If you didn’t follow the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, you missed out on some great games. But you may have also missed out on some leadership decisions that you might find useful to reflect on in your own workplace. In particular, mid-game decisions about when and how to replace tried and tested players withContinue reading “When to Sub in Your Rising Stars?”
Category Archives: Communication
“Where Are You From, Where Are Your People From?”
When meeting someone for the first time – knowing that you’ll be working with them for a while – what are your go-to opening lines in conversation? Do you ask where they live, what they do for work, how has their day been so far…? I recently learned from some acquaintances who moved from theContinue reading ““Where Are You From, Where Are Your People From?””
What is Cooperative Overlap? Isn’t It Just Interrupting?
Cooperative Overlap (or Collaborative Overlap) is a term coined by Georgetown University professor of linguistics and author Deborah Tannen, in which the listener starts talking along with the speaker, not to cut them off but rather to validate or show they’re engaged in what the other person is saying. In conversations, do you have aContinue reading “What is Cooperative Overlap? Isn’t It Just Interrupting?”
Are You a Seagull Manager?
As we rapidly approach summer in the Northern hemisphere, you may be thinking less about the office and more about the beach; less about work and more about relaxing in the sun, sand and water. We hope you have structures in place to be able to take a full break from work (one non-profit thatContinue reading “Are You a Seagull Manager?”
What is “Corporate Theater?” What Role are You Playing?
Corporate Theater is a term for when interactions take place politely in meetings with nodding and agreements, only for power brokers to swoop in afterwards to make changes behind the scenes. Have you ever left a meeting feeling that there was agreement on a path forward, only to learn later that others in the roomContinue reading “What is “Corporate Theater?” What Role are You Playing?”
“Make One Point, Not Ten”
Did you know there’s a difference between writing a ‘memoir’ and writing your ‘memoirs’? A memoir is a cohesive whole, with a story arc not unlike that of a novel, and often encompasses a smaller portion of the author’s life; memoirs usually refers to a more sprawling tome, covering several distinct sections of life. AsContinue reading ““Make One Point, Not Ten””
How to Give Feedback without Triggering the Fight or Flight Response
If you’re a parent, bring to mind the characteristics you see in your children that come from you – physical/character traits, or phrases they’ve learned up from hearing you say them over the course of years. Needless to say, your child is their own person; they are not you, but they are an expression ofContinue reading “How to Give Feedback without Triggering the Fight or Flight Response”
Revisiting the Idea of Being a “Student of…” (Not an “Expert in…”)
The idea of being a lifelong learner in your field – a “student of…” rather than an “expert in…” – has come up in a variety of contexts recently, so this seemed like a good time to revisit this article, originally posted in 2021. Have you ever started a conversation with a friend or familyContinue reading “Revisiting the Idea of Being a “Student of…” (Not an “Expert in…”)”
Which X-Men Leader do You Need as Your Work Partner: Storm or Cyclops?
“Who Will Lead Them?” read the caption on the front cover of Uncanny X-Men # 201 – one of the first comic books I bought as a then-9-year-old in 1986. The cover showed two characters battling for leadership of the team: Cyclops, the team’s original leader and a master strategist who had back-up plans forContinue reading “Which X-Men Leader do You Need as Your Work Partner: Storm or Cyclops?”
Hearing vs. Fixing: Are You Supporting How They Want to be Supported?
Have you ever shared a frustration, a sadness, or some other strong emotion with someone, only for that person to jump right into “fixing” mode? Or maybe even tell you why you shouldn’t feel that way? Maybe they even agree with you, but somehow their agreement feels diminishing of your own experience in some way.Continue reading “Hearing vs. Fixing: Are You Supporting How They Want to be Supported?”
Building Bridges Leadership 