Authenticity – Building Bridges Leadership

Who are Your Unsung Heroes of the Year?

Neon sign saying "We can be heroes / Just for one day"

If you’ve been reading the Building Bridges Leadership blog for a while, you may remember the Good News Jam series we started in April 2020, at the early height of the Covid pandemic (inspired by John Krasinski’s own pandemic YouTube series, Some Good News). These virtual happy hours had a simple design: for each personContinue reading “Who are Your Unsung Heroes of the Year?”

100 More Ice-Breaker Questions for Any Group Gathering

Each week in our newsletter we include one question you can use as an ice-breaker for conversations with colleagues at the beginning of meetings, or to post on your internal workplace messaging platform. Some serious, some silly, but all with the intention of leading to further conversations and building community. Last year at this time,Continue reading “100 More Ice-Breaker Questions for Any Group Gathering”

Rewinding “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?”

Have you been on either side of a job interview recently? As mentioned last week, job interviews don’t always show the candidate at their best or most authentic; heightened stress and excitement often lead to a situation where both sides need to sift through what was said to get to find out if this isContinue reading “Rewinding “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?””

Noticing Potential, Promise, and Authenticity

Formal, structured conversations have a particular feeling unlike any other. Think of job interviews. How many have you been a part of – either as the interviewee or one of the interviewers? Remember the tension in the air? The desire to impress? The fear of screwing up? Role-plays are a regular feature of my executiveContinue reading “Noticing Potential, Promise, and Authenticity”

Mosaics, Not Melting Pots

I’m writing this from the window seat of a red eye flight, following a work retreat in Hawai’i, on the island of O’ahu. This was my first time in the state, and I was struck by the vibrancy and beauty of Polynesian culture that stands proud long after American and European businessmen overthrew the monarchyContinue reading “Mosaics, Not Melting Pots”

Experiencing Some Distrust in Leadership?

Photo of a chess board; the white pieces are all in their starting pieces; a lone black pawn faces them.

Over the last few weeks I have had several conversations with people in different (for-profit and non-profit) fields with a similar theme: distrust in leadership. In some cases this has come out as targeted public complaints about a figurehead; in others as a move toward a strike; in others a community cry for more transparencyContinue reading “Experiencing Some Distrust in Leadership?”

“There is No Such Thing as a Safe Space”

In the days since the killing of Charlie Kirk (and its widespread viewing on social media) – as well as the clear differences in the messages people took from his words prompting discussions about context and the algorithms we’re all subject to – this seemed like a good week to revisit this Building Bridges LeadershipContinue reading ““There is No Such Thing as a Safe Space””

How to be a Lighthouse Manager

The base of a lighthouse is surrounded by huge waves buffeting it from behind. Inside the open doorway, facing the camera, is a small figure - the lighthouse keeper.

Are you familiar with the idea of helicopter parenting? The stereotype is that Helicopter Parents hover around their child, checking up on them and regularly swooping in to solve their problems. If you’re a parent, perhaps you even recognize this in yourself – especially with your first child, this is a very common trait. But,Continue reading “How to be a Lighthouse Manager”

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Picture of five leaves, each in a different state of color change from green to red to brown.

My oldest child moved in to his college dorm room this week for his freshman year – a huge step for him, and a big change for our family. Even if you haven’t experienced that change as a parent of your own child, you may have memories of your own first day of living inContinue reading “The Times They Are A-Changin’”

Micro-Retirement and NUA: “Garbage Language” in the Workplace

I wonder if you saw Fast Company’s recent piece on the Gen Z trend of “Micro-Retirement,” and if so, I wonder if you had the same reaction to it that so many others did to one particular piece. “Micro-retirements involve taking a one to two-week break from work every 12 to 18 months,” the pieceContinue reading “Micro-Retirement and NUA: “Garbage Language” in the Workplace”