The Secret Danger of Complaining.

How many times a day do you complain?  Weather, traffic, work, kids, spouse? Do you find yourself complaining more and more?  It’s not unusual, especially with everything that has been going on in our world.  It’s so easy to find something to dish about.  People who are self-aware know the dangers that complaining can cause.…

Continue Reading...

Overcoming Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk is an inner dialogue you have with yourself that may be limiting your ability to believe in yourself and your own abilities and to reach your potential. In this episode of Lead Me On, we discuss the effects of negative self-talk and how to overcome them. As leaders, we have a lot of…

Continue Reading...

Stop Doing That! Multi-Task Mythbusters

For those of you that think multitasking is a superpower. Listen in to learn why multitasking is more kryptonite than a cape. Lori King-Taylor and Lori Gorrell bust several multitasking myths in this episode. Practical Solutions for Extraordinary Leadership: Time block in your calendar for tactical items – not just meetings. Shut off notifications and…

Continue Reading...

How to Hire for Emotional Intelligence

There is no doubt, people who understand and manage their own emotions and can relate to others well make better leaders.   These individuals are better able to handle stress, overcome obstacles and create effective relationships with their teams.  So why wouldn’t you want to seek these leaders out and bring them into your organization?…

Continue Reading...

Strategies for Dealing with a Toxic Boss

Chances are many of you have had what we would call a toxic boss. In fact, research shows that 75 percent of Americans say their boss is the most stressful part of their workday.  In this episode, we will discuss coping strategies for working with a toxic boss. If you are a leader who wants…

Continue Reading...

Leading Toxic Employees

Toxic employees are common enough in the workplace but that doesn’t mean we should let them bring everyone down. This episode focuses on a few simple strategies to overcome and lead through the toxicity. If you are a leader who wants to increase your capability to lead with greater impact and influence, this podcast will…

Continue Reading...

Self Care as a Leader

In this particular time of year, we as leaders are so busy on our regular day-to-day tasks at work and on top of that, trying to do end-of-year planning for the next year that we forgot to check internally on ourselves and possibly our team.  If you are a leader who wants to increase your…

Continue Reading...

Self Care as a Leader

In this particular time of year, we as leaders are so busy on our regular day-to-day tasks at work and on top of that, trying to do end-of-year planning for the next year that we forgot to check internally on ourselves and possibly our team.  If you are a leader who wants to increase your…

Continue Reading...

Ep 18: Motivated Employees: What you can do as a Leader

Recent Gallup data shows that only 33 percent of all workers in the U.S. are engaged in the workplace. Unfortunately for businesses, the cost of this disengagement is high.  As a leader, you’re likely aware of the negative impact of disengaged employees. What you may not know, though, is how to go about creating an…

Continue Reading...

The Five Qualities of a Successful“QuaranTeam”

Working with teams has always had its challenges, but working in a virtual environment has a new set of issues we may not have even considered.  Taking a page from Patrick Lencioni’s 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, here are some tips for dealing with your virtual team. Trust – As with any team, the…

Continue Reading...

Dealing with Toxic People

We all have those people in our lives that thrive off drama.  They appear to live for the next big crisis and if one doesn’t appear, they will create one.  Being around individuals like this can cause us a great deal of stress.  Just a few days of exposure to stress can affect the part…

Continue Reading...

Using Emotional Intelligence During Times of Turmoil

I was talking with a friend of mine yesterday. As most people are doing these days, we got to discussing the Corona Virus issue.  She said, “I was in the grocery store yesterday to pick up a couple of things, and all of a sudden, I was grabbing things I didn’t even need.”  She went…

Continue Reading...

Lean In

On any given day, something can happen to us that causes us to feel frustrated, unhappy, angry.  It could be a difficult conversation that we had with a co-worker or boss, overhearing unkind remarks that were made about us or even sitting through a meeting and listening to someone dominate the conversation to make themselves…

Continue Reading...

Sleep and the Effects on Your Brain

Want to be an energetic, healthy beast of a professional? Then look to your sleep performance. Sleep is vital to peak performance. I know you have heard more times than you can count how important sleep is. But have you ever really stopped to consider what optimized sleep or lack thereof can actually do to…

Continue Reading...

Believe in You

Several years ago, I enjoyed reading the book The Help and one of my favorite quotes was when Abeline would repeatedly say to the young girl in her charge, “You is Kind. You is smart. You is important.”  And then she would have the little girl repeat those words back.  This was Abeline’s way of building confidence…

Continue Reading...

For a Higher Purpose

This week, I had the immense pleasure of accompanying my son, and his 7th grade class on a trip to Washington D.C. Studying about our Founding Fathers has reminded me of a true example of grace under fire. It is convenient for us to view their accomplishments from the comfort of knowing how great the…

Continue Reading...

The Power of Self-Assessment

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is the gift of self-assessment.  Self-assessment is the ability to examine yourself and developing a straight forward and honest understanding of what makes you tick, in other words, to know who you really are.   Through self-assessment, you are able to peel back the layers and become more aware…

Continue Reading...

The Brain Game: Arrest & Redirect

Do you encounter those times when you know you should do something, but something inside keeps you from moving forward? Do we make excuses on why we can’t act upon the desire? The reason is, we think too much! When a thought enters our brain, we either think about it, or we act upon it. Contrary to public…

Continue Reading...

Making Resolutions Stick

Every January most of us set a New Year’s Resolution or goals for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, according to studies, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail and only 8% of people actually achieve their goals.  So, what can we actually do to reach our goals? First off, achieving a goal requires us to change our…

Continue Reading...

Dealing with Toxic People: Superpowers Leaders Need

Unfortunately, toxic people are everywhere and all of us know at least one or two of these individuals and many of us are forced to work with them or engage with them on a social level.  They bring their poisoning drama into our lives uninvited and then leave a trail of unwanted fumes when they…

Continue Reading...

Hiring For Emotional Intelligence

The phrase Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has been around for a few years now.   Many may have a good understanding of what Emotional Intelligence actual is, however, but have you considered EQ’s role in your hiring process? Research Research has shown that people who manage and understand their emotions and can identify the emotions of…

Continue Reading...

Limitations to the Rational Model Approach

In our previous discussion of mental models we talked about two types. In this post I want to digress and discuss some problems and limitations that come from applying the Rational Model approach. Many people, especially those with technical backgrounds, will equate systems thinking with a rational approach. In their seminal management book, In Search…

Continue Reading...

When is Conflict Productive?

When you think of conflict, what are the words you usually associate with it? Fighting, anger, discomfort, hostility? Webster defines conflict as competitive or opposing action of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons); mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands; the…

Continue Reading...