The Popsicle Hotline

What is the Popsicle Hotline? And what might it offer us as we think about our work, both with external clients and internal colleagues? The Magic Castle Hotel in Los Angeles has found a way to stand out from the crowd of a busy LA hotel scene. It’s not an upscale hotel by any means,Continue reading “The Popsicle Hotline”

How to be a Lighthouse Manager

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”

What are Matching & Mirroring?

How often have you been with a close friend or family member and noticed after a while that you are sitting with the same posture, and matching each other’s tone as you talk? Do you notice this in others when you see best friends getting coffee together? Such behavior is often simply thought of asContinue reading “What are Matching & Mirroring?”

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”

Know any Seagull Managers?

As we experience record high temperatures this 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 workContinue reading “Know any Seagull Managers?”

How to Work with a Difficult Colleague

Many things can contribute to work being challenging, but most of us have had at least one experience where the people you work with make or break your experience. Sometimes a coworker or manager can really add to your experience and you’re grateful to be working with them – if so, great! Other times youContinue reading “How to Work with a Difficult Colleague”

“I Wonder…”

Photo credit: Brad Switzer / Unsplash How often have you been involved in a conversation where someone (perhaps you) moves quickly to problem-solving, and in doing so, they treat the presenting symptoms of the situation while missing the underlying cause of the problem? You might even find that in many cases you’re rewarded for comingContinue reading ““I Wonder…””

Leading People in a Time of Distraction

Photo credit: Mike Stewart/AP How often are you taking part in (or leading) a meeting but finding it hard to concentrate because of something happening in the wider world? How often have you noticed someone else in the meeting suddenly disappear – mentally, if not physically? With news feeling like drinking from a firehose theseContinue reading “Leading People in a Time of Distraction”

Mentoring Summer Interns, and Finding a New Mentor or Mentee for Yourself

As Summer quickly approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, your organization may be planning to bring on some interns for the season. Internships can provide incredible hands-on learning opportunities for young people looking to enter a field of work. Interns also bring value to the organization through their labor, their unique perspectives and lived experiences, andContinue reading “Mentoring Summer Interns, and Finding a New Mentor or Mentee for Yourself”

Is Your Constructive Feedback Developmental or Corrective?

Managers often give their direct reports constructive feedback. But in reality, constructive feedback takes two forms: Developmental feedback helps someone grow for the future. Corrective feedback lets them know something that needs to change. If you receive constructive feedback and it’s not clear whether it’s developmental or corrective, this can lead to longer-term problems. InContinue reading “Is Your Constructive Feedback Developmental or Corrective?”