Tonight, people, perhaps you, will be partying all evening ... lifting a glass at midnight ... kissing a person nearby ... watching the ball drop ... and celebrating well into the wee hours. Whatever your night has in store, make the most of your New Year's Eve day by following these suggestions. Admittedly, some are silly, but others are serious. Some will take a minute; … [Read more...]
5 New Habits to Help You Reach Your Goals Faster
It's that time of year when we all set personal and professional goals for ourselves. Have you set your resolutions for next year? I know I have. The problem is, too often we put the time into setting the goals, and then we expect to magically reach them during the year, even if we don’t change our behavior or effort. That's why we spend so much time at the end of the … [Read more...]
Make Memories, Experience Joy, and Rejuvenate This Holiday Season
Today's post is less about teaching you to overcome the challenges of being a first-time leader and more about helping you enrich your personal life. Thinking about things from a personal perspective seems especially relevant at this time of the year, and so I offer you this food for thought: “Memories are a treasure that can’t be taken from us. Create them regularly, … [Read more...]
Cure Employees’ “Holiday-itis” and Finish the Year Strong
If you are feeling a little less than motivated, you aren't alone. This time of year has a way of affecting people’s attitudes, energy, and productivity. Even if you are feeling especially productive, you may notice that your employees aren't. In fact, they could be suffering from a serious case of "holiday-itis." As with any ailment, the first step in treatment is to … [Read more...]
7 Simple Ways to Be a Supportive Coach and Leader
As a leader, coaching is one of your most important duties. It's how you will help employees correct negative behaviors and enhance positive ones. It is how you will train new employees to take on their new positions. It is how you will guide two employees to work through a conflict. And the list goes on. While coaching, in general, is important, how you coach can mean the … [Read more...]
Ignite Your Own Passion to Spark Greater Team Performance
A quote by Dwight L. Moody is my inspiration for this post today. Moody was a 19th century evangelist, who said “The best way to revive a church is to build a fire in the pulpit," and he was sharing a lesson about more than building churches. The lesson is much broader. Consider my adaptation of his quote: “The best way to revive a team (or organization) is to build a fire … [Read more...]
Make the Next 37 Days Count!
It is November 25. There are 37 days left in 2016. However, it seems that once Thanksgiving arrives, many people act as if the year is over. You know, there is the shopping, the parties, and the events. Many people have days off for the holidays, and others use up their remaining vacation time before they lose it.Even when we are at work on days like today, Christmas Eve and … [Read more...]
A Surprising Gratitude List for Leaders
If you will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week, there will be a moment when you look around the room or table, and the list of things for which you are thankful will be apparent. The food, the family and friends around you, the warmth and shelter, and perhaps even the football on the TV may all make the list. In fact those things will make most people’s lists, mine … [Read more...]
4 Leadership Lessons From the Election
Today is Election Day in the U.S., and soon enough we will know who our next POTUS will be. We are all a little exhausted and burnt out from this nasty presidential campaign, but rest assured, this post isn’t about politics or who you should vote for. This post is for you as a leader. While you will likely never have your every move reported on TV, never have your tax … [Read more...]
Challenge Yourself to Share Your Gratitude This (and Every) Month
It's the beginning of the month in which gratitude is top of mind. A popular exercise this time of year is to write down or share one thing each day for which you are truly grateful. Perhaps you've seen the trend on Facebook or social media. Or maybe your family creates a "Thankful Tree" or "Thankful Jar" each year. Take a 30-day challenge While I suggest that you take … [Read more...]