Gratitude Beyond Thank You Notes and Pithy Sayings on Coffee Mugs A charming client wondered aloud how they could show appreciation for a colleague in another department of the university – someone who is sometimes an unsung hero around the institution, but who really saved my client’s bacon recently. It Read more
Two (Actually) Healthy Ways to Recharge The school supply aisle at my local stores are decimated – the only thing left in the art supply bin are the weird off-brand crayons. That can only mean one thing: the hectic first weeks of classes are upon us! The challenging schedule that Read more
8 Ways to Love Your Volunteers One of my favorite opportunities is a regular volunteer gig I do here in my hometown. I have been a guest for a local nonprofit with an incredible mission, and the staff do a superb job of making me feel valued and welcome. I Read more
Finding the Coach that is Right for You What is a professional coach? Short answer: A coach is someone who helps you make decisions about what to do next. Wordy answer: A professional coach works with clients either individually or in group settings to assist in the client’s personal development. Coaches Read more
Rituals, Routines and Innovation Innovation is a sexy word. When we imagine ourselves as an “innovator,” we might see a creative captain of our industry, solving the gnarly problems that have vexed leaders of the past. Innovators are solution-finders and forward-thinkers. As a leader-boss, of course you want to foster Read more
Nobody is born good at conflict resolution. NOBODY. It’s not uncommon for a client to use our time together to process a situation with a coworker. After they share the issue, I often ask: “So when you went to talk with them about this later, how did it go?” I’m Read more
Boundaries, limitations, and the power of supportive accountability When I was a very new professional, back before fire or the Internet was invented and chai latte wasn’t yet in fashion, I had a student come to me for some help planning a conversation she hoped to have with her supervisor, Read more
Want to grow in your leadership? Practice. I frequently have new clients who share that their number one goal is to improve their leadership skills – and they are hopeful that together that I will impart lessons they can apply – sort of like a recipe they can follow. That Read more
Share Your Expectations There is a conversation your staff wish you’d have with them. (Actually, there are a few, but let’s just take it one at a time!) I’m sure about it because I hear about it from them. They wish they knew your expectations for success. If you just Read more
Alphabet Soup: What’s with all those letters behind my name? Sometimes people ask me about all the letters at the end of my name – which usually is followed by a few questions about the coaching industry in general. Nerd that I am, I really enjoyed learning about the profession Read more