Blog
The 3 C’s of Difficult Conversations: How to Stay Grounded When the Conversation Gets Tough
As a leader, Ben knew he needed to address Bob's abrasive behavior. Bob had a pattern of dismissing colleagues' ideas in meetings, sending curt emails that left people feeling belittled, and making sarcastic comments that created tension across the team. Ben found every reason to avoid the conversation. He anticipated...
The Culture You Tolerate Is the Culture You Create
What do your employees feel when they walk into work each day? Sal walked through the front door of his office and immediately felt the tension. A familiar knot formed in his stomach as he headed to his desk. While many of his coworkers were friendly, he dreaded interacting with...
What an Airline Captain Taught Me About Building Team Cohesion
Our plane had just arrived late, making our departure likely to be delayed. Several passengers were going to miss their connecting flights. You could feel the tension in the air. Then something unexpected happened. The captain, a woman who clearly knew how to lead, came out to the gate, took...
Choose Your Mindset Before Addressing Employee Behavior: An Emotional Intelligence Approach
As a leader, to what degree do you stay grounded and nonreactive before addressing employee behavior situations? Imagine this, your employee Jeremy has consistently been late for work and his demeanor has increasingly become more irritable and unpredictable over the past few weeks. When he first started with your company...
How To Build Inner Resources, Resolve, and Resiliency Through Emotional Intelligence
What inner resources, resolve, and resiliency will help you cope with demands, distractions, and disappointments at work? During one of my workshops, I asked managers to share their experiences with the challenges they face in today’s workplace. Their answers revealed the emotional toll of unresolved organizational conflict: "We are expected...
What Emotionally Healthy Leaders Have in Common with Great Parents
Emotional intelligence in leadership isn't just about managing your own emotions, it's about creating an environment where others feel safe, seen, and valued. As we observe Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month this October, it's worth reflecting on a powerful parallel: emotional intelligence in leadership mirrors the essential qualities of effective parenting....
Why Acknowledging Your Efforts Matters More Than Their Responses
When was the last time you took the initiative to repair a conflict with a colleague, even when you weren't sure how they'd respond? October is Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to reflect on the courageous conversations that define effective leadership. At a recent Interpersonal Success...
Transform Scars into Leadership Strengths
Are there certain stories you turn to when you need inspiration? One of mine is the story of Princess Eugenie. As a child, she had surgery to correct a curvature of her spine called scoliosis, leaving a long scar down her back. Years later, on her wedding day, she chose...
7 Ways to Be a Terrible Boss (And Why You Should Do the Opposite)
A fun guide to leadership fails, and how to turn them around. Ever wonder what separates great leaders from the ones employees complain about around the water cooler? Sometimes it’s easier to spot what not to do than to figure out the right approach. So let’s have some fun with...
How Leaders Turn Conflict Into Growth
Leadership isn’t just about strategy, performance metrics, or vision casting. At its core, leadership is about people. And where there are people, conflict is inevitable. Even the strongest leaders find themselves caught off guard: A tense meeting where emotions run high. A team member who deflects responsibility and projects blame....