Blog
A Nurse’s Courageous Approach to Workplace Conflict
My brother-in-law is a nurse anesthetist. He told me recently how frustrated he gets when colleagues talk about one another instead of talking to one another. This is a man who isn’t afraid to speak up and “rock the boat” if needed. So, what did he do? Instead of fuming to another colleague or...
Creating Meaning Out of Adversity
Last March, life as we knew it came to a halt. Nearly every person on the earth was faced with a scary, invisible threat that we knew little about. At the time, we couldn’t imagine how devastating the COVID-19 pandemic would be to human life, our economy, the healthcare system,...
Until Brighter Days Come, Adversity Has Purpose
My first job out of nursing school (a long time ago), was working as a Registered Nurse at a hospital in Chicago, IL. I worked the night shift in perinatal nursing or high-risk obstetrics. Meaning women who were experiencing some type of complication during pregnancy. I’d come home at 8am,...
Grateful For Learning From Adversity
2020 has certainly had challenges. But it won’t keep me from sharing with you my tradition of reflecting on Three Questions about the past year and asking you to do the same. What are you most grateful for? Please share what was the highlight of your year?...
Removing Uninvited Guests at Your Thanksgiving Table
This Thanksgiving is like none other. Perhaps people are missing from your table because they don’t feel comfortable meeting in person due to the coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, there may be people present at your table who have completely different views about the handling of the pandemic. Whether...
The 3 Best Ways to Navigate Change (and Uncertainty) Successfully
Uncertainty has become the new norm. Since mid-March, in order to keep people safe from the coronavirus, we were faced with almost daily changes that have impacted the way we work, interact, and socialize. Three months later, there’s an added dimension of uncertainty with nationwide riots that contributes to people...
COVID-19 Application of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” Poster
During a trip to England last year, my husband and I came upon the Barter Bookstore that houses the original "Keep Calm and Carry On" Poster. In the spring of 1939 when the war against Germany was inevitable, King George VI wanted to convey a message to his people assuring them that all necessary...
Leading with Stability and Hope During Crisis
Dealing with uncertainty creates anxiety for most people. It’s especially difficult when facing a pandemic. Most likely, you are facing tough decisions that impact your company’s bottom line, employee paychecks, and the health of your employees and customers. What your employees need most is for you to lead with a non-anxious presence. A...
What Does the Coronavirus and Conflict Have in Common…And How They are Different.
As we all face the uncertainties associated with the coronavirus, it made me realize just how much this virus and conflict has in common in at least two ways: 1) Both Perpetuate Fear With the coronavirus, our country and the entire world are facing lots of fears. Fear of becoming...
Are You a Fixer? How to Know When Helping is Hurting
Are you a "Fixer"? By age 11, Maria was writing checks to pay the family bills, by age 14, she started her first job, and by age 19, she owned her first home. Due to the unpredictability in her upbringing from her father's alcoholism and her mother's mental illness, Maria...