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Bill Berthel
Emotionally Strong
Much like Johnny Cash, I walk the line. As a coach, of course, I walk a different line than Cash… not the criminal line, not the line between light and dark, but rather the line between being highly supportive and highly directive. Some people would call it tough love … I like that too. But…
Checkmate
My son and I play a game of chess almost every morning before he goes to school and I start my day’s work. We began playing as a way to connect and do something together … in theory. The reality is probably more that I like to connect and my competitive son likes beating his…
Hot and Cold Cognition
Emotions, or the physiological states that arouse them, are often what power motivation. As leaders, human motivation must become an important part of our understanding because ultimately, leaders are interested in influencing others toward purposeful action. It’s arguable whether we motivate others or if motivation is only an intrinsic dynamic, but it’s important to understand…
Only Distanced, Never Apart
Readership Warning: In this blog post, I am energized by the deep concerns we all have of the pandemic tightening its grip on us yet again. A small reprieve over the late summer months had some of us back to something fairly normal with shopping, some recreation events, and schools open and operating. Some of us got…
12 Days of Leadership – Day 12
On the twelfth day of leadership, my coach gave to me Twelve Deep Breaths One of the most effective ways to reset and center yourself is by taking a deep breath. Short, shallow breathing adds to our stress, causing cortisol to move through our system and making stressful situations worse. Observe high performing athletes just…
12 Days of Leadership – Day 11
On the eleventh day of leadership, my coach gave to me Eleven Additional Minutes of Sleep Leadership is a physical activity! When we consider our physical leadership, we understand the importance of a healthy diet, adequate hydration, and plenty of exercise. However, we sometimes forego quality sleep for various reasons, including stress and prioritizing sleep….
12 Days of Leadership – Day 10
On the tenth day of leadership, my coach gave to me Ten Traits of an Emergent Leader “Everyone is a leader; the question is how well are we leading.” An Emergent Leader is focused on performance – individually, in teams, and organizationally. Following are the ten traits of an Emergent Leader. Purposefully / Mission-driven Influential…
12 Days of Leadership – Day 6
On the sixth day of leadership, my coach gave to me Six Empowering Questions Empowering questions are open-ended and thought-provoking, allowing a person to look for answers and new opportunities. Here are six to get you started: How will you feel when you reach your goal? How will your accomplishment serve you? Follow up to #2: how…
The 12 Days of Leadership – Day 3
On the third day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Three Things to be Grateful for Merriam-Webster defines “gratitude” as a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. Family, friends, and good health may be an obvious top 3, but let’s mix it up a bit! The ability to…
Metacognition
I recently read a short article about “Meta Cognition” that reminded me of a conversation I had with a former manager early in my professional career. Distilled to its essence, the manager saw some potential in me and wanted to influence me to be able to “think higher.” As I read the “Meta Cognition” article, I thought…