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”

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”

Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity on Your Team

Image: University of Washington In your work on teams, have you ever been surprised by someone else’s ability to see patterns in data? Or when someone has pointed out a detail that everyone else has missed? Have you been struck by team members’ ability to see things differently, and the value that’s added to theContinue reading “Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity on Your Team”

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”?”

How to Make Your Bed at Work

You’ve probably heard axioms along the lines of “success starts with making your bed.” You may have even seen the popular 2014 University of Texas at Austin Commencement address by Naval Admiral William H. McRaven, which has inspired thousands of people to make their beds each morning when they first wake up. But whether or not youContinue reading “How to Make Your Bed at Work”

Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership

While the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US has a controversial history and our cultural retelling of it is inaccurate, the traditional Thanksgiving meal can help us reflect on how we lead others. So this week we’ll partake in our annual tradition of revisiting the ideas of Banquet Leadership, Potluck Leadership, and the hybrid model we call ThanksgivingContinue reading “Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership”

Honoring Years of Service while Seeking Fresh Perspectives

Think back to when you started working for your current employer, even if it was in a different role than you currently hold. How long did it take for you to go from feeling like the newbie to feeling like you belong? How long were you aware of your time in the organization (“I startedContinue reading “Honoring Years of Service while Seeking Fresh Perspectives”

Using Your Team’s Previous Work Cultures to Build a Better One

During a series of team building activities with a client this week, it was noticeable that one newer member of the group shared ideas that were shut down or ignored by the rest of the group – including the director of the department. Rather than point that out in the moment, I let the groupContinue reading “Using Your Team’s Previous Work Cultures to Build a Better One”

Blazing a Trail, and Turning it into a Highway

“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg This week brings the third anniversary of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Of course, the political make-up of the Supreme Court has changed dramatically in that time, butContinue reading “Blazing a Trail, and Turning it into a Highway”