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Life during a pandemic is extraordinarily complex. Processes, rituals, and daily habits we once took for granted have been sabotaged by complications and changes invariably leading to more complications and changes. That complexity – the addition of multiple interconnected parts into our daily lives – can be challenging on many levels. New information may be…

Curiosity is one of the foundational qualities of a leader’s character and plays a vital dual role for those in a leadership position. It is the portal that allows us access to learn about ourselves, the fuel that feeds the flames of our education, inspiration, imagination, creativity, and judgment and allows us to make contributions…

More times than I care to remember, I get in my own way by trying to be perfect. I get stuck in the fixed mindset trying to attain flawless results and perform at extremely high standards in almost all aspects of life. I identify with performing perfectly, finding it difficult to be satisfied with myself…

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…

One quote that has influenced me both personally and professionally is “that which is measured, improves.” Any change or achievement of which I’m most proud has in some way, shape, or fashion been written down, tracked, and measured. Many connect to this idea when it comes to goals like dropping a few pounds, increasing running…

Many people have trouble relating to others, especially those they may have adverse feelings toward. This is a critical leadership skill, however, and as leaders, we should actively address it. The key is empathic listening – the ability to imagine yourself in someone else’s position and to intuit what that person is feeling. It is…

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…

“The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the name on the back.” – Herb Brooks This quote by the 1980 Olympic hockey coach is a sentiment we seem to have lost in our country – or at least temporarily misplaced. We seem to have lost…

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…

It happened again – plans changed at the last minute because of COVID restrictions. This time it was Thanksgiving dinner that got rearranged because we needed to keep people safe. And so we pivoted. There’s that word again – “pivoted.” It’s the prettier version of adapting or flexing. And I enjoy pivoting about as much…

While my son was home for a few weeks in November, we watched a few movies as a family. One night we were in the mood to watch something light, and so we selected “City Slickers,” starring Billy Crystal. If you have not seen the movie, Billy Crystal’s character Mitch was going through a midlife…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

On the ninth day of leadership, my coach gave to me Nine Creativity Tips Creativity fuels innovation and gives us new ways of thinking and problem-solving. Try these 9 tips to help fuel your creativity. Put a small pad of paper and a pen on the table next to your bed—capture all your initial thoughts…

On the eighth day of leadership, my coach gave to me Eight Additional Minutes of Movement Eight more minutes of movement per day is a gift to give yourself. If you’re not exercising at all, this gets you an hour per week. Movement keeps us alert, focused, and engaged in the game of life. Track…

On the seventh day of leadership, my coach gave to me Seven Days of Renewal Seven days of renewal…that’s it! One week of vacation. And it will go by fast, believe me. If you are working at the cadence of most leaders I know, it takes anywhere from 48-72 hours to start feeling anything close…

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…

On the fifth day of leadership, my coach gave to me Five Stretch Goals Think about this quote: “The biggest rewards in life are found just outside your comfort zone.” (Jack Canfield) When was the last time you took that step, or reaped that reward? How have you achieved a stretch goal in the last…

On the fourth day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Four Core Values We value what we do and do what we value. Be intentional about how you use your energy by making conscious choices based on your four key values. Take some time to reflect and select the four values that most…

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…

On the second day of leadership, my coach gave to me – Two Minutes of Mindfulness Practicing mindfulness – quieting our minds at the beginning of our day – creates the “space for grace.” We get the double benefit of being inspired through intuition as well as noticing when and how we get distracted throughout…

On the first day of leadership, my coach gave to me – One Compelling Vision. The first gift we want you to have is a compelling vision for your leadership. What attributes define your genuine leadership? How will you make a difference (and real difference!) in your leadership? When the leading gets tough, what’s the…