Posts by Jo Ilfeld, PhD
Are You In the ‘In Group’ at Work?
Are you in the ‘In Group’ at work or do you feel left out? My client was feeling left out and and I needed to help her. My recent discussion with a client inspired this week’s learning snack video. After her recent hire, my client was given an office stuck on the outskirts, in a…
Read MoreTeam Development Vs Team Building
I am often asked what’s the difference between team development and team building. Another question often asked is, “Is team building really worth it?” Yes and no. Oftentimes, team-building exercises are limited to rah-rah types of events such as escape rooms, trust falls, and the like. And they often fall short. Team development, on the…
Read MoreAre You Getting An Outside Perspective?
Getting an outside perspective can make all the difference. If you ever experienced some kind of breakdown, whether at work or in your personal life, what was the turning point for you? In one of my monthly meetings with other colleagues, a brilliant friend stated that the turning point for all the stories of breakdowns…
Read MoreThe Difference Between Shame and Guilt
Have you ever read something that made you rethink what you knew before? When I read about shame and guilt in Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, she made me do just that. Have you read her book? I have heard Brené talk about the difference between shame and guilt before but what was so powerful…
Read MoreAre You Paying Attention to Awe and Wonder?
Are you paying attention to the things of awe and wonder around you? A few weeks ago, I was in beautiful Carmel and its beauty inspired me to make this quick video while I was walking on the beach. I encourage you to spend a few moments this week looking at the wonderful, awesome beauty…
Read MoreWhat’s Your Leadership Style: Push or Pull?
When you think of your leadership style, how much do you pull information from the people on your team and how much do you push information and decisions down to them? I read a recent article in Harvard Business Review recently on leadership style. Leaders who push decisions, data and action plans down to their teams, their…
Read MoreWhat’s more important: work or family? Tips for making choices.
There’s a reason we’re all Marie Kondo’ing our homes, our email inboxes and our lives. There is a lot going on for all of us and with the number of things happening, it inevitably means we are making choices– lots of them. Every. Single. Day. Not only are the choices tiring but they often feel…
Read MoreAre You Missing The Obvious?
Recently I had the joy of spending some time on Cape Cod with my daughter, who was about to go to camp, and one of my oldest and best friends. While my daughter was plugged into her earbuds, my friend and I had a lot of time to talk as we drove around the Cape.…
Read MoreHow to Improve Strategic Thinking
I’m sure you have those times when you know you need to think more deeply about something, you know it needs more strategy and work. How can you improve strategic thinking? If you’re like me, you probably tell yourself, “I’ll think about it when I’m in the car picking up the kids from school.” Or…
Read MoreSelf-compassion Is Hard
Is self-compassion more important than self-esteem? Well, research shows it can be. But practicing self-compassion is hard. On Valentine’s Day this past year, I broke my ankle (better than a broken heart perhaps?), and as I was reflecting back on that time, it made me think about self-compassion. Self-esteem makes us feel like “I can…
Read More