How do we go about influencing others? Some of us do this using emotion. We build relationships, engage in conversation, tell stories, use humor, wit, charm, enthusiasm, etc., to persuade. Others of us approach influencing others by using logic. We use data, facts, proof points, and straightforward dialogue. We are [...]
I just got off of a coaching call with a VP of an organization who is a relatively new hire. As such, he needs to meet with new people, get comfortable presenting in front of new people and create new relationships. As many introverts are, he is most [...]
We all have to connect to influence, make things happen and get things done! Whether you have ambitions of being a TED speaker, a well-received corporate leader at the podium, a confident speaker in a room full of peers, or a sales professional with the ability to connect [...]
One might think that speaking in front of 200 people at my TEDx talk would be daunting. In reality, that wasn’t such a large group. My very first public speaking engagement was at a conference of over 800 people in a healthcare organization. I moved through size matters [...]
One of the reasons it can be so difficult to recognize our purpose is because it’s so embedded within us that we don’t even recognize it. It’s like breathing, just part of who we are and what we do. We have to consciously stop to recognize that we [...]
Watch This! HILARIOUS and powerful look at communication styles - in this case between a celebrity married couple on Ellen's show. (For those of you who have been through my DISCovering the Value of Your Team program I know you're thinking what I am . . . so [...]
Another phenomenal day! As I’ve said before, there are those companies who talk about investing in their people and those companies that really do! This is a ‘really do’ company. 4 years running and 8 team sessions later they keep investing in the growth of their people and [...]
Today is World Book Day! Have YOU always wanted to write a book?My Top 2 Book Writing Tips . . .#1: If blank paper is a block to get started - start with a RECORDING. Speak your book, transcribe it; now you can simply edit.#2: Set a date. [...]
I recently came across an HBR article (https://buff.ly/2VvTOkJ) about growing your influence at work. In short, it suggested that things like your title and number of direct reports really don't carry you far within the organization like they once might have. Instead, informal power can help you "mobilize [...]
How many of you struggle with engagement survey scores? One way to ensure you are engaging with your people is to make it about them. For example, I customize every program I deliver based on pre-information about the specific individuals that will be participating in a workshop. Have [...]
I’ve been coaching a wonderful emerging leader in a Fortune 500 company. She is “wonderful” in that she has a genuine desire to be an excellent leader, a valuable contributor to the organization and to explore where she can be a better version of herself. She does [...]
The answer to identifying our purpose lies in an internal journey of discovery. It is our destiny for the journey of finding our purpose to be unnatural, uneasy, challenging. I have concluded that it is meant to be this way. It needs to be a choice for conscious [...]
Everyone isn’t a right-fit for every situation – in work or in personal relationships. For you to live authentically and congruently, you need to know who you are and what’s important to you.Identifying your purpose and letting that guide the choices you make – the choices that create [...]
As I mentioned in my last post, we have entered the era where who we’re being is just as important as what we’re doing… lets take it to the next level.Discovering our life purpose is about conscious living – living by design rather than by default. It’s not [...]
In this day and age of transparency, of demanding authenticity and exposing inauthenticity, congruency is our calling card. It is no longer enough to "do a good job": it's about being an authentic person. This is what we are witnessing in the #MeToo movement and in the latest [...]
It's one thing to say we invest in our people, it’s another thing to do it. Here’s what one of my customers does…I have a corporate client who holds "Open Office Hours" with me one day a week. I make myself available at the same time, the same [...]
Do you know someone who seems to 'have it all' but is lonely or unfulfilled? Do you know someone who is in a low-paying industry but feels valued or has workplace friendships that make them excited to go to work each day? Maybe you know someone who is [...]
Are you due for a new perspective?Sometimes what we think needs to be a boundary is just because we don’t know what else to do. In truth, a boundary, which has a dotted line to a ‘no’ behind it, could instead be a reframe of possibility, which has [...]
How often do you walk away from a conversation thinking you are on the same page? Only to find out that you weren't. It's likely happened to you, it's definitely happened to me.Wouldn't it be great if we could know in advance how to ensure that that doesn't [...]
This man is clearly a hero!My mother was able to save 2 people's lives by knowing and applying CPR. It takes action!There are many stories of someone who reconsidered suicide due to someone giving them a smile that day. It takes connection!Where might you make the difference in [...]
Get ready for the chill of truth as I call it; the goosebumps you get when you hit pure truth and you know it; but not with your mind! We had my friend and her family over this weekend for a walk at Descanso Gardens in La [...]
"Adding value by reducing your boss' stress". The language may resonate or may be off-putting. The sentiment remains...I was recently wrapping up a coaching series with a client and when I asked her the top key takeaways the first one she listed is another way of saying what [...]
When I read this I knew I had to post it for all of you! I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! I did!! I had another excuse to celebrate love on Valentines Day . . . for the 33rd time.My husband has always said that he [...]
16 seconds is all you need to destress while sitting at your desk.All of my clients who get frustrated or stressed out abut time constraints have the power while sitting at their desk to relieve their stress in 16 seconds. You can do this multiple times throughout the [...]
Coming Full Circle… 5 years ago a cancer patient at City of Hope; Friday I found myself leading a workshop for a leadership team at the City of Hope. Life is so good!! I shared an interesting story with them that helps us understand the true power of leadership.At [...]
If you were excited to get started, cheers to you!! Go get 'em! If you weren't looking forward to it, it's time to make a shift. And do it now!Before you get back into the routine of things, take time to design what this year will look like. Reflect [...]
The three legs: The What, Why and How have equal weight but often only the What is addressed in the planning.Are you remembering to address all three with your team as you plan for success in 2019?What: Your functional role and being technically competent (which is pay to [...]
As I've been readying for my upcoming TEDx talk for the past month, I'm reminded of the French quote actually by Blaise Pascal and often attributed to Mark Twain, T.S. Eliot & Cicero to name a few:I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have [...]
My TED talk had to occur this ear, at this event, in this location!While I've been a speaker coach for many years for my corporate clients, I've also had the privilege of coaching multiple TEDx Speakers 2 years running. This year I've stepped up to be a speaker [...]
“The road to success is paved with mistakes well-handled.” – Danny Meyer, Restaurateur Danny suggests ‘well-handled’ is achieved by these 5 A’s: Awareness (that you made a mistake) Acknowledge (take responsibility) Apologize (communicate) Amend (take action) Apply (additional generosity / go beyond the call) A+ Danny! And [...]
I had the good fortune to participate in the Global Leadership Summit last week. There were pearls of wisdom from Simon Sinek and John Maxwell as you might expect. And also so many gems from others you may not be as familiar with. I just have to share [...]
“Every experience will bring you a blessing or a lesson. Both are equally valuable.”-- Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley Priceless Carla! Thank you.Failure can only occur when we don’t learn or exercise the courage to persist. So what’s your mindset on mistakes? As a leader, do you cultivate courage [...]
A recent study showed that over 65% of employees are uninterested, uninspired and unfulfilled. And that number is even greater in the U.S. according to Gallup.Onboarding is a prime opportunity to activate a first step of an on-going engagement strategy. When done well it can provide much positive impact including: Creating [...]