Being a Mental Health Ally for Your Colleagues (and Yourself!)

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, each year millions of Americans (as many as 1 in 5) experience mental illness. In the past, many of us might have believed that mental health was a concern only for those with mental illness, but living through a lengthy pandemic, and all the stresses and repercussionsContinue reading “Being a Mental Health Ally for Your Colleagues (and Yourself!)”

Power Over, Power With, Power To/For, and Power Within

How many choices have you faced today? How many decisions have you made? Most have been subconscious – choosing to get out of bed, choosing to eat, choosing to meet your responsibilities. But each decision point has not been a foregone conclusion. Like a choose your own adventure book, you have faced choices dozens –Continue reading “Power Over, Power With, Power To/For, and Power Within”

The “Special Requests” of White People

When was the last time you made a special request because of your circumstances? Working in academia for fourteen years I saw a growing recognition of the need for accessibility services (like live transcription, or additional time for tests) to make the educational experience widely available for those who have traditionally been marginalized or discounted.Continue reading “The “Special Requests” of White People”

How Has Mentoring Others Grown You?

We’ve all had mentors. And whether or not you’ve ever held an official title of “mentor,” all of us have at one point or another served as a mentor for others. If you’re a parent, mentoring is intrinsically woven into your daily life – even as your child becomes an adult in their own right.Continue reading “How Has Mentoring Others Grown You?”

Remembering Rosemary Meehan Tator, 1950-2022

Rosemary Meehan Tator, one of the primary mentors for Building Bridges Leadership, passed away last week following a lengthy battle with cancer. Rosemary had a lot to offer teams who are looking to create authentic community in the workplace, especially as a woman business leader in male-dominated industries. Her 50-year career was full of teamContinue reading “Remembering Rosemary Meehan Tator, 1950-2022”

Listening During Liminality and Times of Transition

The Covid-19 pandemic brought a lengthy period of change and uncertainty – a seemingly endless time of forced flexibility. It brought the idea of liminality to our culture more so than at any other point in decades, as we all waited for a time when we would be able to see friends, or travel, getContinue reading “Listening During Liminality and Times of Transition”

Workplace Stretches to Reduce Stress

When was the last time you had a stress headache while working on a major project? Or felt tension in your stomach following an interaction with someone on your team? How do those physical sensations affect the rest of your day? Chances are they don’t support you succeed in your work or have life-giving interactionsContinue reading “Workplace Stretches to Reduce Stress”

Napping… at Work? How a Short Siesta Can Help Productivity

When you have a few free moments during the work day, what do you do? Do you get fresh air? Text a friend? Close your eyes and meditate? Stretch your muscles? Last week’s post about the Pomodoro Technique suggested that after each 25 minute stretch of focused work, you would be well served by aContinue reading “Napping… at Work? How a Short Siesta Can Help Productivity”

Having Trouble Focusing? Try the Pomodoro Technique

Have you been having trouble focusing recently? Whether your mind has been on the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fighting to save their families and their country, or you have been thinking about the complications, concerns, and possibilities of lifting Covid restrictions, it can be hard to stay on task these days. If you’re findingContinue reading “Having Trouble Focusing? Try the Pomodoro Technique”

“Teach Me Your Name”

In a few different workshop settings over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to take part in variations of the same activity. Whether in a group or in a partnership, each person has the chance to “teach me your name.” This starts off as a simple exercise in sharing your full name andContinue reading ““Teach Me Your Name””