In a recent conversation with a client, he somewhat ashamedly admitted his business does not have stated mission, values or vision. He was frustrated by this, but couldn’t really figure out how to go back and start at the beginning when he already has eight employees. After all—how would he be able to express his own vision...

I recently worked with a client who was incredibly frustrated with his business. He founded the company, and it has grown to nine employees. He loves the solution the company provides to its customers, but he finds himself not wanting to go to work each day. He is stressed, and his blood pressure is through the roof.

When we worked to...

Do you have ‘loving critics’ in your life?

Loving critics are people who love you, and also who are not afraid to tell you the truth about what they see in you, how you come across to others, and maybe even what you could do to improve.

We all need people like this in our lives.

They help us get out of ourselves and provide a...

There is the leader who says she is great with relationships and has no problem getting along with anybody. The reality is that it is clear to anyone around her that she is constantly rubbing people the wrong way.

There is the leader who thinks he is strong and decisive, when the reality is he wants badly to be liked by everyone, so his...

Successful companies, large and small, work to instill a culture of trust among their team. They know that it is very difficult to succeed when people do not trust each other because that results in things like gossip, backstabbing, undermining, politics, and, sadly—high turnover.

Trust takes a long time to build, and how you...

Are you a Lone Ranger?

I once worked for a person who liked to keep everything to himself. He only shared information when he was asked directly about something. Otherwise, he mostly kept to himself.

What was the impact on staff?

• We didn’t know what was going on strategically, so we had no way to contribute ideas or expertise.
• We...

My colleague Mike: “I actually don’t know anyone personally who I believe has it in their character to sexually harass anyone—I just can’t see it!”

Me: “Well, I don’t know any female who has not experienced it. So someone has to be doing it!”

One of the biggest reasons why sexual...

A client of mine was shocked.

He had recently received feedback that his direct reports felt like he ‘yelled’ at them, or ‘scolded’ them.

“I don’t yell at my team”, he said. “And I really don’t scold them. They ask questions, and I tell them what they need to do. Simple as that!”...

Work can be fun. It can also be, well…work. Things can happen every day that interfere with accomplishing your goals. Some days feel like a boxing match where you keep getting punched with problems and don’t have time to recover in between.

Every once in a while, rather than just sparring, something happens that feels like it...

Why do you do what you do?  This is an important question for every single person for their work life.

Beyond most people’s need to support themselves or their families—why do we do what we do?

Passion, or it’s slightly less emotional cousin, caring, for your work comes from having an important reason to do it and...