“Slavery Isn’t Part of My Country’s History…”

Living in the US, I find that people have a wide variety of reactions when they discover I was born and raised in the UK, whether they lived here their whole life or are immigrants themselves. Some are fascinated and some are curious. Quite often I find that the UK’s history of colonization has impactedContinue reading ““Slavery Isn’t Part of My Country’s History…””

When You’re Arguing on Different Tracks

How often have you found yourself in discussions or arguments where you and the other party were both convicted in their position, and there was no way to move forward? Perhaps you simply “agreed to disagree,” which seems positive but usually leaves each person feeling frustrated. In 2022, The Tipping Point and Outliers author MalcolmContinue reading “When You’re Arguing on Different Tracks”

Using Previous Work Cultures to Build a Better One

Have you ever shared an idea or a solution to a problem – maybe one you thought others would be excited by – only to have your suggestion summarily ignored? How did that feel? Have you ever noticed it happening to someone else? Sadly, this happens all too often, and for a multitude of reasons.Continue reading “Using Previous Work Cultures to Build a Better One”

The Pendulum, and Listening for Agreement in Others

How has the last week been for you? If you have felt unsettled by a changing political landscape here in the US (let alone earthquakes, or wildfires, or snow in places that rarely see any), you’re not the only one. And while people can reasonably disagree on a great many topics, it’s likely that ifContinue reading “The Pendulum, and Listening for Agreement in Others”

“Gender Ideology” and “the [X] Debate”

Several trans and non-binary colleagues and friends came to mind immediately upon hearing President Trump’s inaugural address stating that, “As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.” (Gender identity is widely recognized as a spectrum.) The Trump administration hasContinue reading ““Gender Ideology” and “the [X] Debate””

Who’s in Your “Human Library”?

How often have you felt judged by someone you barely know? How often have you formed an opinion of someone based on first impressions, only to be surprised later on as you spend more time with them and get to know them on a deeper level? Perhaps you’ve even had the experience of becoming goodContinue reading “Who’s in Your “Human Library”?”

Workplace Empathy in the New Academic Year

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”

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 is Triple Loop Learning?

Image source: Alex Atkinson Recently, my high school junior son co-founded a robotics team at school. After months of budgeting, securing sponsorship, building, and late-night coding (my son’s specialty), the team took part in their first regional competition. What they demonstrated was a perfect example of kaizen. Their early matches went well for a rookieContinue reading “What is Triple Loop Learning?”