Who would have thought that so much would happen on July 12, 2022? Between the astounding deep space images NASA is releasing from the James Webb Space Telescope, the seventh public hearing from the January 6th Committee into last year’s attack on the U.S. Capitol, the funeral of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, protestsContinue reading “The “Endless Present” and the War for Our Attention”
Category Archives: Blind Spots
Busyness – The Toxic Badge of Honor
When someone asks how you are, does your mind instantly bring to mind the word “busy”? If so, you’re not alone. Busyness is a constant feeling in so many of our lives. Indeed, it’s a vortex that we seem to get sucked down into more with every passing season. For a small number of us,Continue reading “Busyness – The Toxic Badge of Honor”
Happy Pride Month! – and the Iceberg of Invisible Identities
In the United States and in many other parts of the world, this week marks the beginning of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The first Pride March was held on June 28, 1970, to mark the one-year anniversary of the six-day Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a turning point in queer history. As such, it’s important to rememberContinue reading “Happy Pride Month! – and the Iceberg of Invisible Identities”
The ‘Thought-Stoppers’ That End Conversation
How do you transition out of a conversation about an unresolved issue? Some of us do it more gracefully than others, but chances are you have a few stock phrases you use to signal that you’re ready for the conversation to end. Sometimes these phrases take the form of folk wisdom: “It is what itContinue reading “The ‘Thought-Stoppers’ That End Conversation”
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”
“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””
Annexation, Invasion and Sanctions in the Microcosm of the Workplace
Watching and reading about the ongoing situation in Ukraine, it is only natural to be heartbroken and anxious about the lives at stake there. The understandable tendency is to see the Russian leadership, troops and aggressors as ‘the bad guys,’ ‘the villains,’ or possibly even ‘evil.’ Some of us may like to believe that surelyContinue reading “Annexation, Invasion and Sanctions in the Microcosm of the Workplace”
Tuning in to Your Team’s Communication Preferences
For many of us, the days of bumping into colleagues in your workplace’s hallway or break room feel like a lifetime ago. These organic interactions either replaced by more formal communications or not replaced at all. Emails, Slack, Discord, and even texts… while statistics aren’t easy to quantify, the majority of workplace communication in theContinue reading “Tuning in to Your Team’s Communication Preferences”
Building Bridges Leadership 