Want to be more inclusive? Communicate that way.
“If you’re not actively including people, chances are that you’re accidentally excluding them.” Dr. Heidi Grant, the Chief Science Officer of the NeuroLeadership Institute and others stress this point almost every time we talk about inclusion, especially in...
3 “new power” skills that make you a better leader
Signaling. Structuring. Shaping. To what degree are you using these three skills either as a leader or as an advisor to leaders? Here’s how authors Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms define these skills in their new book New Power: How Power Works in Our Hyperconnected...
How to push the right buttons to motivate action
After seven months in his volunteer job as a therapy dog at MUSC Hospital, Marcel loves riding in elevators. Given a choice (and yes, I intentionally ask him to choose between taking the stairs and riding the elevator and you’ll soon understand why), Marcel almost...
Your best thinking isn’t happening at work
Only about 10% of office workers say they do their best thinking at work, according to Dr. David Rock, Director of the NeuroLeadership Institute. Considering how much time we spend at work, we’re underusing an enormous volume of brainpower. Just think how much more...
How you need to balance belonging with standing out
Superstars, rock stars, and heroes who save the day have fallen out of favor in many organizations. Now we’re encouraged to celebrate team players who cooperate, collaborate, and play well with others. They combine their brainpower to deal with the complexity...
It’s time to redefine executive presence
Executive presence needs to be about how you as a leader show up to work with others, not how you look and perform as a heroic individual. When leaders are working as gardeners, leaders are focusing more on developing others and less on building their own charisma and...
How to champion change in a change-averse culture
How do you champion change when you work or live in a change-averse culture? This is a question I hear frequently. It’s also one that’s top of mind for me personally since February 2014. That’s when my husband and I moved to Charleston, South Carolina from the San...
Why you need to walk the talk and eat the dog food
Since February, I’ve been eating my own dog food. In other words, I’m using the tools and following the advice I provide to my clients for a specific situation. While the experience has taken me out of my comfort zone, it’s worth it. I’m growing as a coach and...
Why you need safety for a high-performing culture
To what extent do you practice “safety first” – specifically psychological safety – in your team meetings and other group settings at work? Harvard University Professor Amy Edmondson who studies psychological safety defines it "a shared belief that the team is safe...
