Collaborative Thinking Elevates Cerebral Leadership! Leadership is not a race to the finish but a dive to the deep! Six Essential Principles in a Successful Collaborative Thinking Group: Value yourself and others. Proceed with intentionality. Embrace a purpose-driven mentality. Strive for equity with no perspective unnoticed. Stand ready for debate. Never neglect activation! Question to ask yourself as a Cerebral leader: Do our current metrics propel us toward a long-lasting success that fosters meaningful transformation and significance? #CerebralLeadership #CollaborativeThinking #Transfor ..read more

Reimagining Work-Life Balance Discovering work-life balance isn't found outside of us but within us! Two questions you may want to consider: What perspective do I have about work-life balance that needs to shift? Which system in my life highly influences me and needs reexamination? In The Song of Significance, Seth Godin writes, "We need to make a living, but how do we make a life?" You can connect with me at nina@ninaellison.com ..read more

Up-and-Coming Leaders: The Shaping of our Future Three opportunities for leaders to support those who are up-and-coming! Opportunity #1: Provide the space for emerging leaders to become a larger version of themselves. Opportunity #2: Model the value of connecting with those who can contribute to their growth (after learning to grow from within). Opportunity #3: Support gaining a depth of expertise before branching out to lead others. You are invited to listen to The Practice of Intentionality Dr. Nina Ellison - YouTube Connect with me at nina@ninaellison.com #emergingleaders #healthyleadersh ..read more

Making Choices That Matter Most Join me in considering the leadership skill needed for identifying choices that carry the most significant weight. This is not just about making good choices; this is about gaining the skill to ensure you are focused on the highest priority choices that drive success and make a lasting impact. To gain this skill, I believe you will need to lean into the following six qualities: Think Critically. Acknowledge diverse viewpoints. Bring Emotional Strength. Adapt based on evolving circumstances. Pursue courage. Align priorities. You can connect with me at nina@nin ..read more

Lighting up Liminal Spaces Liminal spaces are that space between past and present. Liminality is the "in between", a transition from where you have been to where you are going. Liminal space is like standing on the edge of a precipice of something new but not quite being there yet. Here are 6 recommendations that will help a leader prepare for the liminal spaces in their lives: Accept that you have entered a liminal space. Recognize it and don't resist it. Confirm as quickly as possible what you can control in this liminal space. Identify areas where you have the agency to reduce anxiety. Ref ..read more

Launchpad Leadership: Some advantages of being a launchpad leader: 1.            Sets a standard for growth and being growth minded 2.            Helps guide the hiring process. 3.            Helps leaders to get to know others in the early days of their employment. Some challenges in committing to be a launchpad leader: 1.            People are going to leave 2.  &nb ..read more

When I see a leader who is thriving, I notice someone who has a consistent thread in their life of energy and enthusiasm. They are willing to explore with courage. Thriving in leadership is about the choices we make, not the situation we live in. We choose to make choices that enable us to thrive.: 8 questions derived initially from Dr Laurie Schreiner's content (Thriving Quotient) that will open your mind to see your willingness to pursue thriving: 1.      Can I identify that I am actively engaged in a learning process? 2.     Am I puttin ..read more

Insights into Positive Compromise Some of the most sought-after soft skills are problem solving, collaboration, and negotiation. All of these include the skills needed for positive compromise. Three primary approaches with leaders around this idea of positive or negative compromise: #1. The first group acknowledges the possibilities in positive compromise serving as a necessary tool for resolving conflicts and promoting cooperation and collaboration. #2. The second group of leaders talk about the act of compromise as a negative, undesired strategy that undermines a leader’s authority and influ ..read more

Economic opportunities with soft skills As a leadership strategist, I help leaders grow through the development of the soft skills that are in demand in our job market today. One way you, as a leader, moves from success to significance is that you become adept in leveraging the balance between hard and soft skills every day. Hard skills are demonstrated through technical expertise with clearly measured goals and action plans. Hard skill development often focuses on the WHAT Hard skills are vital to the success of a leader’s career. Hard skills are what I call the “knowing” Soft skills em ..read more

Self-awareness in all seasons "I must know who I am before I can go telling. How can I share myself, if I don’t know who I’m sharing" Dr Nina Ellison at age 13 Uncovering who you are, what you are, how you are and why you are! This is self-awareness! Being aware of the who, what, how and why of YOU plays a key role in how you approach new seasons. “A workplace that encourages self-awareness is an environment where the most productive, curious, and innovative people thrive.” – Neil Blumenthal Our lived experience demonstrates that self-centeredness blocks the promotion of self-awareness. There ..read more