“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”
Category Archives: Weekly Tips
Kaizen and the Art of Talk Show Maintenance
Are you familiar with the term “kaizen”? We’ve mentioned it on this blog a few times over the years and it comes up in my work with clients on an almost daily basis. It’s a Japanese word (in which it is written “改善”), with a literal translation of “good change,” or “change for better,” butContinue reading “Kaizen and the Art of Talk Show Maintenance”
Mapping the Rhythms of Your Year
It’s only the end of August, but in In New England, where I live, the seasons are already beginning to change. The hot Summer weather has started to give way to cooler temperatures. T-shirts are increasingly covered with jackets, or even sweaters. And schools and universities are back in session. The beginning of the academicContinue reading “Mapping the Rhythms of Your Year”
When to Sub in Your Rising Stars?
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?”
“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?”
Choosing to Stay Confronted in Conversations About Race
How often are you involved in conversations about racism, marginalization, colonialism, and/or other issues related to race? Perhaps these are conversations about systemic issues, or perhaps they reflect personal lived experiences. Often these topics are not an explicit part of the conversation, they are under the surface – not necessarily unacknowledged, but unnamed nonetheless. ExplicitContinue reading “Choosing to Stay Confronted in Conversations About Race”
The Doll Test, and Fault vs. Responsibility
Portraits by Fabrice Monteiro Did you play with dolls (or action figures) when you were a child? If so, did you get to choose them, or were they given to you? What skin tone did they have? Did they look like you? Perhaps you’re a parent of a young child now – what skin toneContinue reading “The Doll Test, and Fault vs. Responsibility”
Sitting in the Tension of “Both / And”
On the eve of #Barbenheimer, now might be a good time to revisit the idea of moving away from “either / or” and towards “both / and” in this article originally posted in 2021: “Do you think [politician or leader X] is a racist?” How often have you heard versions of this question in interviews, politicalContinue reading “Sitting in the Tension of “Both / And””
How is Your Team Like a Fireworks Display?
In honor of this week’s Independence Day celebrations in the United States and in Canada, we are revisiting this article, originally posted in 2021: If you live in the United States or Canada, you’ll have had the chance to see fireworks at some point recently – in person or on a broadcast. If you’re anythingContinue reading “How is Your Team Like a Fireworks Display?”
Building Bridges Leadership 