The Essence of Effective Feedback
Hearing and giving feedback is one of the most impactful and challenging things a leader does. When delivered effectively, feedback guides people into better versions of themselves. When delivered ineffectively, it sets the stage for others to feel hurt, to act out, or to isolate and limit their exposure, thus limiting their contribution. When feedback […]
A Game-Changing Skill for Leaders
Before I became a chef, all the chefs I knew were the masters of the kitchen. It’s one of the reasons I was attracted to being a chef, because even when you were wrong, you got to be right. As a young person just entering the workforce, that was an acceptable ambition- to be in […]
What makes a good leader?
Years ago, I attended a training called “Leadership Mastery”. The trainer opened a two-day session by declaring that the name of the course was intended to provoke thinking, and in their opinion, leadership could never be mastered. This question; “What makes a good leader?” is similar, it’s a thought provoker. When we ask a team […]
How to be Powerful
Somewhere along the line, I came across this little list of powers. I’ve had it so long that I don’t even remember where I got it. If it’s familiar to you, please email me, I’d love to give proper credit. Kinds of power in order of their effectiveness: 10 – Physical/Financial Strength (most primitive, least […]
Moving Out of Overwhelm
Feeling overwhelmed happens. For me, the feeling is a combination of my inability to discern which challenge takes priority, and a loss of access to solutions with a feeling of dread that I might fail. When I’m in a state of overwhelm, I cannot lead effectively. Each of us has our own way of responding […]
Showering For Leaders
Everyone needs to bathe regularly, but what do you do to clean the inside of you? Meditation is like an internal shower. It’s an almost effortless practice right from the beginning, that gives you a place to clean off. It’s like a cleansing shower for your thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions. When I talk to […]
Relieve The Burden of Confusion
Our inner stories chug along at a medium volume and tempo, sometimes increasing in intensity, sometimes decreasing in intensity. They speed up and get louder when we see what we like and want. And, when we see what we don’t want. Effective listening is easiest when inner stories are undetectable, when successful, it generates the […]
Is Anger Justifiable from a Leader?
Our emotions are tied to our immune system. Some of our emotions are meant to keep things out. Just like the immune system keeps a virus or infection out of the body. Anger is designed to keep a physical threat out of the immediate environment. In one of Gabor Mate’s talks, he conducts a little […]