Communication

Feedback for the Win

Top-performing athletes have systems in place to give them feedback around levels of strain, recovery, and sleep so they can improve their performance and reach their fullest potential. It makes sense when we think about this regarding our favorite teams or players and yet, unfortunately, we often fall short of applying this practice to the…

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Six Conversations

It is said that every story is based on one of six plots; some writers think of them as the six archetypes of literature, while some see them as the building blocks from which to build more complex plots and stories. While I’m not a writer, I’ve noticed a parallel in my leadership coaching of…

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Aikido Communication

Let’s face it: no matter the type of relationship, there’s going to be conflict – and that’s okay. In fact, it’s expected. It should even be welcomed. Not all of us are comfortable with conflict, however, including myself. One common approach to conflict, and my personal favorite, is “I don’t want to make waves.” Unfortunately,…

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The Missing Conversations

As leaders, we’re tasked with having many different types of conversations – including praise, recognition, direction, and corrective action, to name just a few. However, many of the conversations we think about having can be challenging for us and actually, for want of a better term, go “missing.” There are many names for these “missing”…

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Timely Response

Have you ever experienced not getting a reply in a timely manner? Maybe it’s a voicemail you left for someone several days ago, an unanswered email sent yesterday, or a text you sent this morning that remains unanswered or not replied to. We seem to have unconscious expectation of the expected reply time related to…

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Can You Hear Me Now?

I just heard it again today: “Sometimes my voice isn’t heard.” I’ve heard this complaint from leaders at all levels–individual contributors, middle managers, and senior level executives, and it’s a critical issue. When people don’t feel heard, they often believe they’re not being fully utilized for all they have to offer – and often, they’re…

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What is Succession Planning, and Who Needs to Think About It?

In today’s business world, things aren’t quite as cut and dried as they used to be. Right up until recent times, small or family-run businesses were usually kept within the family. As one family member retired, another took their place. But nowadays, people are more frequently encouraged to follow their own paths, even if that…

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The Power of Language

Do you have the language of leadership? How is what you’re saying affecting you as leader? Whether in your life, your family, your team, or your community, what is your language saying about your leadership? I was recently working with a client on her awareness of her language – of what she was saying, and…

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Integrated

What does it mean to be integrated? In our sense, it means we are unified, coordinated, cohesive. Businesses all rely on each member – on integration – to get work accomplished, and even families depend on each of their individual gifts to make the home and family run smoothly. I’ve recently realized that I feel…

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Leading by Fergi – Lesson #4: What the Heck Are You Saying?!

You might think that after 11 years of agility training, seven of them with Fergi, we’d be masters of the sport, covered in ribbons and accolades, our picture on the cover of Clean Run magazine (a publication dedicated to the sport of dog agility), but that’s not how it works. At every class we learn…

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