Leading is not without challenges and problems. I’d argue leaders are most needed because challenges and problems are inherent to accomplishing any goal. While sharing some of my own challenges, a friend encouraged me to ask myself is this the problem I need to be solving?
Try to see things my way, do I have to keep on talking til I can’t go on… Anytime I can connect Motown and leadership it’s a good day. One… Read more Can We Work It Out? Leading Until We Do →
Leadership presence includes behavioral (doing) and non-behavioral (being) qualities (Kerns, 2019). Leadership effect and affect are great examples of how doing and being come together as powerful pieces of leadership… Read more Presence Puzzle Pieces: Affect & Effect →
Photo by Nandhu Kumar from Pexels Long ago, when we were working in places known as offices, there was a mentor’s office I could pop into at any time. Her… Read more The Mystery & Gift of Presence (Part 1) →
Should: an influential word used by leaders and team members and often intended to move people in the right direction. When used properly, should provides a path to direct actions while bringing clarity to priorities. When misused, should creates a dead end leaving one overwhelmed, and sometimes paralyzed, by competing priorities. Should is not a bad word, but I wonder if it’s often misused? When out of context, it becomes a word used to nag us and remind us of our shortcomings and maybe all the things we didn’t do… Read more Should: Paths & Dead Ends →
Uncertainty is a regular part of leadership (Thank you 2020 for making this abundantly clear- as if we didn’t already know, but I digress…). One way leaders can navigate uncertainties, large and small, is to define their responsibilities and response-abilities. Responsibilities are what fall under our purview; whatever we are accountable for within our given roles. Responsibility discernment may be difficult in times of uncertainty. However, a clear awareness of what falls within our roles may help us to sort what belongs to us and what’s for us to leave… Read more Responsibility & Response-Ability →
Humility and curiosity are two significant pieces in the leadership puzzle. They are connected by the importance that learning plays for each piece. Together, they create opportunities for creativity and new ideas to emerge. Caldwell, Ichiho, and Anderson (2017) describe twelve interesting aspects of humility in leadership. These include, self knowledge, teachability, and dedication to continued learning. Each of these traits is centered around the idea of learning. This is where curiosity comes in: curiosity is a cornerstone for learning and discovery. Curiosity, as a leadership approach, means not needing… Read more The Humility Curiosity Connection →
Dear Leaders, I know some of you are exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed. I know you may be experiencing decision fatigue and the fatigue that comes with processing racial injustices, global/political/economic news, and a pandemic. 2020 isn’t the perfect vision you saw for yourself, your team, or community when you started making plans in 2019. Some leaders may have had to lean into coaching skills to support and encourage their staff and work communities. Some have had difficult conversations as organizations shift priorities and downsize. Dear leaders, everything is different now.… Read more Dear Leaders, Everything is Different Now: A Letter of Encouragement →
Powerful Pieces 
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