Blog
How Interpersonal Skills Improve Interpersonal Relationships
Recently, while camping (actually – glamping) with our grandsons, we had a moment that showed how interpersonal skills improve relationships and how important they are for building good relationships. One of our grandsons was playing with the fire, poking it with a big stick and then swirling the stick with the burning tip in the…
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What to Do When Replacing a Leader is Costly and When NOT Replacing a Leader is Costly
Managing abrasive leaders can be a daunting challenge, especially when replacing them proves costly, but understanding the underlying dynamics can lead to healthier workplace relationships and better outcomes. Several years ago, I was in the play The Dining Room, a dramatization of several different families as they grow, as people die, as life happens, all…
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5 Steps to motivating abrasive leaders to change
If you are on the verge of losing valued employees because of a top-performing leader’s abrasive behavior, you’ll appreciate the following 5 steps to motivating abrasive leaders to change. Perhaps you’ve heard complaints from employees as they head for the door: TEAM MEMBER A tells you she’s leaving because of repeatedly being yelled at in…
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What is a Fixer? The Costs and Benefits of Taking Charge
Have you ever found yourself stepping into a situation at work or at home, and taking on the task of solving other people’s problems? Perhaps at the expense of your time, energy, and even money, you tend to step in to save the day? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the demands of constantly trying…
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How one leader learned to deal with an angry boss
When I wrote my book, How Did My Family Get In My Office?! my goal was to hear from real-life leaders about how conflict was handled in their upbringing influenced the way they deal with conflict in the workplace – And what they did about it. One of the leaders in the book is Lee,…
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How to stop letting emotional scars limit your leadership success
Did you know that making meaning out of challenges is one of the hallmark signs of leadership success? Especially when you make meaning out of childhood experiences that left physical and/or emotional scars so they don’t negatively impact how you show up as a leader today. At 12 years old, Princess Eugenie had surgery to…
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Say Goodbye To Workplace Drama And Hello To Strong Boundaries
Have you encountered the “Drama Triangle” in your workplace lately? It may sound like a silly question since leaders often describe disagreements as escalating into unnecessary drama that takes away from getting work done. In today’s blog, I want to share a valuable lesson about conflict resolution called the Drama Triangle. It was first identified…
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5 Keys To Guide Your Abrasive Top-Performer To Positive Transformation
Did you know that every day you play a key role every day in helping your employees transform abrasive behaviors into emotional intelligence skills? Did you know that by addressing behaviors that distract from a healthy work culture, you serve as a guide for these same employees to become the hero of their professional story? …
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How to successfully handle differences in the workplace and build a cohesive team
Do you ever wish there was a better way to handle differences with your team? To create an environment where everyone is able to express their wants, opinions, and perspectives that bring out the best ideas instead of “My way is the only right way”? All while staying level-headed without getting caught in the emotions…
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Stop letting your past impact your present: Identify your Workplace Family Factor
When was the last time you had a visceral reaction with a co-worker, employee, or your boss that reminded you of how conflict was handled in your upbringing? In a flash, you felt the surge of your fight/flight/freeze response kicking in with a knot in your stomach, sweaty palms, and tightness in your jaw that…
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