Do people in leadership rate themselves higher in ability than their results demonstrate? The answer is dependent on the individual; however, my experience is…
It’s a statement referenced often in the mental health world: Do not quit till the miracle happens. The meaning behind it is to keep going even when things are tough. Please do not take this so literally you think it means staying in an unhealthy situation. What it does mean is that if you are taking positive actions, at times the outcome may take a while to achieve. I have a front row seat to miracles. These…
More and more studies find that investing in the workforce does more than improve results; it is a vital talent retention method. Today, people want more than a paycheck. The latest employee engagement data shows employees stay longer if they believe the organization cares about their well-being. Investing in skill building and career development supports that feeling of being cared about. It is important for organizations to create a feedback-rich environment. This means people regularly…
No two fingerprints are the same. We all leave fingerprints, and we all are impacted by the fingerprints of others. While fingerprints can be cleaned off, the fact that a person left fingerprints cannot. When we wash a child’s toy, we wipe off their fingerprints. Yet years go by, and we find it hard to let go of the toy. Why? Because someone we love touched it. Fingerprints leave memories and stay with us long…
If you’ve ever moved a parent or grandparent into a long-term care facility, you know: It’s never a decision that’s made lightly. Yes, giving them the skilled care they need is the best choice for them and for you. Still, walking away and leaving your vulnerable loved one in the care of strangers is a heart-wrenching act of faith. You must trust that those who work there will lovingly care for him or her…and at that moment, you…
Sharing can be a good thing—almost a magical thing. It often leads to an increase in self-awareness. In this column, we will focus on what happens when you share with someone you trust, who cares enough to provide you with objective feedback. The tape one plays in their head may not be accurate. Just the process of saying something aloud can be helpful. I am so fortunate to spend time with many people, both in…
Serving in a leadership role, whether formal or informal, is a fantastic opportunity to be helpful and make a difference. Being in leadership means that others recognize an individual’s ability. While I spend most of my time with people in formal leadership roles, my community work means I also interact with people who are informal leaders. I work with community volunteers who serve in a variety of community roles. Often these are nonpaid committee roles.…
Mark Clement, president/CEO of TriHealth in Cincinnati, Ohio, sent me a link to the video “Handle Hard Better.” The video is a talk by Kara Lawson, the women’s basketball coach at Duke. As I watched it, my own experiences came to mind: times when the going got tough and I quit, times when I did not quit, and the difference between the two. I also recalled stories about occasions when someone wanted to quit and did not,…
Graduation season is here again. It’s exciting to think about all the young people with a lifetime ahead to shape as they choose. There are so many possibilities available, so many paths they can take. Yet, another word for “many possibilities” is uncertainty. Sometimes, for young people (and for all people!), uncertainty can be quite scary. They may worry that the decisions they make right now will set their course for life. What if they’re making…
Anxiety is a real emotion, and one that receives lots of attention. Why? Because it can be a very serious issue that impacts a person’s well-being. But anxiety isn’t just connected to issues in our personal life. It also manifests in the professional realm. The form of anxiety we’ll explore today is the anxiety that can happen when we don’t “close the loop” to assure others that action has been taken. If the person you…
My job provides me with a fantastic opportunity to learn from many smart and successful leaders. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Ralph Stayer, owner of Johnsonville Foods, headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. I was presenting at NCH Healthcare System in Naples, Florida, and he was in the audience. Johnsonville Foods started as a small butcher shop. Today it has more than a billion dollars in annual sales and offers products in more than…