We’ve all had mentors. And whether or not you’ve ever held an official title of “mentor,” all of us have at one point or another served as a mentor for others. If you’re a parent, mentoring is intrinsically woven into your daily life – even as your child becomes an adult in their own right.Continue reading “How Has Mentoring Others Grown You?”
Category Archives: Perspectives
“Teach Me Your Name”
In a few different workshop settings over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to take part in variations of the same activity. Whether in a group or in a partnership, each person has the chance to “teach me your name.” This starts off as a simple exercise in sharing your full name andContinue reading ““Teach Me Your Name””
Annexation, Invasion and Sanctions in the Microcosm of the Workplace
Watching and reading about the ongoing situation in Ukraine, it is only natural to be heartbroken and anxious about the lives at stake there. The understandable tendency is to see the Russian leadership, troops and aggressors as ‘the bad guys,’ ‘the villains,’ or possibly even ‘evil.’ Some of us may like to believe that surelyContinue reading “Annexation, Invasion and Sanctions in the Microcosm of the Workplace”
Tuning in to Your Team’s Communication Preferences
For many of us, the days of bumping into colleagues in your workplace’s hallway or break room feel like a lifetime ago. These organic interactions either replaced by more formal communications or not replaced at all. Emails, Slack, Discord, and even texts… while statistics aren’t easy to quantify, the majority of workplace communication in theContinue reading “Tuning in to Your Team’s Communication Preferences”
Dr. King, and Sitting in Difficult Truths
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a chance each year to reflect and take action on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality. While Dr. King is rightfully held up as a legendary and inspirational figure, this often results in him being seen as a more-than-human icon, memorialized in carefullyContinue reading “Dr. King, and Sitting in Difficult Truths”
Using the Tool of “Turn and Learn” in Meetings
Have you ever spoken up about an important topic in a meeting only to feel misunderstood? Maybe you didn’t articulate it as well as you wanted, or you just felt like the other people in the meeting focused on the wrong part of what you said. Perhaps you’ve spoken in response to a challenging topicContinue reading “Using the Tool of “Turn and Learn” in Meetings”
Social-Emotional Learning in Your Work Team
Which squirrel are you today? If that question means nothing to you, you probably haven’t seen the “squirrel scale” – a fun check-in tool used by some schools during remote learning. I was reminded of this tool recently while working with a group of middle and high school teachers, during a workshop focused on buildingContinue reading “Social-Emotional Learning in Your Work Team”
How Have the People Around You Made You Better?
When was the last time a group of people let you know the difference you’ve made in their lives? Or showered you in praise while pointing out the particular contributions you’ve made to them? Most of us only experience that when leaving a job after a long time, and/or at our funeral when there’s noContinue reading “How Have the People Around You Made You Better?”
Team Creativity in Times of Challenge
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has often talked about how the challenges she has faced throughout her life have contributed to her lyrics and music; most notably her struggle with mental health and the value that years of therapy has provided for her. Not coincidentally, the cover art of her 1994 album ‘Turbulent Indigo‘ is a self-portraitContinue reading “Team Creativity in Times of Challenge”
Micro-Mentoring – What it is, and How to Make it Work at Work
Do you ever marvel at a colleague’s work and think to yourself “I could never do that?” Have you ever been amazed by someone else’s slideshow presentation and then felt clueless when creating your own? Has a friend at work ever casually walked you through the steps of how to do something you’ve never understoodContinue reading “Micro-Mentoring – What it is, and How to Make it Work at Work”
Building Bridges Leadership 