How to Handle Negative Feedback at Work
Getting feedback is a part of work. Some may be negative feedback. We need to be prepared to handle it, and here five ways to handle negative feedback.
Empathy: Making the Connection
To have empathy, we first need to make the human connection. Our call to action is two-fold: Reach out and open up.
There Are Four Types of Talkers
There are four types of talkers: Those who talk a lot and say little Those who talk little and say a lot Those who talk a lot and hear little Those who talk little and hear a lot Which are you? It may be an unfair question in that we cannot really answer it alone….
What to Do When Mentorless – 4 Practices to Create a Mentor
I never had a mentor, but I survived. I wanted one. I just never connected with the right person to serve as a continuous sounding board and guiding presence. I had plenty of people I learned from and still do, but it isn’t the same as having a mentor. My imagination of what a mentor…
The Importance of Questions in Conversations
There is an odd thing happening in conversations. When you meet someone new, the conversation is lopsided with only one person asking questions of the other. When an acquaintance or colleague is done answering the questions, they just walk away. It is unfulfilling for the person on the other side. It seems some are eager…
Go Hard on the Issue, Soft on the Person – 5 Leadership Ideas
“I try to go hard on the issue and soft on the person.” – Dr. Henry Cloud The above statement is potent. It really drives home the point on how to address workplace challenges while exhibiting character and integrity. Living and leading on this statement is like walking a tightrope. It is so easy to…
How to Navigate Life in Work – Six Considerations
As leaders, we catch glimpses of people’s lives. There are challenges of all sorts going on in people’s lives. Every now and then, we catch a glance as the whale of life appears above the surface. We know it happens, as we know life is imperfect. We want perfect, but that only happens in the…
The Unfortunate “Nature” of Leadership
What do a meadowlark, cricket, and squirrel have to do with leadership? The answer in a minute… Nature has a way of spurring memories and calming minds. It is that fresh breeze blowing through the prairies or those cool, fresh mornings where everything seems renewed and possible. We hear a meadowlark sing their continuous song,…
How to Make Your Opinions Matter
Does your opinion matter? From time to time, this may be a key question we may think about, as it affects our perceived value from within as well as in our outward interactions. We all want our voice to be heard. We want it to matter in our relationships. At times, though, we wonder if…
Hope Depends on Connection
Hope is one of those funny words. On the surface, it sounds good. Up with hope, right? Meanwhile, there is a downside in that people can hope for bad things to happen to others. This is not a good thing, but our world is imperfect. Beyond all this, hope often seems hollow. Hoping for something…
5 Life Lessons from the Food Network and HGTV
I admit it. After a long day, I enjoy watching Chopped or Design Star or Food Network Star. This may not be a good thing to admit, but let me tell you why. The reason is to watch the people dynamics. From these interactions, several key life lessons emerge. Lesson 1: Don’t be cocky (or…
On Being Civil, Tolerant
Today, NPR terminated Juan Williams because of his comments on the The O’Reilly Factor. In our eagerness to make a statement about tolerance, we seem to have become intolerant. We need to be more civil in our debates.