Last week I received a lovely email from a woman who participated in my webinar. She let me know that the content I shared made a big impact on her and she’s looking forward to putting the concepts to work in her life. Today, as I was feeling low and lacking motivation, I re-read that email. It literally turned my day around and got me thinking about the wisdom of collecting these little notes as […]
You Need a Smile File Read More »
The brilliant Simon Sinek implores us to “Start With Why”. It’s a question that’s intended to drill right to the heart of our purpose. When used effectively, “why” helps us create a vision that’s infused with energy and supported by passion. Unfortunately, that’s not how most people use “why”. “Why did you do it that way?” could simply be a bid for understanding. But with just the slightest change in tone, emphasis or even body
The Impact of Asking “Why” Questions Read More »
I reconnected with a friend this morning. My first question was, “How do you like your new job?” Without missing a beat, she replied, “I love my job – I have the best boss I’ve had in 20 years!” She went on to speak about the work, the company, her co-workers, and then came back around to speak more about this fabulous boss. Once again, I’m reminded of what a difference it makes when you
A Great Job Starts With A Great Boss Read More »
It sounds simple, but it’s not easy. It takes effort and intention to identify your values and then arrange your life to align with those priorities. Check out this short video for more insights about living in alignment with your values.
The Secret to Happiness Is… Read More »
There seems to be lots of confusion about the differences between training, mentoring and coaching. I see leaders claiming that they are “coaching” their team when they are training or mentoring. Using a coach approach can make a huge difference in a team’s engagement and results, so it’s important to recognize when you are actually coaching. I’ve come up with three simple phrases to help you identify which mode you are in at any time.
What’s the Difference Between Training, Mentoring and Coaching? Read More »
Nearly all of my clients tell me that lack of time is the obstacle that’s standing between where they are and where they want to be. It seems to be universal to the human experience. It’s likely that you experience this frustration as well. Unfortunately, I don’t have a time machine. I can’t give you any more than the 24 hours we all have in a day. The only magic wand I know of is
High Impact Activity Read More »
I recently had my favorite dining experience EVER at Colonie in Brooklyn, NY. While seated at the Chef’s Counter, I observed a team of chefs, kitchen staff and servers who worked as a calm, efficient and well-oiled machine. It was clear that each person knew exactly what was expected of them, and what they could expect from each other. The standards for the food and service were understood by all. And when things went wrong,
The Gift of Clarity Read More »
It had been a busy week and I was playing catch up. I hit “reply” to an email that had been sitting in my inbox for a few days. It wasn’t an urgent message, and I was sure the sender was not sitting around wondering why I hadn’t yet responded. I started my reply in default mode. “I’m so sorry for my delayed response…” And then I stopped. I’ve been on a mission to help
Not Sorry, Grateful Read More »
For most people, New Year’s resolutions just don’t work. Instead, create a vision for 2019 that excites and inspires you. That vision, combined with your dedication to making it a reality, can change your life. Before we start our next journey around the sun, take time to reflect on what has gone well and how you’ve grown through your successes and your failures in 2018. Then, from this place of clarity about where you’ve been, set your
Set a New Year’s Vision, Not a New Year’s Resolution Read More »
It’s Thanksgiving week, and people all over the U.S. are packing up to travel across the country or across town. Or maybe you’re opening your home, welcoming family and friends into your personal space. Perhaps not all of those relationships are in their finest form right now. Even when everyone is getting along well, tensions can still arise. Here are my top five tips for navigating these holiday gatherings. 1. Make and keep agreements. Don’t want to
Five Tips for Flourishing During the Holiday Season Read More »
Contrary to the notion that leadership is a capacity you’re born with (or not), research has proven that leadership can be understood, taught and practiced so that anyone can become a more effective leader. On my never-ending quest to understand how individuals can acquire these skills, I discovered The Work of Leaders, How Vision, Alignment and Execution Will Change the Way You Lead. The Work of Leaders model identifies tangible behaviors that can build one’s
Deepen your leadership mastery with the “Work of Leaders” model Read More »
Those four words form a powerful question that can make a difference for your team. The concept is surprisingly simple. During a meeting or conference call, each member of the team tells a brief story about something that went well for them since the last time the group met. You can set guidelines so that the story must be business-related, or you can leave it open to personal wins as well. The team can set a
What Was Your Win? Read More »
A Leadership Development Program for Women in Produce If you’ve spoken to me for more than 10 minutes, you probably already know that I’m passionate about the produce industry. Going to work for the National Watermelon Promotion Board in 2001 and later for the National Mango Board changed my life for the better in more ways than I can count. I found this industry to be overflowing with dynamic, generous, smart, caring people. I knew
Lean In To Leadership Read More »
How to capture your thoughts and unlock your potential. I was working outside recently and had a flash of insight. It was a powerful thought that seemed to come from nowhere, but in reality, I know it bubbled up from my subconscious. The topic was personal, so I won’t share the specifics, but this thought was exactly what I needed to hear at that time so I could move forward on a difficult situation. Our
A produce industry friend recently wrote about asking for what you want. I’m a true believer in this approach, and I appreciated the reminder. Today I’m asking you to raise your hand if you are curious about coaching. Most of you know that I left the National Mango Board (NMB) at the end of May to pursue my passion for coaching. Right now I’m completing a year-long coach training and certification program. During this period, I need
Asking For What I Need Read More »
When you hear, “high value”, what pops into your head? Don’t think too hard, just notice what comes up first. In our society, high value generally equates to things that have a large monetary value, such as an expensive home or the market price of a successful company. If someone is willing to pay a lot for something, we consider it to have high value. If that’s where your mind went, you’re not alone. I’d like
The High-Value Lens Read More »
It was early morning on July 4th when we discovered a problem with the washing machine. At some point during the four loads I had done the previous day, the washer had started leaking and dumped quite a lot of water onto the floor without us knowing it. The water went in between and under the floor planks and now the wood floor was damaged. And it was clear we would have to buy a
Choose Your Memory Of This Moment Read More »
Picture your life as if it’s a map. Maybe it’s a map at a theme park or a mall. Where you are right now is marked with a big red X. YOU ARE HERE. On the map, you can locate your next destination so you can navigate from where you are now to where you want to be. You wouldn’t bother trying to navigate from where you’ve been. All that matters at this moment is