There is no doubt about it – in the absence of facts, humans make assumptions. What’s more, we assume the negative more often than not. Have you ever convinced yourself someone did something for a particular reason, only to find out you were completely wrong? I know I have. I remember the time I assumed a…
As a workplace conflict resolution specialist, I think conflict gets a bad rap. Don’t get me wrong, lingering, ignored, and/or escalating conflict has serious consequences for any group. But when handled well, conflict is actually healthy for a team. Have you ever had a heated debate with your leadership team and come out on the…
The first half of this year has given us a plethora of reasons to reconsider what’s possible. What’s possible at work, at home, in our communities, our nation, our world. It has necessitated swift pivots, radical change, and the courage to do things in ways we have never done them before. 2020 is also serving as…
Have you ever heard something that got your attention so hard it turned your head sideways and made you seriously think about it? This happens to me fairly regularly, but this particular time it was about resolving conflict and it literally changed my paradigm. It was many years ago, during a period in my life when things were…
As a leader, if it seems you are constantly putting out fires and distracted from your priorities, evaluating the current level of trust amongst your team would be a worthwhile exercise. While you’re thinking about this, it may also behoove you to assess your relationships with your peers, boss and other executives. If you are…
I write on Mondays. At least I intend to write on Mondays. However, it’s five-o’clock and I’m just now putting my first words to paper. I’ve been wrestling with what to write about, this Thanksgiving week. We all need to take time to feel gratitude and take note of what we are thankful for, of course. I…
Did you know Veterans Day coincides with holidays in other countries, like Armistice Day in France, and Remembrance Day in the UK? Each celebrates the official end of WWI, and the time major hostilities ended: The 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918. In the U.S., Veterans Day was originally also known as Armistice Day, but at the urging…
How are you feeling today? Let’s get more specific: How are you feeling right now? Becoming acutely aware of how you feel is the first step towards purposeful thinking. What is meant by purposeful thinking? Why should you be interested? So glad you asked! Thinking purposefully means thinking for optimal experiences and results. You’ve probably heard Henry Ford’s famous quote “Whether you…
Do you pride yourself in being the one with the answers? The person who, when opinions differ or decisions need to be made, is always right? There was a time I felt that way about myself, until I realized there was something very wrong with being the person who is always right. As a leader,…
For the last few minutes I’ve been staring out the windshield (as a passenger), down a straight and desolate stretch of highway 441, considering what to write about. It’s December 17, and if you’ve been out on the roads, you know the hustle and bustle is in full swing! This time of year it’s easy…
We all have conflict. Sometimes it is internal. Sometimes it is between us and someone else. Sometimes we are a third party to conflict happening between others. Regardless of its origin, we are human and we experience conflict. When I meet people out and about, and they learn what I do, they often tell me…
I’ve been feeling quite “Eh” (as my beautiful daughter puts it) for a few days now. “Eh” as in not horrible, but not good. “Dull” is a good way to describe it, and it’s wearing on me. There’s no specific reason. In fact, if I tally the truly important things, everything is actually really good….