While last week’s attack on The Capitol was still taking place, writer Saladin Ahmed – whose work I admire – tweeted “next week some middle aged white man is still gonna get paid for a column about how we need to build bridges.” Mr. Ahmed doesn’t know me, but as a middle aged white man with aContinue reading “Let’s Talk About The Elephant In The Room…”
Category Archives: Weekly Tips
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”
Completing 2020 & Moving On To 2021
As we reach the end of an undeniably challenging year, many of us are looking for ways to bring closure to the year and recharge for the new year. But even if you’re able to take a break, preparing for this can bring stress, long hours, and a pile of incomplete items that hang overContinue reading “Completing 2020 & Moving On To 2021”
Work From Home Or Work From *Anywhere?*
The work world – along with almost ever other aspect of our lives – has changed dramatically in 2020. While many industries and job functions cannot be done remotely, those that can have switched to a new way of doing things. As COVID-19 vaccines come closer to being a reality, and organizations begin to planContinue reading “Work From Home Or Work From *Anywhere?*”
The Social Identity Wheel
How do you describe yourself? What parts of your identity do you choose to include, and which do you miss out? More than likely, your answer depends on the context – you may answer differently on a dating app than in a job interview, both of which are very different from how you think aboutContinue reading “The Social Identity Wheel”
What Does “Thanksgiving Leadership” Look Like?
If you’ve been reading Building Bridges Leadership emails for a while, you may be familiar with our distinction between Banquet and Potluck models of leadership. In short, Banquet Leadership takes the form of top-down direction; a clear path to follow, wherein your team follows through on assigned tasks. This is efficient and effective in getting things done. Potluck Leadership takes the form ofContinue reading “What Does “Thanksgiving Leadership” Look Like?”
Outsmarting Our Own Human Biases
A new UK study suggests that working from home could lead to an increase in racism and other forms of prejudice. The study suggests that these workplace friendships are a key to breaking down misconceptions in our thinking, and building our own understanding of community. Siloed and isolated as many of us are in our home workspaces, weContinue reading “Outsmarting Our Own Human Biases”
Unity In The Midst Of Uniqueness
Regardless of your political leanings, the US election last week resulted in some noteworthy firsts. Included, of course, is Kamala Harris, who became the first woman to be elected Vice-President, as well as the first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to be elected as Vice-President. (You may be surprised to learn –Continue reading “Unity In The Midst Of Uniqueness”
How the “Liminal Space” Of Election Day Can Help Your Team Flourish
On this Election Day in the US, you might experience similar feelings to those seemingly-endless moments following the slow climb of a roller coaster – a mixture of terror, anxiety and guarded excitement as you wonder what’s going to happen next. Regardless of whether you live in the US or not, you might be experiencingContinue reading “How the “Liminal Space” Of Election Day Can Help Your Team Flourish”
3 Tips To Avoid Othering In A Divisive Environment
My kids and I have always enjoyed super hero comic books. The idea I’ve always bristled against, though, is the idea of a “bad guy.” In well-developed fictional worlds, knowing a villain’s own story from their perspective can change how you think of them. You may still see their decisions as selfish, dangerous, or harmful,Continue reading “3 Tips To Avoid Othering In A Divisive Environment”
Building Bridges Leadership 