Powerful communication

In a recent exercise on boundaries, I gained a new insight about the way we react to requests at work. Some people have an automatic inclination to say “yes” to others, trying to be helpful and make things happen. However, overcommitting can lead to stress, overwhelm, and eventually the realization that we’ve taken on more…

This year my family is hosting an exchange student from Spain and it was her back-to-school night at our local high school, Berkeley High, which happens to have thousands of students. Even a passing period of students alone is crazy and now there would be a passing period with parents and sometimes two parents for…

Have you heard of the acronym WAIT? I’ve heard it before but it was used recently in a meeting I was facilitating with one of my clients and their managers, and it reminded me just how good it is so I had to share. If you’re someone who when you’re in meetings gets swept up…

Have you ever found yourself creating a story around someone else’s behavior? For instance, you’re sitting in a meeting waiting and waiting and your manager comes on 15 minutes late and just gets started with the meeting. You might, in your head, have a story about the fact that they don’t respect your time, or…

I recently read Charles Duhigg’s new book, Supercommunicators. Being a fan of his work, I wanted to share an insightful tip he mentioned in an HBR article about what you can do if you get anxious right before a meeting. If you have a meeting with someone that you’re excited about, anxious about, or nervous…

I recently had two contrasting conversations that underscored the importance of transparency in leadership. Now, let me ask you: when faced with the choice of sharing what’s going on or withholding information, which way do you usually lean? In both instances, the discussions centered around the profound impact of transparency on team dynamics.  While your…

Have you ever worried about having a crucial conversation and whether it might upset the other person or tarnish your relationship? Recently I discussed with my husband a difficult conversation he needed to have. One key aspect we talked about was his motivation for having this conversation. It’s important to be clear about your motivations…

There is healing power in saying “I’m sorry.” When we are apologizing, we may say “I accept responsibility” and express ownership of our actions but often there is a reluctance to directly say the words, “I’m sorry.” In a recent conversation with one of my executive leadership coaching clients, I encouraged them to consider the…