifted gears and created a new certification. There were other areas but some of the covered material was organized in...
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  • Self-Improvement

    2023年12月19日
    In the world of Human Resources, we are constantly navigating the ever-evolving dynamics of the workplace. Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily operations, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture: the impact of our work on the lives and well-being of individuals. As we delve deeper into...
    As I was cruising down the interstate this week, a striking company slogan emblazoned on the side of a passing truck grabbed my attention: "Our Driving Force Is Our People." Undoubtedly, it's a catchy slogan for a trucking company, but it got me pondering – could this statement hold true for...
    For several years, I supported my local HR professional colleagues by facilitating study group sessions in preparation for a credentialing exam. Then, our national organization shifted gears and created a new certification. There were other areas but some of the covered material was organized in...
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  • Stress

    2023年12月19日
    In the world of Human Resources, we are constantly navigating the ever-evolving dynamics of the workplace. Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily operations, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture: the impact of our work on the lives and well-being of individuals. As we delve deeper into...
    2023年7月11日
    When sailing on a cruise, you are assigned a fob or a cruise card. When you check in, you are provided with this item. It has your name on it and a few other details but not your cabin room, for security. You use it to enter your cabin, leave/return to the ship at ports (your photo is linked so...
    Today, we’d like you to turn your attention to our furry, scaly, and feathery friends. We’d like to ensure that we take extra care to be kind to the other animals in our environment.   If you are the owner of a furry friend such as a cat, dog, gerbil, or bunny, how about giving them an extra...
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  • Team Work

    Our culture tends to emphasize the contributions of the individual and while these should not be ignored, the efforts of the team as a group with the varying contributions are important, too. Sometimes, they are just as or even more important. We tend to idolize the one instead of the many; the...
    2022年11月8日
    You know the routine: something goes wrong with your computer, your phone system, or your electric pencil sharpener, and the first thing you do is call IT. But these hardworking denizens of your company’s basement rarely ever get a call when things are just fine and working smoothly the other...
    When asked, “What was the difference between being a top soldier and top diplomat?” in an interview for US News & World Report Weekly, Colin Powell answered, “The basic principles of leadership and management are the same: have a common purpose, get everybody aligned in that purpose, treat your...
  • Time Management

    2023年4月4日
    Isn’t life moving faster than ever? Don’t we see it in every part of our lives? Everyone around us is also moving a fast pace. Technology was supposed to make our lives easier. Phones ring. Emails interrupt us. Texts fly in. To slow down takes a major effort. In coaching it’s all about...
    Once when I was a leader in a networking group, my cell phone rang on the way to a weekly meeting. The member was calling to let me know that he had a tire blowout and was not going to make the meeting that morning. He also shared that he’d been procrastinating taking care of his vehicle and...
    2021年10月5日
    Isn’t putting things off to tomorrow or the next day simply putting things off? Isn’t it simply human nature to avoid the things we don’t like doing or that we possibly see little value in accomplishing for others or even ourselves? When we accept what actually is, we have the opportunity to move...
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  • Work Styles

    2024年2月6日
    In customer service training, they often share that a smile can be “heard” over the telephone. And in today’s world, this transcends to our electronic communication as well – email, texting, etc. So why exactly is this true? Physically, when we smile, we are sending a message to our own bodies...
    In the dynamic landscape of professional life, navigating through challenges often feels like steering through the unpredictable winds during a plane journey. Have you ever found yourself caught in the turbulence of unexpected obstacles, feeling like every step forward is met with an equal force...
    Once when visiting family and friends in Illinois (outside of St. Louis), a cousin’s daughter shared that at her high school, they are all issued laptops on which to take notes in their classes. They also had all their textbooks loaded which was probably a positive thing. She shared that she...
    More Posts