How does the beginning of a new academic year affect you? Even if you don’t have children or work in academia yourself, it might be impacting you more than you realize. If you have children of any age – or if you are a student or an educator yourself – the beginning of a newContinue reading “Workplace Empathy in the New Academic Year”
Category Archives: Communication
Creating a ‘Closing Ceremony’ for Work
How often do you reach the end of a team or solo project that has taken hours, weeks, or even months, and move straight on to the next thing? If this is common for you, is this invigorating and motivating? For some of us, it is – we get momentum and forward motion that kick-startsContinue reading “Creating a ‘Closing Ceremony’ for Work”
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”
One Simple Action for Any Difficult Conversation
How many times have you sat with someone face-to-face – maybe with a desk between you – to have a challenging conversation? For many of us, the answer might be in the hundreds, or even thousands. Perhaps you’re someone who handles difficult conversations with ease – through a combination of training and real-life experience, youContinue reading “One Simple Action for Any Difficult Conversation”
Lessons from the Life of John Lewis
If you’re reaching the end of your school year, or even graduating from a program, congratulations! It is a major achievement, and of course, no one earns a degree alone – your family and friends have every reason to celebrate too! As many of the universities in our area are in the midst of graduationContinue reading “Lessons from the Life of John Lewis”
Becoming 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 “Becoming a Mental Health Ally for Your Colleagues (and Yourself!)”
What’s Your “Tiffany Problem”?
If you were reading a fantasy novel or watching a show set in medieval times, and a character was introduced as “Tiffany,” what would your reaction be? Chances are, it might stick out like a Starbucks cup in Game of Thrones. This is because Tiffany is thought of by most people as a modern-sounding nameContinue reading “What’s Your “Tiffany Problem”?”
Beliefs You Hold About the Co-Workers You’ve Never Met
What beliefs do you hold about the co-workers you’ve never met? How might that impact your work together? What would change if you met in person?
Rely on Your Training and Articulate Your Next Steps
What are some intense situations you’ve faced over the last year? How have you handled them? Were these situations that you’d been prepared for? Were you trained for them in some way? As part of my repertoire of facilitation and coaching, I often lead groups at an outdoor challenge course, offering team building experiences andContinue reading “Rely on Your Training and Articulate Your Next Steps”
Trevor Noah on Text, Voice, and Recalibrating Tone
Have you ever received a message from someone at work and interpreted the tone as angry, terse, or upset, leaving you stewing for days over what you did that caused that response, or how your reputation or relationships might be damaged as a result? On the flip side, have you ever sent a quick textContinue reading “Trevor Noah on Text, Voice, and Recalibrating Tone”
Building Bridges Leadership 