Fostering Workplace Appreciation: Tips for Team Growth

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 “Fostering Workplace Appreciation: Tips for Team Growth”

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”

“Lead with Message, Lag with Mode”

When you meet someone for the first time and they ask what you do for work, how do you reply? If you’re like the majority of people, you might reply with an approximate job title and the organization you work for. “I’m a manager at [x] pharmaceuticals,” “I’m a software engineer at [y],” or “I’mContinue reading ““Lead with Message, Lag with Mode””

Time for a Phone Fast? Making Phones Boring Again

Do your devices send you a weekly notification to show the amount of time you’ve spent using the device each day? Mine comes every Sunday morning at exactly 9:09am (I assume there’s a reason why it’s that time in particular, but I haven’t been able to find anything about it in my research); every timeContinue reading “Time for a Phone Fast? Making Phones Boring Again”

Turning a Negative Spiral Positive

Have you ever had a day that started badly, and just got worse? Maybe you dropped a glass in the kitchen, which led to you leaving for work a few minutes late, which meant you got stuck behind a school bus and sat in worse traffic, so you were late to your first meeting ofContinue reading “Turning a Negative Spiral Positive”

Mapping Out Your Ripple Effect for 2026

At the start of a new year, you may come in with a resolution, a change, or a new habit you’re putting in place (I’m trying a version of a “phone fast,” which I’ll share more about in a later piece). Or perhaps you’re doing some vision casting, strategic planning, or other goal setting workContinue reading “Mapping Out Your Ripple Effect for 2026”

When a Choice is Not a Choice…

Chocolate or vanilla? Which ice cream would you choose? Many of us would know our answer (even if it’s “I want non-dairy” or “no ice cream for me”). But of course, sometimes choices aren’t so easy to make – and sometimes, a choice isn’t a choice after all – it’s a responsibility, a commitment, orContinue reading “When a Choice is Not a Choice…”

Recognizing Burnout in Yourself and Others

Everyone has had the experience of being exhausted by a difficult workday. And we’ve all had hard seasons that we’ve needed to get through and were so glad they were over. But if this continues day after day for months or years on end, it can lead to burnout. We’ve all been worn out, orContinue reading “Recognizing Burnout in Yourself and Others”

Experiencing Some Distrust in Leadership?

Over the last few weeks I have had several conversations with people in different (for-profit and non-profit) fields with a similar theme: distrust in leadership. In some cases this has come out as targeted public complaints about a figurehead; in others as a move toward a strike; in others a community cry for more transparencyContinue reading “Experiencing Some Distrust in Leadership?”

A Real-Life Takeaway from Recent Events

What’s something you’ve heard a colleague or co-worker say recently that has impressed you – or maybe even inspired you? What are some small actions you’ve seen someone take – maybe someone in customer service – that have left you feeling just a little brighter about your day? In the last couple of weeks thereContinue reading “A Real-Life Takeaway from Recent Events”