Some tips for avoiding procrastination in leadership ..read more

When I stepped into my first managerial position, I was hungry to learn everything I could about leading others. I attended as many workshops and trainings as I could. They shared great advice for motivating others and lots of tools for great supervision, but something was missing. With the new pressures of the job, I was caught off guard by my emotional responses to stress. Fear about giving a presentation could send me into a spiral of panic. Thoughtful feedback in support of my growth sounded to me like others were questioning my ability to lead. I found myself ping-ponging between anxiety ..read more

Claire knew she should approach her colleague, Pat, about a serious issue she’d noticed. Pat didn’t seem to notice that some of her direct reports were struggling. Often they came to Claire with questions, taking up her time instead of turning to Pat. Claire felt that Pat needed to be more approachable and reach out to people to ask about their needs. But whenever she thought about broaching the subject, she let the anxiety in the pit of her stomach talk her out of it. Whether a conflict has been acknowledged by both parties—or whether it’s brewing under the surface, as with Claire and Pat—re ..read more

Margeau braced herself for her boss’s reaction to her news. Her team was facing a hurdle that threatened to derail their project, but the bigger problem was her boss’s inevitable panic at any obstacle. Her boss’s stress level would spike through the roof, and she’d find herself getting caught up in an anxiety reaction rather than confidently pushing forward. The cycle had to stop, or they’d never accomplish a major goal. Emotionally volatile bosses cause a huge amount of stress—and often a toxic culture. Stress often comes out as anger toward others, as well as persistent anxiety. Teams doubt ..read more

  Yesterday was one of those days. Multiple deadlines, back-to-back meetings, dozens of unanswered emails in my inbox.  When I looked up at 4:45 pm (only because I had set an alarm so that I wouldn’t forget to pick up my children from daycare), I realized that I hadn’t eaten since 10:30am.  Everything I know about what it takes to be healthy and productive flew out the window. I left the office to pick up my kids in a daze, chomping on a cheese stick for sustenance; my mind racing in extreme planning and execution mode.  I had 10 minutes to decompress before I got to the k ..read more

Jackie was burnt out.  After a year of pivoting on a regular basis and supporting her team through all of the pandemic related changes, she was having trouble motivating. She was foggy and disconnected - going through the motions. Jackie is my coaching client, but she could easily be you or me.  After a year + of social, emotional, and professional upheaval many of us are feeling a lack of energy or focus. So how do we reset?  The practice of reflecting on purpose - what gives your life and leadership meaning - is a useful tool to regain direction and inspiration. But when you ..read more

  True stories from the field... I once facilitated an all-day retreat with a 15-person team that I thought went really well.  The next day, I received a call from a participant who told me it was a waste of time because people were afraid to speak up in front of the team leader.   Then there was the time that I coached a leader who told me that his strength was openness to feedback. When we reviewed his 360-feedback from teammates, the most common theme was this person’s defensiveness when receiving feedback. The number one area for growth his teammates listed was ..read more

Rana clenched her fists under the table as one of the board members lobbied against the plan she had proposed. Though her team had so carefully designed it, he seemed intent on blocking it from going through. Her heart raced as she frantically struggled to conjure up the right words to advocate for their idea. But Rana feared that as soon as she started to speak, she’d completely lose it. How could she tame her emotions so she could fully express what she needed to say? We’ve all been there. First, it’s important to know that showing emotion is okay—and even beneficial! Showing your passion f ..read more

Learn how to tame this voice so you can go for your goals. A couple of years ago, I was preparing to lead a new workshop that I’d been very excited to design. I poured creative energy into it for weeks, and the day had finally arrived. I was presenting to a group of powerful women leaders preparing for the next steps in their career. As I mentally rehearsed the intro, a little voice came into my head: “What could you possibly have to say to them? These women are so smart and accomplished; they don’t need your help. They’re going to be annoyed that you’re wasting their time.” I imagined lookin ..read more

Support yourself AND your team to be sustainable with these 9 steps! Image source The scope of Elena’s job expanded until it threatened to consume her. She still had to juggle all her old tasks, while also responding to the disruption of the pandemic. She was recruiting and onboarding new employees, not to mention managing the transition to virtual collaboration. And the questions never ceased! She tried to respond in real-time, but she felt time slipping through her fingers. Worse, she had trouble leaving her home office at what should have been the end of her workday. One in three women has ..read more